All dogs are lovely in their own way, and are deserving of excellent, loving homes – even the ones who appear a bit different.

Like one particularly unique dog born with no neck and half a spine, who battled due to his disabilities but finally found the perfect home.

Cooper, an American foxhound, has a hereditary disease referred to as “short spine syndrome” in which his vertebrae are fused together and squeezed. According to Daily Mail, he’s one of just 30 dogs in the world with the illness.

“[His spine] is fused in two places — on his neck and on his rear,” owner Elly Keegan noted, via the Daily Mail “He seems like he has no neck and to look behind him he needs to turn his whole body.”

The unique-looking dog had a tough start to life. He presumably originated from a puppy farm in Halifax, Virginia and was abandoned owing to his congenital abnormality. It’s also probable his impairment was the product of inbreeding at the puppy mill.

Rescuers spotted him in 2017, and he was transported to Secondhand Hounds, a shelter in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out in the first home he was placed in, since he loved to chase their cats.

But Cooper quickly found his perfect home with Elly Keegan and her family. While many people might pass by such a unique-looking dog — or even worse, he could’ve been killed for his impairment — Elly has a kind heart for differently-abled dogs and dedicated to providing Cooper all the love and support he needs.

Elly says she was aware Cooper would need medical treatment but had the backing of Secondhand Hounds. Early on, the dog experienced a few medical setbacks, including a tumble that shattered his neck in five places and a bone infection.

Yet in some aspects Cooper’s condition has seen improvements. Elly says that his congenital condition left it so he essential had his “butt on his back,” but a surgery has made it simpler for him to go to the restroom on his own.

Elly says that despite everything, Cooper is the “happiest dog,” and people are always delighted to see him, too.

“Wherever he goes he draws attention but he genuinely revels in it. He has a lot of fans on Facebook,” Elly told Daily Mail. “He’s such a friendly dog.”

All dogs deserve love and care, even the ones that appear a bit different or have specific requirements. We’re so thrilled Cooper finally has a perfect home to love him just the way he is.

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