Introducing Bonsai, a cute little English bulldog. Bonsai was born on April 17 in Arkansas. He’s adorable, yes, but Bonsai’s quality of life may not be as lovely as his face because he’s suffering from a combination of rare genetic disorders.
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Bonsai was born with what’s believed to be spina bifida. He also has sacrocaudal dysgenesis and caudal regression syndrome. Because he has tiny contracted hind legs, only half of his spine is present, and no functional pelvis, it is quite hard for Bonsai to move the way a normal pup does.
As if those medical conditions aren’t enough, Bonsai also suffers from what is called the swimmer puppy syndrome. Animals with this illness have spread-out legs and flattened chest. Because their legs, which are supposed to be their body’s support, are too weak for them to stand, a lot of pressure is placed on their internal organs.
When Bonsai’s owners first saw him, they got scared that they might not be able to take care of the pup the right way. So they contacted Friends of Emma, a rescue group based in Fort Worth, dedicated to helping dogs with specials needs.
Bonsai’s first surgery involved removing his hind legs because doctors believed that it was the pup’s biggest problem. Since he was operated in late June, Bonsai has been recovering pretty well.
Bonsai was later moved to his new home, where he found new friends. One of them was Ransom, a dog who also had parts of his body amputated.
After his case became public, Bonsai gained a lot of attention. What made his situation a little special is the fact that Bonsai is the only known animal who contracted sacral agenesis and caudal regression. Before he came, this condition is only observed in humans.
When the international Sacral Agenesis Caudal Regression Association (iSACRA) found out about Bonsai, he was named the nonprofit organization’s mascot.
It’s not the last surgery Bonsai has to undergo though. He still has a lot of surgical instruments to face. No one knows how many more operations the bulldog has to endure, but to ease up on the situation, a lot of people offered to help Bonsai and his caretakers with medical expenses by setting up a fundraising account for him in PetCaring.
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Because the pup remains to be strong and shows a face that is too cute to be true despite his condition, a lot of people continue to root for Bonsai. A slogan was even created for him: “Half the bulldog, twice the love.”