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1 out of 150: A Dog With A Rare Short Spine Syndrome Inspires Us To Live Life To The Fullest
1 out of 150: A Dog With A Rare Short Spine Syndrome Inspires Us To Live Life To The Fullest
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1 out of 150: A Dog With A Rare Short Spine Syndrome Inspires Us To Live Life To The Fullest

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Cooper is not an ordinary dog. Due to his weirdly shrunk body, he caught people’s attention on the internet.

Cooper has a rare short spine syndrome (SSS), which involves the screwing and corkscrewing of his spine. As a result, Cooper has no neck, so to look behind him, he has to turn around.

Despite his constrained mobility or inability to walk on hard surfaces or other issues that come with this syndrome, Cooper is happy, now the only dog in the family. His foster mom, or as he calls her, “Ma”, continues to share Cooper’s life updates on Facebook, spreading awareness of this rare condition and giving hope to other dogs like him.

More info: Facebook

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    Meet Cooper, a goofy-looking dog who has a rare short spine syndrome and is one out of only 150 such dogs in the world

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Cooper’s birth defect is a result of inbreeding. It is thought that in 2017, breeders abandoned him at two months old, as animal control officers found him near a suspected puppy farm

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    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Luckily, soon after, Cooper moved to Minnesota, where he was welcomed into a family with 3 other dogs

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

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    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Despite his differences, Cooper, just like other dogs, enjoys life to the fullest by spending time outside, taking sweet naps, and staring thoughtfully out the window

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

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    Unfortunately, over the years, Cooper had to see other dogs pass away, leaving him the only dog in the family

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Nevertheless, he continues to live with his foster mom, with whom he has formed an even stronger bond

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

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    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Cooper’s life demonstrates that dogs with SSS can lead full and joyful lives, offering hope to others in similar situations

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

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    Image credits: CooperShortSpine

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    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    Read more »

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Read less »
    Hidrėlėy

    Hidrėlėy

    Author, Approved Contributor

    I am a Brazilian digital artist who loves transforming imagination into hyper-real visuals. I work with artificial intelligence and image editing to create what I always wondered as a child: how would our favorite characters look in real life? Over time, many of my artworks have gone viral and were featured in international publications. I have recreated realistic versions of cartoon characters such as Disney and The Simpsons, imagined how celebrities who died young would look today, and even gave modern faces to historical figures like Mona Lisa or Shakespeare. Beyond entertainment, I created Para Não Esquecer, a social project that revisits memorable criminal cases in Brazil. My goal is to honor victims, keep memory alive and remind society that justice and empathy matter. I also write for Bored Panda, where I create articles featuring artists, photographers, rescue stories and feel-good moments from around the world. My work aims to highlight creativity, kindness and emotional storytelling. In everything I do, my purpose is the same: to touch hearts, evoke emotion and make people feel something real.

    Ieva Midveryte

    Ieva Midveryte

    Moderator, Community member

    Read more »

    Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

    Read less »

    Ieva Midveryte

    Ieva Midveryte

    Moderator, Community member

    Hello Pandas! My name is Ieva, though it's often mistaken for the word 'Leva,' and in Lithuanian, it means 'loser' (insert the pain emoji). While I don't take offense if you accidentally call me a loser, I thought I'd share something interesting with you, which I also do professionally at work.Anywayyy, my favorite part here is introducing you to creative people who deserve just as much recognition as famous celebrities. Besides that, I also enjoy memes and funny, lighthearted posts, and occasionally, I find myself drawn to a bit of internet drama.

    What do you think ?
    Tabitha
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All Hail Cooper, The Master of the Side-Eye! I am overjoyed to find out he has had a wonderful life since his rescue. He deserves every second of it. Those puppy farmers who inbred him then abandoned him need to be taken out and shot.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My disabled dog is also a master of the side-eye! XD Makes me wonder if they master it in order to give humans - and other doggos - a look that says “yeah, I look/walk funny. But I’m just fine and happy, thank you!” XD (my dog’s disabilities were also preventable by the person who bred him, sadly, and I admittedly considered slapping the dude once I learned my dog was sick. Several of my dog’s littermates didn’t even survive.)

    Load More Replies...
    Josh
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bro i dont wanna know this dog has a short time, cute dogs BTW

    Charlotte
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't that the guy from 90 Day Fiancé?

    Panda Bear
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He looks like a marshmallow on toothpicks

    Courtney Christelle
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He’s cute. A child’s drawing come to life.

    Tabitha
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All Hail Cooper, The Master of the Side-Eye! I am overjoyed to find out he has had a wonderful life since his rescue. He deserves every second of it. Those puppy farmers who inbred him then abandoned him need to be taken out and shot.

    LakotaWolf (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My disabled dog is also a master of the side-eye! XD Makes me wonder if they master it in order to give humans - and other doggos - a look that says “yeah, I look/walk funny. But I’m just fine and happy, thank you!” XD (my dog’s disabilities were also preventable by the person who bred him, sadly, and I admittedly considered slapping the dude once I learned my dog was sick. Several of my dog’s littermates didn’t even survive.)

    Load More Replies...
    Josh
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bro i dont wanna know this dog has a short time, cute dogs BTW

    Charlotte
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn't that the guy from 90 Day Fiancé?

    Panda Bear
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He looks like a marshmallow on toothpicks

    Courtney Christelle
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He’s cute. A child’s drawing come to life.

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