Stray Dog Finds Comfort in a Statue — Until Real Love Finds Him

Late last month, as Vesna Vukojevic strolled through the streets of Trstenik, Serbia, a deeply moving scene stopped her in her tracks.

Curled up outside a bakery was a stray dog, clearly longing for affection. Starved of love and comfort, the pup had found a bittersweet substitute — a mechanical statue with a moving arm. He leaned in, letting the machine gently “pet” him, pretending for a moment that it was real.

Vesna captured the heartbreaking moment on video and shared it online. It touched hearts across the globe.

“That just killed part of me,” one commenter wrote.

“Poor dog just wants to be loved,” said another.

Among those moved was animal lover Nina Savić. Deeply affected by the dog’s quiet plea for connection, she and a few friends made the journey to Trstenik and brought the pup home — over 200 miles away.

Now affectionately known as Hogar the Horrible (a name that belies his sweet nature), the once-lonely dog was hesitant at first. It took time for him to realize the cuddles were real, the warmth genuine.

But slowly, Hogar began to bloom.

“He is wonderful, loves to be cuddled,” said Maja Pinter, a fellow animal rescuer. “He just puts his head in the hands of everyone he meets.”

Savić, who lives in Belgrade, is now looking for the perfect forever family for Hogar — though she admits she’d be more than happy to keep him herself.

“Everyone falls in love with him,” said Pinter. “He just knows how to win hearts.”

From the cold pavement in Trstenik to a home filled with warmth and care, Hogar’s days of being alone are finally behind him. Now, he’s surrounded by real love — the kind that never fades.