Bentley Boyers from Jackson, Michigan, has a new best friend. The two-year-old boy has recently adopted a puppy! While this may not seem like anything out of the ordinary, this friendship is extra special because they both share the same exact condition: both were born with a cleft palate.
Even though Bentley is only two, he has already undergone two operations in order to try to fix his condition. Even though the young child is facing the complications associated with his condition, he’s still a pretty optimistic boy – and things just got that much sweeter with a new buddy that is just like him!
The puppy and toddler were brought together by Bentley’s father, Brandon. He had made a trip to the Jackson County Animal Shelter to look for chickens when he noticed the little pup. As Bentley’s mother, Ashley, shared to WILX, Brandon quickly Facetimed her to say that he’d seen a puppy with a cleft palate. It was Ashley who then insisted that Brandon inquire about adoption.
As she explained, “To see him have something in common with a puppy means a lot ‘cause he can grow up and understand that he and his puppy both have something that they can share in common.”
Common condition or not, there was no denying that Bentley was beside himself with joy at having a brand-new puppy! The heartwarming meeting was captured in a series of pictures by the Jackson County Animal Shelter. They shared the tender photos to the Facebook page in a post which stated, “Introducing Bentley and his new puppy. At two years old and with surgeries already under his belt for his cleft lip, Bentley found his match today in this tiny pup who also had a cleft lip.”
And just like her new bestie, the little puppy seems completely unfazed by her cleft lip. The shelter’s Animal Services Director, Lydia Sattler, stated that the little black and white pup was not the least bit inhibited by her disability. She further noted that the puppy’s health wouldn’t be adversely affected in any way by her cleft palate. Sattler said, “She might look a little different than a normal dog would, but it’s not slowing her down at all.”
The shelter’s post further added that the two were instantaneously the best of friends – a bond that will undoubtedly just grow even stronger with each passing year. We are so excited for these two to grow up together!
