Anna Marie Giannini knew Tilly was special as soon as she saw the Tibetan puppy. Giannini responded to an online ad about giving away a litter of puppies, but one of them was unique.
Giannini didn’t mind that Tilly was no ordinary puppy; she likes unusual.
Giannini explained to The Dodo: “When I arrived, they informed me that one of the puppies was defective and they could not find a home for it, which could lead to death. “I fell in love with her and was already planning our future year in my head before he finished that scary line.”
Tilly was born with short spine syndrome, a rare disease in which the vertebrae are compressed leaving her with a disproportionately short back and no neck.
Tilly was placed in Giannini’s arms, and she couldn’t believe that no one wanted such a cute puppy.
Giannini recalls: “When I got her, she was a dirty little ball of fur. “She was in my arms, and as we drove home from where I picked her up, she was on my lap and looking up at me with those big brown eyes, and I knew she needed me as well as I did. I need the baby. ”
Giannini tells Tilly she will never feel unwanted again.
Tilly’s short spine becomes more apparent as she gets older. But that doesn’t stop her from following in the footsteps of her puppy friends. Giannini explains: “She was born with a medical condition and her body, like those born with the syndrome, has learned to adapt. “She has no health problems or complications due to her short spine, and [we] wish her a long, healthy life.”
Giannini often overlooks the time period when Tilly is unique. The only time the little dog needs help is when he has to go up and down furniture, which he does using special steps. Because the spine is not flexible, she cannot turn her head to scratch or chew. So her mother tries to scratch and massage her throughout the day.
Tilly expressed gratitude to her mother for raising her in a caring home.
“She slept like a little human in my bed,” Giannini recalls, “with her knees and feet tucked under the blankets.” She has to be with me all the time, touching me. When I was cooking, she stood between my legs. She was always by my side, putting her feet on my lap when I finished my homework.”
“Every hour or so when we were at home, she would randomly come up to me and kiss me and lie down again,” she continued, “it worked like a clock.” It’s like she can’t function without a kiss!”
Tilly didn’t realize her weirdness, but her unusual appearance attracted a lot of attention from both humans and dogs on the street.
Giannini explains: “Other dogs are often charmed by her and treat her gently. “On the other hand, Tilly doesn’t care because she knows she’s capable of anything; she is a determined young woman who wants to play with any dog, big or small.”
Tilly has learned a lot from Giannini and wouldn’t trade her time for anything.
Giannini added: “Tilly reminds me every day to rejoice for another day. “I’m so grateful to be the person who brought her wonderful life and I get to spend all of this time with her because she’s so special and lovely when I have her.”
She went on to say, “She kept telling me that being different is something special