This special needs rescue dog couldn't walk on his front paws but that didn't stop him from going places

Way back in the 1800s, there was a French poet by the name of Anatole France. He won a Nobel Prize for Literature and was a prolific writer. Still, of everything he ever wrote, what best defines him are these words: "Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
When Tucker, a crossbreed consisting of Chihuahua, Min Pin, and Poodle was born, he was different than his litter mates. Because Tucker was born with MPS VI, mucopolysaccharide, a disease that causes all kinds of deformities and health issues.
Advertisement
But looking like a bat didn't mean no one loved him. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. Tucker had a huge following on Instagram, and was known all over the planet as a fighter and an advocate for MSP Army.org. His mom adopted him knowing very well that he would have a tough life, and she was ready to do whatever it took to help him live as long as possible. Most dogs born with MSP VI die by their second birthday.
In addition to having this deforming disease, he was also an albino, which means his mom had to be careful about the time he spent in the sun. In fact, because his eyes were light blue, Tucker wore goggles!
Mom assured us that even though his front feet were so deformed he couldn't walk on them, that didn't mean he couldn't get wherever he wanted to go. He had developed a kind of "army crawl" that got him around the yard quite well. So though you might have expected him to lie around all the time, it wasn't that way at all!
If you're a fan of fantasy, perhaps you remember Falcor from Neverending Story. When you looked into Tucker's sweet face, you saw the friendly flying dragon from the movie. And like Falcor, Tucker was full of love and magic.
His undershot jaw and cloudy blue eyes are typical of a dog with MSP VI. But it just didn't seem to bother him all that much. He was a dog who went to sleep with a clear conscious every night (and off and on throughout the day). His mom says maybe his conscious should have been a little bothersome, since he managed to get into mischief just like other dogs.
Tucker proved over and over that having special needs doesn't make you any less a whole being. It's just in a little different packaging. And he always had a wink and a smile for everyone!
Tucker is gone, now, but many people still remember him and talk about what an incredible dog he was. They consider themselves lucky to have been a part of his amazing life, even if it was digitally. Perhaps his message was that we all can find room in our hearts to reach out and make someone's day a little brighter. And you don't have to be perfect to do that!
Advertisement
Do you know any disabled animals? There are all kinds of dogs around that need a little help in some way or other. And one thing is true about them all: if you own one, you're one of the luckiest people on earth! What about you? Feeling lucky? Talk to your local shelter today.