Narwhal, a 10-week-old golden retriever, stands out among his canine peers for a special reason — a cute “unicorn” tail sprouting from his forehead.

Found outdoors in extreme weather with another dog, Narwhal captured the attention of Rochelle Steffen, founder of Mac’s Mission in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The moment she heard about him, she knew she had to step in and rescue him.

“We received a social media call for aid because he was exceptional and had been abandoned,” Steffen shared with The Dodo. “Everyone knows I have a soft spot for the challenging cases.”

For Steffen, it was instant love upon meeting Narwhal: “I melted,” she confessed. “His joy lights up the room. His butt tail never stops wagging – if only his face tail could!”

Narwhal’s extra tail is an unusual congenital abnormality, about one-third the size of his regular tail. X-rays revealed it’s made of skin and hair and isn’t attached to anything else. “It just hangs down like a strand of Superman’s hair,” Steffen described.

Apart from a case of worms that can be treated with medication, Narwhal is in good health. As for his unique tail, there’s currently no medical necessity to remove it. “It doesn’t affect him, and he has no idea he’s unique,” Steffen assured.

Narwhal currently resides at Steffen’s home, enjoying cuddles and affection. “He adores people and plays around with other dogs,” she mentioned. “He’s particularly fond of the adult dog he was rescued with and another Chihuahua mix named Ash. They have a blast together!”

While Narwhal will eventually seek a forever home, Steffen is ensuring that his special tail doesn’t hinder his zest for life. For now, he’s basking in care and attention, awaiting his next adventure.

And the enchanted unicorn puppy? Utterly thrilled.