Hey everyone,
I don’t know if I’m being overly dramatic or if I’ve actually stumbled into a weird situation, but I need to get this off my chest. So here’s the deal:
A few days ago, my dog (let’s call him Rufus for privacy reasons) got hurt pretty badly. He’s usually the most energetic, goofy dog you could imagine—tail always wagging, eyes shining, and that silly doggy grin plastered on his face whenever he sees me. But something happened that’s shaken both of us.
Rufus loves to run around our backyard. We don’t have a huge space, but it’s big enough for him to chase a ball, do zoomies, and basically have the time of his life. Well, a few nights ago, it was raining lightly, and he slipped while sprinting after his squeaky toy. I’m not entirely sure how it happened, but one second he was bounding happily, and the next, I heard him yelp in pain.
It wasn’t a normal “I stubbed my paw” kind of whimper. It was the kind of cry that sends adrenaline racing through your veins. I dashed out there in my socks, not even thinking about how soaked I was getting in the rain, and found him lying on his side, panting, with one of his front paws bent at an odd angle. My heart felt like it dropped to my stomach.
I managed to scoop him up—he’s around 50 pounds, so it wasn’t exactly easy—and rushed him inside. I had a towel near the back door and dried him off as best I could, but I was freaking out because he was trembling and still whimpering. I called my vet’s emergency line, and they said to bring him in immediately. At that point, I was all panic. I remember grabbing my car keys, practically sprinting to the car while carrying him, and feeling like I was in some bizarre, slow-motion scene from a movie.
We got to the vet, and they did some X-rays. Turns out he had a pretty nasty sprain, and there was some concern about a small fracture. The vet suggested a wrap and some rest, along with pain medication. I was so relieved it wasn’t worse, but I also felt guilty—like I should have been watching him more closely, or maybe I should have had him inside since the yard was slippery. I kept apologizing to Rufus (yes, I talk to him like he’s a person, judge me if you want), and I felt so bad seeing him all bandaged up.
Here’s where things get weird.
I’ve always considered my friends and family to be somewhat supportive—at least the kind of people who would drop a “hope he feels better soon!” or a sad face emoji when I share something important on social media. So I took a picture of Rufus resting at home with his bandaged paw (the poor guy looked so sad) and posted a quick update on Facebook. It was late, so I didn’t expect immediate responses, but I wrote something along the lines of: “Rufus had a scary accident tonight. Sprained his paw and might have a small fracture. Hoping he recovers quickly. Feeling super anxious and guilty.” I added a crying emoji for effect because, let’s be honest, I was an emotional wreck.
And then… silence.
I’m talking no likes, no comments, no DMs asking if Rufus was okay. Nothing. I’ve got a modest friend list—mostly people I’ve met in real life, some extended family, and a few old high school buddies. But usually, I’ll get a handful of interactions on any post, even the mundane ones. I waited until the next day. Still nothing. A day turned into two days, and by the time the third day rolled around, I was starting to get a bit miffed.
I mean, this is my dog we’re talking about—my best buddy, my fur-baby. I thought at least my sister or a cousin would drop in with a “Poor baby, sending hugs!” or something. But it was like I had posted into a void. Total radio silence.
I thought maybe the post didn’t go through, so I checked my feed, and there it was, just sitting there, lonely, with zero engagement. I even tried editing the post to see if that would refresh it or something. Nothing changed.
I’m not one to rely heavily on social media validation, but come on, these are people who usually react to the dumbest memes I share or random cat videos. So why not a single like for my poor injured pup? It felt weird—like I’d stepped into an alternate universe where no one cares about a dog in pain.
That’s when I decided to post a second time, more direct. I wrote: “Guys, Rufus really hurt himself, and I’m freaking out. Could use some love or at least a ‘get well soon.’” I attached a slightly different photo—Rufus looking even more forlorn, with that sad doggy expression. I tried to keep the tone light but also made it clear I was looking for some support.
Again, crickets.
At this point, I started questioning everything. Did I do something to piss everyone off? Did my account get shadowbanned or something? I even texted a couple of friends to ask if they could see my posts. They said yes, they could see them, but they were “busy” and didn’t have time to react. Busy? Too busy to hit a like button or drop a quick comment? I don’t know, it just didn’t sit right with me.
One friend—I’ll call her Megan—even had the audacity to say, “Oh, I figured he was fine. Dogs get hurt all the time.” This is the same person who, just a week ago, wrote a long rant on Facebook about how her new coffee machine arrived two days late, and she was outraged. People commented in droves about that, sending her commiserations and suggestions. But my dog’s injury apparently wasn’t worthy of a single sympathetic comment?
