Half a bulldog, twice the love.
That’s the motto for Bonsai, an English bulldog who was born with numerous birth defects to an Arkansas-based breeder on April 17.
The impossibly cute and resilient pup was born with caudal regression syndrome, sacrocaudal dysgenesis and a likely case of spina bifida. These diagnoses contributed to his being born with just half a spine, no pelvis and tiny, contracted hind legs.
Bonsai at 4 weeks old, when he still had both of his hind legs.FacebookIn addition, Bonsai was born with swimmer puppy syndrome, a condition in which the chests of newborn pups become dangerously flat and legs are splayed to the sides, which puts pressure on their internal organs.
While Bonsai’s swimmer puppy syndrome can be reversed with time and therapy, there is no known cure for his other ailments.
Unsure of how to care for the sick pup, his owners brought him to Friends of Emma, a Fort Worth, Texas-based rescue organization for dogs with special needs.
The deformed hind legs, which were impeding Bonsai’s growth, were amputated by the rescue group on June 25. Just 16 hours after surgery, he was hobbling along on his remaining two front legs.
His recovery has been documented on a nearly daily basis by Friends of Emma, who created a Facebook page for fans to track Bonsai’s recovery. So far, the page has earned more than 36,000 likes.
Bonsai is the first known animal to suffer from these disfigurements.FacebookFriends of Emma has not found any record of other animals being born with similar conditions to Bonsai, and thus have no precedent for how to proceed.
Bonsai will undoubtedly need lifelong care and further surgeries. So far, a YouCaring page created by Friends of Emma founder Elizabeth Hart has raised over $13,800 to date.
Bonsai has found a friend in Ransom, a fellow double amputee at the rescue center.Facebook“Bonsai is a special character and we just hope to spread the word about him and bring awareness that those born different (animals and human alike) can still MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives and hearts of many!” says the donation page.
While it’s unclear how Bonsai performs necessary functions, such as going to the bathroom, several photographs on the Facebook page show Bonsai in a diaper.
Despite his physical limitations, Bonsai has as much personality as any other bulldog pup. He’s become fast friends with his “older brother” Ransom, a rescued pit bull who’s also missing both of his hind legs.
Bonsai’s also found an affinity for chewing the heads off of his favorite stuffed animals, including his beloved FlufferDuck. He can be seen chasing down toys and offering adorable growls and barks at the camera in his many YouTube videos.
For now, the minuscule pup spends most of his time living in a baby playpen, filled with blankets and stuffed animals and placed next to a window so he can take in the great outdoors.
To donate money toward Bonsai’s recovery, visit youcaring.com.
