Parents gave their 2-year-old son a puppy with cleft lip — and couldn’t hold back tears when the special boy met his 'matching' pet

He showered her with love, and she soaked it all in, instantly becoming the perfect match in every way.

PUBLISHED 2 HOURS AGO

(L) Mother and son outdoors in the sunshine, (R) 9-month-old cleft-lipped Boston Terrier sitting on grass. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) courtneyk, (R) Vicky Duckworth)

Every child is born with their own unique individuality. While it is important to embrace the differences, it’s nice to have friends to celebrate them with you. When their son was born, the Boyers went out of their way to make him feel comfortable in his own skin. His parents, Brandon and Ashley, ensured their son felt accepted and confident despite his physical condition. At 2 years old, Bentley was introduced to a special soul who shared more similarities with him—a puppy with a cleft lip.

A young man with curly hair embracing and caressing a cute homeless dog (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by max-kegfire) — A young man with curly hair embracing and caressing a cute homeless dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by max-kegfire)

Brandon was strolling through the Jackson County Animal Shelter in Michigan, looking for chickens to adopt, when he stumbled upon the adorable puppy. It instantly reminded him of his son. Touched by the sight of the special puppy, he called his wife to describe her appearance. “I said, 'I want her for the sake of Bentley,'" Ashley told Good Morning America. The very next day, the couple brought home the puppy for their son, and the emotional moment they met has left a deep impact on the family and the shelter staff. "When Bentley came in to meet the puppy, we had tears in our eyes," expressed Lydia Sattler, animal services director of Jackson County Animal Shelter.

A young boy of elementary age is playing with his dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | FatCamera)

Everyone was mesmerized by how well the two bonded. Sattler added, "He was loving her, and she was just eating it up. They were a perfect match for many reasons." The family named the pup Lacey, who had arrived in Michigan from a shelter in Mississippi. She was about 10 weeks old at the time and is suspected to be part Labrador. “They're the best of friends. If Bentley is playing on the playground, she's next to the slide waiting for him to come down. They do everything together,” Ashley said of her son and Lacey’s friendship.

A pregnant woman undergoing a USG session (Representative Image Source: Pexels | MART PRODUCTION) — A pregnant woman undergoing a USG session. (Representative Image Source: Pexels | MART PRODUCTION)

Bentley’s birth defect was discovered during his mother’s 20-week ultrasound. Ever since, he has had two corrective surgeries, one of which allowed him to fully close the upper lip. At the beginning, the boy struggled to eat and was kept in the NICU for a period of time. However, Bentley is perfectly fine post-surgery and insists on helping out with chores at home. "He is the best kid ever. If you go outside to do chores, he gets upset if you don't ask for his help." Now, the Boyers enjoy their time with their two dogs, Lacey and her sibling, Remi, an English Mastiff. The family was also due to welcome their fourth family member, Bentley’s baby sibling, in December 2023.

A boy with a dog walks in the park on a sunny spring evening, sits on the grass. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Maria Moroz)

According to Mayo Clinic, a cleft lip occurs when tissues in the baby’s face do not join properly. This lip and palate formation occurs in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Babies with cleft lips have an opening on their upper lip that may hinder their eating and appearance. It is primarily caused by genetic and environmental factors, with males generally more vulnerable to the birth defect.