Bonsai Bulldogge Dog Names

Some say this is a sad story, but not those who knew Bonsai the Bulldog. Bonsai was smaller than most pooches of his breed. In fact, he was missing the back half of his body. He was born with several different congenital disabilities such as sacrocaudal dysgenesis, sacral agenesis, and spina bifida. He was actually born with what they call swimmer’s syndrome too. That meant his tiny rear legs were splayed, and his chest was flattened, putting too much weight and pressure on his vital organs. But this pooch was full of spunk and fire, and he used that energy to show those who saw him at birth that he wanted to live. And live he did!

Born in Arkansas in April 2015, it was immediately clear to his owners that Bonsai was different. He was not like the other puppies, much smaller and seemed to be missing his tail. But rather than do what a veterinarian suggested and “put him out of his misery,” they saw how much personality the fur baby had and decided he deserved to live a happy life just like any other dog. Because he was so lovable and full of life, his owners decided to do what they could to keep him alive as long as they could and give him the best life possible. 

They took him to the “Friends of Emma,” which is a canine rescue group in Texas who helps pups with special needs like Bonsai. Because his back legs were deformed and painful, they removed them, and he was hobbling around on his front two legs within hours of surgery! The popular pup became so famous he even had his own Facebook page with thousands of followers. After his surgery, Bonsai was able to walk by pulling himself with his front paws, and the veterinarian said he was not in pain. In fact, he seemed to be happier than most pups. 

Bonsai was a unique dog for sure and was the first animal ever known to be born with this type of disorder. But that is not the only reason he was so popular. Bonsai’s motto was “half the Bulldog with twice the love,” and this described him well because the delightful doggo learned how to do just about anything other dogs could do and more. In fact, he was famous for his handstand that he did when playing. He became the official mascot of the International Sacral Agenesis and Caudal Regression Association (iSACRA) and helped to increase the awareness of those suffering from these disorders. And although he earned his angel wings when he was just 17 months old, he left a mark on this world.