Bing Bao, Homeless dog at highway services station (ANIMALS 2024)

This is a homeless dog I happened to capture at a highway services station in South Australia. It was December 23, 2023, and I was driving along the Barrier Highway to NSW for Christmas and New Year's. I stopped in the town of Yunta for a meal and rest. When I parked, I noticed this dog wandering around the parking lot. Later, she moved around the gas station area, observing and approaching people with a look of helplessness, longing, and timidity in her eyes, yet the busy holiday crowd seemed oblivious to her. Throughout my meal, I kept watching her every move through the glass and took this photo. It was evident that she was a homeless dog during the holidays – her observing gaze, timid eyes, hesitant gait, and tucked tail spoke volumes, leaving a heart-wrenching feeling. I went out and shared my steak with her; she seemed starving, and her grateful eyes were too much to bear.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.