This Tigger Might Have More in Common with Roo

Featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Tigger

Via Facebook

Like the character in the A.A. Milne series, the most wonderful thing about Tigger is that he’s the only one. That might not be, strictly speaking, true, but he is certainly unique.

Tigger was born with a condition known as ectrodactyly. This congenital deformity has made him more of a Roo than a Tigger. He spends a lot of time on his back legs than on all fours.

But this hasn’t limited Tigger at all. He’s still a ball of energy who loves to run and play with other dogs and animals.

Tigger is a delightfully outgoing, mostly normal dog. What makes Tigger not normal is just how much harder he has to work to accomplish all the things he loves to do.

Ectrodactyly

Also known as split hand or cleft hand malformation, ectrodactyly is a disorder that is known to affect many different animals.

In Tigger’s case, the bones of his front legs developed wrong. They’re the equivalent of the bones in a human’s forearm, and they started growing in a manner that had them bowing and rotating outward. His wrists didn’t form properly, and his toes didn’t fully develop. The few toes he does have resemble claws and not padded feet.

Tigger’s paws via Facebook

This all means that Tigger can get around on all fours, but it’s very hard and painful for him. But like any two-year-old, he doesn’t let his condition get him down.

Efforts to Help

Tigger is currently in foster care. He was brought to the attention of the Savin’ Juice Medical Dog Rescue when his previous owner couldn’t afford to take care of him any longer.

Now, the rescue and his foster family is looking to raise money for a surgery that will help him get around with a little more ease. The way he’s been getting around has been doing more damage to his joints. In an effort to stop this before the damage is permanent, Tigger will need surgery and prosthetics.

You can learn more about Tigger on his Facebook page, and his family have put together a collection to help them afford his operation.

Via Facebook

Source: This Tigger Might Have More in Common with Roo