Cooper was abandoned as a pup, when the breeders realized he wouldn’t bring them profit.

Meet Cooper, the friendly American foxhound with a special condition called short spine syndrome. This unique condition gives him a body that’s only half the length of a regular dog. But despite all the difficulties, Cooper’s spirit shines brighter than ever, captivating the whole Internet. This dog is the epitome of happiness, as shared by his loving owners, Elly and Andy Keegan.

In the summer of 2017, animal control officers found a puppy near a suspected puppy farm in Halifax, Virginia. It was believed that the two-month-old pup, named Cooper, was abandoned due to his birth defect. The Bond Between shelter took Cooper, providing treatment for ear mites, worms, and a hernia. Eventually, Cooper found a forever home with Elly Keegan and her husband Andy. At that time, a couple already had three dogs.

Despite his mobility challenges and inability to walk on hard surfaces, Cooper is described by Keegan as the happiest dog, “His condition stems from inbreeding, and it’s heartbreaking to think he was discarded when the breeders realized he wouldn’t bring them profit.”

Elly also mentioned that many dogs with this condition are euthanized, which makes her so sad. “They have so much living to do, and Cooper is a real example of that. He has a happy, normal little life now and is a key member of our family,” she explained.

She continued to describing this rare condition, “The condition means that Cooper has a screwing and corkscrewing of his spine. It is fused in two places: on his neck and on his rear. He looks like he has no neck and to look behind him, he has to turn his whole body.”

The woman added, “His butt is on his back and it was all matted. He couldn’t go to the bathroom properly, which was causing him a lot of issues.”