Cooper is not a normal dog. That is obvious at first glance. He has a clearly visible disability that gives his body an unusual shape.
Behind it is a rare disease.
Dog with a disability is an inspiration to us all
Cooper was born on a puppy farm – already an indication that his start in life was not an easy one.
When his rescuers found him, they didn’t believe that a dog with Cooper’s handicap could survive.
This is because the American Foxhound is one of 30 dogs worldwide that were born with an extremely rare hereditary disease.
Why serious breeding is so important
The cause is inbreeding – as is so often the case when health is not a factor in breeding.
But what exactly is so unusual about Cooper?
Cooper’s spine is extremely shortened and looks as if it has grown together or fused.
This in turn gives the impression that Cooper has no neck, let alone the centre part of his spine.
Handicap makes life difficult for Cooper
For Cooper, this means that moving around is just as difficult as doing the big business. This is because his intestinal tract is also extremely shortened.
There were a few families who adopted Cooper from the Secondhand Hounds shelter. But the dog with the handicaps was simply not pretty enough for them.
Fortunately, not all people are so horribly superficial. And so Cooper found his forever home with Elly Ceagan and her family.
After a difficult start, Cooper is ready for his operation
To make matters worse, Calamity Cooper suffered a broken bone and a serious infection. But the miracle happened and the dog recovered from both.
He was now fit and healthy enough to be operated on. He now looks a little more charming and funny because his bum is always sticking up.
But his intestinal tract is now much better – and so is his ability to do important business.
Cooper now lives a happy and, by his standards, healthy dog’s life with lots of love and affection.
The dog with a handicap has even become a real social media star.
Perhaps this will enable the furry friend to raise awareness of disabled dogs. Because they deserve our love just as much as any other furry friend.
