“So many people commented on that photo …”
Published on July 23, 2025 at 4:42 PM
A rather puzzling photo has been making the rounds in recent weeks that has some people quite taken aback.
In it, a smiling dog is seen with what appears at first to be an unusual growth protruding from his stomach.
But there’s more to the photo than meets the eye:
“So many people commented on that photo worrying,” dog owner Olena Kagui told The Dodo. “Then they realize there are two dogs.”
Turns out, the “worrying” image is actually a happy one — happier still once people learn the story behind it.
The smiling face that’s being used as a pillow in the image above belongs to a dog named Smiley. He’s clearly a cheerful pup. But that hasn’t always been the case.
The Dodo first reported on Smiley’s story in 2018.
At the time, he was a downhearted dog languishing in a New York City animal shelter, just days away from being euthanized.
That’s when Kagui and her husband stepped in.
Even though Smiley was depressed and despondent, the couple took a chance on him, opening their home to him as a foster.
But in the end, they decided to keep him forever.
In the years since, Smiley and his family have moved to Hawaii. There, Kagui and her husband later adopted two more rescue pups and four cats.
With each addition, Smiley’s heart has only grown fuller — and his spirit further from the sad state it had been in at the shelter. His loved ones changed his life for the better, transforming him into the cheery pup he is today.
“[Our dog Keo] taught Smiley how to play without being scared,” Kagui said.
Returning to the viral photo, Smiley is seen grinning brightly as Keo uses his head as a pillow.
The unique composition of the image does have a head-scratching effect at first — but in the end, it captures a formerly sad shelter dog who’s now delighted by the loving company of his family (even while being laid on by Keo).
Now age 13, Smiley has slowed down some. But he still enjoys nothing more than time spent with his family — each day a gift made possible thanks to his parents’ decision to save him all those years ago.
But it’s Kagui and her husband who consider themselves the lucky ones.
“I know it’s a cliche, but the ‘he saved us instead of us saving him’ thing really is true. Both my husband and I have struggled with mental health; I have depression, and my husband has anxiety. But Smiley has brought us so much joy,” Kagui said. “His siblings too, but Smiley is truly special.”
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