Dog With Short Spine Syndrome Helps Special Needs Adoptions

Quasimodo is a German Shepherd Dog who shares his name with the protagonist in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The pup suffers from a rare spinal condition called Short Spine Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes him to be missing several vertebrae in his back and cannot be surgically repaired. But those who named him Quasimodo don't wish to make fun of his condition. Instead, they want to show that Quasi is a hero, just like the hunchback character from the story.

Quasi is getting lots of love from the media and from all over the internet, and his story is helping to bring attention to shelter and rescue animals and specifically special needs animals. His Facebook page, Quasi The Great, has over 50,000 likes and promotes Secondhand Hounds, a non-profit animal rescue group that took Quasi in. The dog has a temporary foster family now and may be ready for adoption soon, though he has to be socialized and evaluated first. 

The condition doesn't seem to cause Quasi any pain, but he has been to specialists to help with his medical needs. A geneticist is studying his blood to find out what causes Short Spine Syndrome, but it doesn't slow him down much. He had his neck cleared and cleaned to help heal an injury caused by an embedded collar, and Quasi has also been neutered and gotten surgery to help fix a vertebrae condition called screw tail. He's one of only 14 other dogs in the world with Short Spine Syndrome. But he's able to walk and run like other dogs, and he's just happy to play and get plenty of love.

Are you surprised by how well Quasi can move? Would you consider getting a special needs dog? Let us know in the comments below.