Puppy with a Cleft Lip Finds a Home

When Brandon Boyers walked into an animal shelter in Jackson, Michigan, he wasn’t planning on adopting a puppy. But when he spotted a puppy who had a cleft lip, he knew he had to take her home. (1)

Boyers was hoping to look at rescued chickens and adopt a few to help grow his family’s farm. But while he was there, he saw a small black and white dog who had a cleft lip. Boyers’ 2-year-old son, Bentley, also has a cleft lip, so Boyers was immediately drawn to the puppy. (1)

“It was pretty shocking actually,” Boyers told the Washington Post. “I had never seen a dog with a cleft lip before.” (1)

He FaceTimed his wife, Ashley, to show her the puppy. She immediately told him to adopt her. (1)

Boyers talked to Linda Sattler, the director of the animal shelter, about adopting the puppy. “I explained that they could take the puppy home two days later after she had her final vet appointment,” Sattler said. She was overjoyed that a family wanted the puppy, as the shelter staff was worried that no one would want to adopt her. (1)

The puppy had been transferred to the shelter with a group of 24 other dogs from an area in Mississippi that has an overpopulation of animals. The puppy had been at the shelter for a week, and most of the other dogs she arrived with had already been adopted. (1)

A Boy’s Best Friend

Although they knew they wouldn’t be able to adopt the puppy for a few more days, the Boyers wanted Bentley to meet her right away. Ashley Boyers brought her son to the shelter the next day so he could meet his new friend. (1)

“They were head over heels for each other right away,” Ashley told the Washington Post. “[E]veryone started crying” as Bentley cuddled the puppy in his arms. He decided to name his new dog Lacey. (1)

“We were all in tears seeing the two of them together,” said Sattler, especially since this is the first time the shelter has had a puppy with a cleft lip. “The fact that this is something we never see, the puppy came from 1,000 miles away and that Bentley’s dad just happened to be here at that moment, it was just amazing.” (1)

Something in Common

At just two years old, Bentley has already had two surgeries to correct his cleft lip, which he was born with. In the future, he will have more procedures, including a bone grafting operation. (1)

“I found out he was going to have a cleft lip during my gender ultrasound. He had his first surgery when he was 5 months old,” Ashley said in an interview with the Washington Post. “He is the strongest little boy I know.” (1)

According to the shelter, Lacey’s cleft lip won’t stop her from living a normal and healthy life. And with her new best friend, Bentley, her life is sure to be a happy one, too. (1)

“My puppy [is] so cute,” Bentley said. “I cuddle Lacey and give her kisses.” (1)

“He knows that the dog has the same condition as he does. He understands,” Ashley Boyers remarked. “It is remarkable to see him share something in common with the puppy.” (1)