On Appearances

Soi dogs can get really, really ugly. Bizarre growths, skin diseases, open sores, patchwork hair, delightful creatures that make your skin crawl for disinfectant with nothing but a glance from across the street.

These are another part of Thailand I just can't photograph because the shots would impose pathos in most Western eyes, and there is nothing pathetic or apologetic about the critters. They are dirty, mangy street dogs that would probably go mental and die if subjected to a housepet lifestyle.

So I'm riding along and think, 'I've seen some ugly ones, but that dog is hideous!' Its side is sprouting long, wiry hair on mottled gray skin, fat little legs without definition, and it's, it's, it's got puppies! And the puppies are horribly twisted and tweaked with long ears and stumpy little naked tails!

They look more like, like, oh.

They are pigs.

Living in someone's front yard.

Okay.