Meet Millie Mae. She’s a playful, energetic pup whose body happens to be extremely small.

Millie Mae has a condition called short spine syndrome, which means she was born with a backbone that’s much shorter than normal.

“She has a normal-sized head, but she has this compact little body,” Erin Budrow, Millie Mae’s mom, told The Dodo.

Millie Mae was taken in by The Pawerful Rescue a few years ago. Given her unique, adorable appearance, one would think she would’ve gotten adopted quickly. But her journey hasn’t been easy — she spent three years at the rescue before receiving a single adoption application.

“After we got her, I just can’t believe that she took three years to find a home,” Budrow said.

Budrow and her husband try to be as gentle as possible with Millie Mae to protect her small body and its small joints. But Millie Mae has other ideas. She loves jumping around and going on hikes, especially in the snow.

“She does everything a dog without the condition does,” Budrow said. “She just looks extra cute and compact while doing it.”

Because short spine syndrome is so rare, Millie Mae gets lots of attention from strangers when she’s out and about in public. People are amazed by how adorable she is and compare her to characters like Mike Wazowski from “Monsters, Inc.” and Scrappy-Doo.

“People definitely turn their heads, and they want to know why she looks like that,” Budrow said.

It’s only been a few months since Budrow and her husband adopted Millie Mae, so she’s still settling in. But the couple has been amazed by how affectionate and trusting she’s already been with them.

“My husband and I are like, ‘How is she real?’ She’s the sweetest dog we’ve ever met,” Budrow said.

The couple is deeply grateful that they were able to give Millie Mae the forever home she’s always deserved. She’s made a perfect addition to their household, and now they can’t imagine their family without her.

“It just kind of feels like she was always meant to be with us,” Budrow said.