Quasimodo is a purebred German shepherd, with all the traditional markings of the breed, little black eyebrows and all. He has the gentle and loving demeanor of the breed, too. But if you saw him, you might not recognize him as a German shepherd.
This pup has a very rare genetic disorder called short spine syndrome. Doctors believe that the spine didn't harden soon enough either in the womb or shortly after birth, allowing it to scrunch up. As a result, this shepherd has essentially no neck and a shortened spine, while his head and legs are all normal size. This gives him a striking resemblance to the Hunchback of Notre Dame from Victor Hugo's 1831 gothic novel, hence the shared name.
His handlers at Secondhand Hounds want to make it very clear that this isn't intended to poke fun at the animal… quite the opposite! Coordinators at SHH say that Quasimodo of the novel was a hero, and "the Quasi of SHH is our hero because he is the definition of the qualities we all admire in our dogs. Born different but never knowing any other way, he seeks to please the people who have shown him kind hands and warm hearts."
At the end of January, Quasimodo was found in Kentucky. Despite his appearance, he didn't seem to be in any pain other than from a wound on his neck from an embedded collar. This wound has been tended to.
As you can see, his torso is much shorter than what it's supposed to be at his age of 4 or 5 years old. He's now under the care of Secondhand Hounds in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he's staying at a foster home until he's cleared to be adopted.
The organization has received hundreds of adoption inquiries for Quasimodo, but the organization needs to make sure that he's healthy enough to go to a forever home. While he does seem to be comfortable and can run and play as a happy pup, doctors want to make sure that there aren't any hidden dangers.
This shepherd is one of only 13 known dogs with this syndrome. He could encounter complications later in life, but only time will tell.
In the meantime, he's all smiles! He's eager to please the people who show him love and affection, and he doesn't let his syndrome hinder his life at any capacity. When reached for comment, Sara Anderson, Large Breed Foster Coordinator at SHH, noted that "Quasi has no idea that he's any different than any other dog. He loves to play by nibbling on his people, and laps are his favorite place to be! Quasi doesn't let his differences stop him, he lives his life like other dogs, he just does it in his own way!"
His caregivers have all become so smitten with this unique pooch, who's risen to fame after the rescue made a Facebook page for him.
No matter where he ends up now, I'm sure this pup will continue on this new road of happiness after years of living as a stray. He totally deserves it!
The outpour of support for this unique pup is enough to warm anyone's heart. You can continue to follow his adoption journey on his Facebook page, as well as with Secondhand Hounds.
Please SHARE Quasimodo's incredible story with your friends and family!
