I am a dog, and I may not look like the other dogs you know. I don’t have the same strong, swift legs to run beside you, to leap joyfully in the yard, or to fetch your favorite ball. I am different, yes. My legs are missing. I was born this way, or perhaps something happened that took them from me. It’s hard for me to remember the details of my past. What matters now is the present—the love I have to give, even if I don’t have what others might consider “perfect” to offer.
I have been through a lot in my life. Some days, the pain of missing my legs can be overwhelming. I watch other dogs run and play, and sometimes I wish I could do the same. But then, I remember that even though I can’t run like them, I can still wag my tail with all my might. I can still look into your eyes and show you how much I care.
Every day, I wake up with one simple hope: that someone will see me for the love I have to give, not the parts of me that are missing. I may not be able to jump into your lap with excitement, but my heart is full of warmth and loyalty. I may not be able to run beside you, but I can stay by your side, no matter what. I have been waiting for someone to see me—not as a broken dog, but as a soul capable of love and joy.
Do you think you could love me? Could you look past the way I am different and find it in your heart to accept me for who I am? I won’t be the dog who runs to greet you at the door, but I will be the dog who looks at you with eyes full of devotion and affection, every day, without fail. I will be the dog who will sit by your side, just wanting to be near you, to comfort you, to share quiet moments. I may not be able to chase after a ball, but I can offer you my unwavering loyalty and love, in ways that only I can.
I’ve been told that dogs with missing legs aren’t the same as other dogs, that we are somehow “less” than the others. But I don’t believe that. My heart still beats, and it beats just as strongly as any other dog’s heart. I still feel joy when I see you smile, and I still feel the sadness when you’re upset. I can still share in your happiness and be there for you when you need a friend. Just because I don’t have legs doesn’t mean I don’t have a heart. I may be different on the outside, but inside, I am still a dog, and I still want to love and be loved in return.
I know that love doesn’t always come easily. It might take time for you to see me for who I really am. I might need to be patient, but I am willing to wait. I am willing to show you, in my own quiet way, that I can be a good companion. I will never run away from you, I will always be by your side, and I will love you with all the strength I have left in me.
So, please, could you find it in your heart to love me too? I may be a deformed dog, missing my legs, but I still have a heart full of love. And that love, I promise, is all I have to give.
And I hope that will be enough.
