“They were 5 and 6 ounces. The size of a mouse.”
Tiny Warriors: How Two Newborn Frenchies Found Hope, Healing — and a Boy Who Understood Them
A few months ago, a veterinary office reached out to Kelly Sayer with an urgent request: two newborn French bulldog puppies with cleft palates needed a safe place to go — fast. Without a moment’s hesitation, Sayer said yes.
The puppies, Violet and Dash, were only one day old, weighing a mere 5 and 6 ounces. “They were the size of a mouse,” Sayer said. So small they could each curl into the palm of her hand.
Violet was born with a cleft lip and partial cleft palate, and Dash had a cleft lip and a complete cleft palate. Both conditions can make feeding difficult and are often considered fatal flaws by some breeders — but for Sayer, they simply meant these pups needed more love, more care, and a fighting chance.
And she was ready to give them just that.
Sayer, a vet tech, specializes in caring for cleft palate puppies. But her passion for these dogs runs deeper than professional experience — it’s personal. Her son, Landon, was born with a cleft palate, too.
When Violet and Dash arrived, Landon was eager to help. “He was so gentle, and the animals were just naturally gravitating to him,” Sayer said. In those quiet moments — bottle in hand, puppies snuggled close — a bond formed between a boy and the puppies who, like him, had to fight a little harder to thrive.
“I love helping them,” Landon said. “It feels so good.”
Raising Violet and Dash was no easy feat. For weeks, Sayer was up every hour, feeding and caring for them. Newborn pups are fragile enough — and with their special needs, these two required constant attention. But Sayer, a fierce advocate for cleft-affected dogs, was more than willing.
She also continues to raise awareness about unethical breeding practices. In the quest for “rare” coat colors and features, many French bulldog breeders have ignored the growing health issues plaguing the breed, including respiratory problems, spinal deformities, and, increasingly, cleft palates.
“In the Frenchie space, we’re seeing a lot of people breeding for these rare colors and these rare things,” Sayer said. “We’ve changed the breed so much … it’s hard to see that being ethical in any way, shape or form.”
Despite the odds, Violet and Dash are now thriving. Nearly three months old, they’ve gone from fragile little potatoes to bouncy, mischievous bundles of energy. Their transformation is a testament to resilience, love, and the power of second chances.
Once they’re a bit older and more independent, they’ll be ready for adoption — to find the forever homes they so richly deserve.
“I’m so proud of these sweet little nuggets,” Sayer shared.
And somewhere nearby, Landon is probably smiling, too — proud of his role in helping two tiny pups start a brand new life.