Even dogs who have a slightly peculiar appearance are beautiful in their own special way and deserve wonderful, loving homes.
Like a very unique dog who struggled because of his quirks but ultimately found the perfect home. He was born with only a partial spine and no neck.
American foxhound Cooper has a hereditary condition called “short spine syndrome” that causes the vertebrae in his spine to converge and compress. According to Daily Mail, he is just one of 30 dogs in the entire world who have the condition.
His owner, Elly Keegan, told the Daily Mail that “[his spine] is fused in two places – on his neck and on his rear.” He must turn his entire body to look behind him because he doesn’t seem to have a neck.
The strange-looking dog had a challenging upbringing. He most likely originated from a puppy farm close to Halifax, Virginia, given his birth deformity. He most likely acquired his disability as a result of inbreeding in puppy mills.
He was located by rescuers in 2017 and taken to Secondhand Hounds, a shelter in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He was initially housed, but since he enjoyed chasing the cats there, that didn’t work out either.
But Elly Keegan and her household quickly won Cooper over. Elly has a soft spot for dogs with disabilities and is determined to give Cooper the care and attention he needs, whereas many people would overlook a dog with such an unusual appearance or, worse, have him put down because of his condition.
Elly, with the help of Secondhand Hounds, said that Cooper would need medical attention. The dog first experienced a few health setbacks, including a fall that resulted in a five-part neck fracture and a bone infection.
Despite this, Cooper’s condition has changed for the better in other ways. Elly claims that because of a congenital defect, he essentially had his “butt on his back,” but surgery has improved his capacity to use the bathroom by himself.
Elly claims that Cooper is the “happiest dog” and that everyone loves seeing him.
Everywhere he goes, he draws attention, but he actually enjoys it. Elly told Daily Mail that he has a sizable following on Facebook. He is such a friendly canine.
Even dogs with particular needs or those with slightly different looks deserve to be loved and taken care of. Cooper has found the perfect home where he will be loved and accepted for who he is, and we are so glad about that.