Tiny Fighters With The Biggest Hearts
When Kelly Sayer, a vet tech and experienced Frenchie foster mom, got a call from a local vet office about two newborn puppies with cleft palates, she didn’t hesitate for a second. She knew their lives depended on someone who understood their special needs — and she was ready to give them that chance.
The pups, Violet and Dash, were only a day old when they arrived. So fragile they could fit in the palm of Kelly’s hand, weighing barely 5 to 6 ounces — the size of a mouse. Violet had a cleft lip with a partial cleft palate, while her brother Dash faced an even bigger challenge: a full cleft palate.
For Kelly, this wasn’t just fostering — it was personal. Her own son, Landon, was born with a cleft palate. Growing up, he learned compassion in the most beautiful way: by helping care for puppies just like him.
“He was so gentle, and the animals naturally gravitated to him,” Kelly said. Landon himself puts it simply: “I love helping them. It feels so good.”
The early weeks were exhausting. Kelly was up every hour, bottle-feeding, monitoring, and keeping the pups safe. But the love between Landon and the puppies made it worth every sleepless night. Together, they gave Violet and Dash the one thing they needed most: hope.
Sadly, many puppies born with cleft palates are abandoned or euthanized. Kelly has made it her mission to fight for them — while also speaking out about the unethical breeding practices that are making health problems in Frenchies more and more common.
“People are breeding for rare colors and looks, but it’s left these dogs with so many problems — breathing, spines, clefts,” she said. “It’s hard to see that as ethical in any way.”
Despite the odds, Violet and Dash are now thriving. No longer fragile “potatoes,” they’ve grown into playful, bouncy 3-month-old pups full of energy and life. The next step? Finding their forever homes where they’ll be cherished for exactly who they are.
Kelly couldn’t be prouder: “I’m so proud of these sweet little nuggets.”