I started spiraling a bit, to be honest. Rufus was slowly improving—he still limped and needed help getting around, but he was more like his usual self. Still, every time I logged onto Facebook, I saw more of the same: People posting about their kids’ dance recitals, pictures of fancy dinners, selfies from a beach vacation. And not one mention of poor Rufus.
So I posted a third time. This time, I was more emotional. I basically wrote, “No one wish me to feel better? I’m honestly surprised at the lack of support for my sweet boy.” I might have sounded a bit desperate, but I was fed up. I also mentioned how alone I felt in dealing with his recovery. It wasn’t just the bandaged paw; it was the daily worry, the medication schedule, the vet check-ups. It was the heartbreak of seeing him in pain and feeling like no one else even cared.
Still, almost no reaction.
I got one comment from a coworker who said something like, “Sorry, didn’t see this until now. Hope your dog gets better soon.” That was it. One single, lukewarm response.
Now I’m here, typing this out because I feel like I’m losing my mind. It’s not about the social media likes, I promise. It’s about the principle of the thing. We’re supposed to be a community, right? My circle of friends has always been pretty engaged with each other online. They’ll rally around someone who’s having a bad day or share fundraiser links if a friend’s cat needs surgery. But for some reason, when it comes to my dog, it’s like everyone has turned a blind eye.
I keep asking myself: Did I do something wrong? Did I overshare about Rufus in the past, making people numb to his adorable face? Or is everyone just burnt out and in their own worlds right now?
Meanwhile, Rufus is healing. Every day, he puts a bit more weight on that paw. He’s still not 100%, but I can see the spark in his eyes returning. He’s been wagging his tail more, trying to be playful, although I’m keeping him from running too hard. The vet says he’ll probably make a full recovery if we keep following the treatment plan.
I should be thrilled about this progress (and I am, deep down), but I can’t shake this nagging disappointment that not one of my so-called friends or family members seemed to care. It’s such a small thing, I know. But it’s been weighing on me.
Yesterday, I was scrolling through my feed again—because apparently, I like to torture myself—and I saw that someone else posted about their dog having a minor ear infection. Instantly, there were twenty comments: “Aww, poor baby!” “Sending positive vibes!” “Hope your pup recovers quickly!” My jaw almost hit the floor. Where were these supportive people when I needed them?
I guess this is where the confusion really sets in. It’s not like I’m jealous—okay, maybe a little. But more than that, I feel hurt and invisible. Like, what’s going on that everyone just collectively decided not to acknowledge my posts?
Then, out of nowhere, my older cousin (whom I rarely talk to) messaged me privately. She said, “Hey, I’ve been seeing your posts about Rufus. Sorry I haven’t commented—life’s been hectic. But I hope he gets better soon.” That one message, while a little late, actually made me feel somewhat better. At least it was an acknowledgment.
But the truth is, this whole situation has me rethinking my social media usage. Maybe I’ve been putting too much weight on virtual interactions. Maybe I should focus on the real-world support. I do have a couple of local friends who helped me drive Rufus to the vet for a follow-up and checked in via text (not on Facebook). They even brought over some dog treats to cheer him up. And my mom called me to ask about him (she’s not on Facebook, so she had no clue about the online drama).
So there is some silver lining here: Not everyone has forgotten about us. Some people do genuinely care, even if they’re not hitting the like button.
I guess I just wanted to vent. If you’re reading this, thanks for listening. Maybe I’m overreacting, or maybe I’m just sensitive. But it’s been a strange, eye-opening experience. I always assumed people I considered friends would be quick to show a bit of empathy. Now I realize that might not be the case—at least not publicly, and not in the way I expected.
Rufus is doing better, though. He’s got that big, goofy grin back, and seeing that wagging tail again fills me with so much relief. I’m still anxious about him reinjuring the paw, but we’re taking it day by day. The vet is optimistic.
I don’t have a neat conclusion here. I’m still feeling a mix of frustration, sadness, and relief. Part of me wants to just delete my Facebook account altogether. Another part of me wants to call people out. But for now, I’m focusing on Rufus’s recovery and trying to remember that the real world is bigger than a like button.
I’ll admit, though, a little part of me is hoping that maybe someone will eventually see one of my posts and leave a kind word. It might be too late, but hey, better late than never, right?
Anyway, thanks for reading my rant. If you have any advice or similar experiences, I’d love to hear about it. For now, I’m just grateful Rufus is healing. That’s the most important thing.
Thanks for your time, everyone.
TL;DR: My dog Rufus got hurt, I posted about it on Facebook, and literally no one reacted or commented. I’m feeling neglected and hurt, but trying to focus on Rufus’s recovery. Am I overreacting, or is this truly weird?
(Sending virtual hugs to anyone else who’s been in a similar situation… and if you have a dog or any pet, give them an extra cuddle for me. They deserve it.)