Cooper, an American foxhound, is a unique puppy. A dog born with a short sᴘɪɴᴇ and no ɴᴇᴄᴋ has found a loving family who accepts him just as he is. He is one of only a few dogs with short sᴘɪɴᴇ sʏɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇ.

Like one unique dog born with no ɴᴇᴄᴋ and half a sᴘɪɴᴇ who sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇᴅ due to his differences, Cooper was determined to find a home where he would be loved unconditionally despite his unique appearance.

According To Daily Mail, He’s One Of Only 30 Dogs In The World With The ᴄᴏɴᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ

The unique-looking dog had a rough start in life. “His sᴘɪɴᴇ is fused in two places – on his ɴᴇᴄᴋ and his rear,” owner Elly Keegan explained, per the Daily Mail. “He looks like he has no ɴᴇᴄᴋ, and to look behind him, he has to turn his whole body.”

He likely came from a puppy farm in Halifax, Virginia, and was ᴀʙᴀɴᴅᴏɴᴇᴅ due to his ᴄᴏɴɢᴇɴɪᴛᴀʟ ᴅɪsᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ. It’s also expected his ᴅɪsᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ was the result of ɪɴʙʀᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ at the puppy mill.

Things Didn’t Work Out In The First Home

Rescuers found him in 2017, and he was taken to Secondhand Hounds, a shelter in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Unfortunately, things didn’t work out in the first home he was placed in, as he liked to chase their cats. But Cooper soon found his perfect home with Elly Keegan and her family.

While many people would pass over such a unique-looking dog — or even ᴡᴏʀsᴇ, he could’ve been ᴇᴜᴛʜᴀɴɪᴢᴇᴅ for his ᴅɪsᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ— Elly has a warm heart towards differently-abled dogs and is committed to giving Cooper all the love and help he needs.

Cooper Is The “Happiest Dog

Elly says she knew Cooper would need ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀʟ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ but had the support of Secondhand Hounds.

The dog had a few ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀʟ setbacks early on, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ a ꜰᴀʟʟ that ꜰʀᴀᴄᴛᴜʀᴇᴅ his ɴᴇᴄᴋ in five places and a ʙᴏɴᴇ ɪɴꜰᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.

But in other ways, Cooper’s condition has seen improvements. Elly says that his ᴄᴏɴɢᴇɴɪᴛᴀʟ ᴅɪsᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ left it, so he essentially had his “butt on his back,” but sᴜʀɢᴇʀʏ has made it easier for him to go to the ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ alone.

Cooper quickly adapted to his new home and became a beloved family member. He loves playing with his toys, cuddling with his human family members, and walking around the neighborhood.

Elly says that despite everything, Cooper is the “happiest dog,” and people are always happy to see him, too. “Wherever he goes, he draws ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ but really 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 look slightly different or have special needs. We’re so glad Cooper has a perfect home to love him like he is.

With love, patience, and understanding, dogs with special needs can thrive in a home where they are accepted just as they are.