Rude stranger called his dog with one eye ‘ugly’ — but owner’s epic comeback shut down all dog shamers for good

Sometimes, a thoughtless comment from a stranger can spark something much bigger. That’s exactly what happened when one man’s public defense of his one-eyed dog turned an unpleasant encounter into a widely shared reminder of kindness, loyalty, and standing up for those who can’t speak for themselves. After a rude passerby insulted the dog, calling him "ugly," the owner’s sharp and heartfelt response quickly shut down the negativity and caught the attention of thousands online.

As reported by Euro Weekly News, Dr. James Greenwood, a practicing veterinary surgeon and TV personality, shared the moment on X (formerly Twitter) back on January 10, 2022. While walking with his one-eyed dog, a stranger shouted the insult as he passed by with friends. In his post, Dr. Greenwood wrote, “My beautiful boy got called ‘f’ing ugly’ in the street today by some prat passing by with his mates. Humans are weird. He’s a dog mate. Therefore can’t answer back. He’s not ugly. But you just definitely made yourself look properly stupid.” He included a photo of his gentle-looking dog, who had clearly won his heart despite what others might say.

The post quickly gathered support from dog lovers everywhere, and months later, on April 26, it found a second wave of attention. The popular Instagram page The Archbishop of Banterbury reshared the story, asking its 4.6 million followers to “show this good boy some love.” They did just that, flooding the comments with praise and affection. @w__rutherford wrote, "He’s beautiful." @moxiedepaulitte exclaimed, "He’s the goodest boy, and some humans are trash." The post also received a lot of love on X, with many users sharing stories of their own pets with special needs or unique appearances. @EltonSherrif shared in the comment section of X, "Hello, this is Sheriff Elton from Texas, and I have been badly abused by people, beaten, shot at, starved, and more. Your boy is a marvelous doggo, and I am happy being his friend. All the best wishes." 

@SabreSixSixSix shared, with a lovely picture of their pet cat, "This is Max (or Little Wink as I sometimes call him), 7 years after a cancer diagnosis. Eye may be gone, but he isn't. One of life's most awesome little buddies ever." @sharkt3am mentioned, "Aww, he’s a gorgeous boy. My girl had her eye removed due to cancer. I’d take a dog any day over humans." Meanwhile, @TootingSouth remarked, "Your dog is gorgeous. I've had a one-eyed cat, a one-eyed, three-legged cat, and a lamb born with no eyes. All are much-loved and wonderful characters. A big hug to your beautiful dog."

Sadly, some people are quick to comment on the looks of pets, and in another similar incident, a dog owner on Reddit shared how someone cruelly said, “Your dog is horrifyingly ugly” during a casual conversation. Hurt by the remark, the owner asked the internet for a good comeback. Support poured in, with fellow pet lovers calling out the rude comment. One user delivered the perfect response, “Yeah, my dog is still beautiful in comparison, though," a simple line that said it all. Others chimed in with witty and kind replies, showing strong support for the dog and its owner.