An adorable pooch with the same disorder as the mutant raccoon Jimothy has the internet swooning — as obsession with the unique animals hits a fever pitch.
Tilly, a 7-year-old Tibetan spaniel with short spine syndrome, was adopted in 2019 by her guardian Anna Marie Gianni who saved the adorable furball from being euthanized.
“…[T]hey told me one of the puppies was deformed and they could not find her a home, which could lead to euthanization,” Gianni told Dodo back in 2021.
“I had already fallen in love with her and planned out our next year together in my head before he was even done saying that awful statement,” she said.
Tilly’s daily life is catalogued on Gianni’s popular TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook accounts — with tons of videos showing the everyday antics of the charming pooch, from puppy playdates to simply trying to get her unique body in a good position for snuggling.
“She was born with a syndrome, and just like humans born with a syndrome, her body has learned to adapt and she is thriving,” Giannini told the outlet.
Tilly is now riding the coattails of viral sensation Jimothy.
Videos of the hound adorably trying to snag an immobile treat and bopping around with a birthday hat on her head have gone viral on X in the wake of Jimothy’s fame.
Gianni said she finally understands the internet’s obsession with her own love-loaf.
“I am feeling all the feels you all feel when you see Tilly for the first time with these Jimmothy [sic] videos,” she wrote in an Instagram story post Friday.
Unlike Seattle’s favorite mutant — who experts said is doomed to live a short life — Tilly has not had any chronic health problems because of her drastically abbreviated backbone.
“She has had no health issues or complications because of her short spine, and [we] expect her to live a long, healthy life,” Gianni told Dodo.
Short spine syndrome affects nearly zero percent of animals — but those that have it can experience congenital issues like organ compression and joint problems, according to Brian Collins of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.
The mutation could also make it more difficult for Jimothy to climb trees and avoid predators.
“But we’ll certainly cheer him on and hope for the best,” said Collins.
Collins further said dogs with short spine syndrome that have reliable caretakers have better outcomes than animals in the wild.
Tibetan spaniels normally grow to be about 10 inches long, weigh up to 15 pounds, and have an average lifespan between 12 and 15 years, according to the American Kennel Club.
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