When a litter of five pups arrived at a local animal shelter in Kansas City, four of them didn’t have to wait very long to find their forever homes. But the fifth puppy, Jack, was different and was not able to find a suitable home straightaway.
The pup that was left behind at the shelter suffered from a rare skin condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The shelter staff thought that the diseased puppy would have a hard time getting adopted, but he found the perfect family for himself very soon. Every member of the puppy’s new family has the same medical condition that the dog has.
Jack’s shelter staff told reporters that they first realized that something was wrong with the pup when he started getting frequent injuries. While playing with other dogs in the yard, the puppy would always end up with minor injuries. Either a stick would tear into his skin, or he would get bruises while trying to scratch himself.
Initially, the shelter staff had no clue what was going on, and they made him wear protective clothing to cut out the chance of injuries. The clothing would mostly be child pajamas, and while the dog looked adorable in it, he still needed proper diagnosis and treatment.
It took several veterinary tests to narrow down the pup’s medical condition, and it turned out to be Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The disease is characterized by stretchy skin and joints. The disease causes the tissues to be fragile, and for the pup, it meant that even a minor cut could transform into a severe injury.
Jack’s story reached a support group concerning the disease. Jack’s new family was also a member of that group, and that’s how Jack found his new home.
Jack will now be raised by a family who fully understands his needs.
Image source: KC Pet Project via Facebook
