A little dog about to be put to sleep forever due to the condition of her spine clung to the hope of having the second chance she deserved. Her illness does not take away her right to have a dignified life, being loved and respected.

Anna Marie Giannini saw an ad online that said they were giving away a litter of adorable puppies, but one of the puppies was different, and that’s exactly what caught her attention.

It was Tilly, the protagonist of this story, an adorable Tibetan spaniel who captured Anna’s heart.

From the first moment Anna saw Tilly, she knew she was a special dog.

“When I arrived, I had been told that one of the puppies was malformed and that they couldn’t find a home for her, which could lead to euthanasia.

I had already fallen in love with her and had visualized us together before they finished saying that horrible thing,” Anna said.

Tilly was born with short spine syndrome, a rare condition in which her compressed vertebrae make her look like a little dog with no neck and a very small back.

When Anna held Tilly in her arms, she couldn’t believe no one wanted to take her home.

“When I got her, she was a little ball of fluff. She fit perfectly in my hand. The whole ride home she lay in my lap. She would look at me with her big brown eyes, and I knew right away that she needed me and I needed her,” Anna added.

From that moment on Anna promised herself that Tilly would never feel rejected again.

As Tilly grew her short spine became more noticeable, however, that hasn’t stopped her from doing everything the rest of the furry ones do.

“She was born with a syndrome and, just like humans who are born with a special condition, her body has learned to adapt. She has had no health problems or complications due to her short spine. We expect her to live a long and healthy life,” Anna said.

Tilly only needs a little help getting on and off the furniture, but for that she uses special stairs. Anna always takes time during the day to give her a little massage.

Tilly doesn’t hesitate to show Anna her appreciation for everything she does for her. Tilly has a happy life, feels loved and loves her home.

“Every hour she spontaneously comes to me and fills me with kisses and then goes back to bed. She’s like clockwork, she seems to need kisses in order to function,” Anna added.

Although this adorable little dog doesn’t feel any different, her appearance catches the attention not only of people, but also of other furry people.

“The other dogs are often intrigued when they see her, but they are very gentle with her. However, she doesn’t mind. She is definitely a determined puppy and if she wants to play she will play with any puppy regardless of size,” said Anna.

Anna assures us that she has learned a lot from Tilly and wouldn’t change a thing about her.

“Tilly sleeps in bed with me, she rests her head on the pillow and tucks her paws under the blanket. She always has to be near me, touching me. When I cook she stands right between my legs and when I do my homework she is lying next to me with her paws on me,” Anna said.

Tilly reminds Anna daily to be grateful for a new day.

Anna feels very lucky to have Tilly, and is very happy that she is the one giving this little dog a happy life. Tilly constantly reminds her mother that being different is something special.