In 2010, I adopted a dog with sᴘɪɴᴇ sʏɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇ, Cuda, and began researching this rare condition that causes the vertebrae along the spine and neck to fuse, shortening the sᴘɪɴᴇ. Dogs with short sᴘɪɴᴇ sʏɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇ share the same comical appearance, with sloping backs, long faces, and short, thick necks. Cuda’s appearance was like nothing Julie had ever seen. These dogs are as mobile and healthy as any other dog and live long, happy lives.
Since then, I have contacted 21 more dog owners around the world with short messages on Facebook. Their stories circulated on the Internet. In March, a post appeared on Cuda’s page about a short dog named Rambo who was looking for a home.
Julie didn’t know what was wrong with the canine, but she knew that Cuda belonged to her family. It was easy to see that Rambo was not like the other dogs. “I was a little surprised,” Ocampo said. “I thought he was born that way because his parents were related.” Ocampo saw beyond that. “With such a beautiful face, Rambo’s differences don’t matter,” he said.
“The moment he saw me, he walked up to me and started sniffing me, telling me to play with him,” Gof said. “He knew I was his new life partner.” His future began to reveal itself in my head and I knew that I had to be his future. His body was so unusual that I felt like no one would give him a chance.
Julie’s husband was reluctant to bring another puppy into their home because the couple previously had four pets. But, after a little persuasion, he agreed. Julie discovered that Cuda had a short chin pattern, also known as a baboon canine pattern. At that moment, the little dog’s twisted back was sǫᴜɪsʜɪɴɢ his organs together.
Julie and her husband Scott loved Cuda no matter his appearance, but at first the public didn’t share in that joy. People laughed and focused back on Cuda on his first trip to the pet store, Julie ran out of the store as soon as possible. Instead of giving up, Julie made the most of Cuda’s unusual traits. He participated as a puppy in the 2011 world’s ugliest dog contest.
Cuda did not win, but she was one of the media favorites. There was no more nauseating aesthetics in her way, just kisses, love, and the desire to help pets with special needs.
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