animals

Resilient Dog with Unique Spinal Condition Finds Loving Forever Home

01:48 22/05/2023

Cooper, an American foxhound, is a unique dog. He is one of the few dogs in the world that ʋiʋe with short spine syndrome.

Short spine syndrome is a genetic condition in which the vertebrae are severely compressed and sometimes even fused together. The condition is believed to be caused by inbreeding.

In 2017, a 2-month-old puppy was found abandoned near Halifax, Virginia. Animal control picked up the dog and placed him in the care of Secondhand Hounds, a shelter in Minnesota.

Elly and Andy Keegan agreed to foster Cooper. Despite his mobility problems, they worked with him to improve his quality of life.

When Cooper first arrived at Keegan’s house, he fell and broke his neck in several places, but that didn’t dampen Cooper’s spirits. And neither a bone infection, which affected him only a few months later.

“He’s also had surgery that helps him go to the year a little better, which means he’s low-maintenance now and can go solo,” Elly told Fox News.

After caring for Cooper for six months, the Keegans gave Cooper up for adoption. Elly was sure that the “happiest dog” would receive countless requests.

“Nobody wanted to adopt Cooper,” she told The Dodo. “And then we got an applicant. I think I collapsed every two hours. I was like, ‘Andy, I don’t know what we’re going to do!’ I couldn’t imagine just handing it over and saying, ‘Okay, now I know Cooper’s family.’”

They decided to adopt Cooper themselves.

Though he struggled at first and still has some setbacks, Cooper is “making the most of his life” and helping his new forever home do the same.

“With our other rescues, I don’t run a period to meet you,” Elly said. “It was a family from the beginning.”

“A lot of dogs with conditions like Cooper’s are euthanized, which makes me really sad,” he told Fox News. “They have a lot to do with ʋiʋir and Cooper is a real example of that. He now has a normal happy little life and he is a class member of our family”.

You can follow Cooper’s adventures on his FaceƄook page. If you can’t get enough of this sweet dog who is “small in spine, big in love”, share this article with your friends.

 

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