We adopted a new puppy over the weekend. His name is Howie and we adopted him from a local rescue. He was dumped at the rescue by the breeder because he was "unsellable" due to being born without any kneecaps in his back legs. Everyone at the rescue adoption would look at him and say "oh he's so cute, we'd take him if it weren't for his legs" and when I heard that it sealed the deal for me and I took him home that day!!
We meet with the rescue's vet in a couple of days to go over Howie's previous treatment plans and get his records/xrays to take to our own vet. I've never heard of a dog being born without kneecaps. His back legs do not bend AT ALL. His hips move, and actually they tend to fly out to the side (so he waddles like a duck - which is where is name came from - Howie is short for Howard the Duck). Anyway b/c of his hips being like this I have to tape his back legs together, hip width apart, for 10-12 hours a day.
He doesn't seem to car about his legs as he can still run and play. He has even figured out how to get up ALL the stairs in our house!! He just hasn't figured out how to get down yet without rolling. lol. He is a fast little booger and does his darndest to keep up with his big sisters.
You can check out pix of Howie
here .