In early June, our Care Team received a request for a donation that stood out for so many reasons. Lana, a breeder of Dachshund puppies on the West Coast, reached out to have a crate donated for a pup who was born with a cleft lip. She let us know that the pup would be sent to the home of a child who was also born with a cleft lip - and we knew that we had to spring into action and help.

Lana joined a cleft lip support group and found Karrie—it was a perfect match. Karrie’s daughter, Kentley (9), resides in Wisconsin and has been through many emotions over the last few years. In addition to navigating school during a pandemic and health crisis, she was born with a cleft lip and has had several surgeries to help correct this.

Karrie had been searching for a way to help Kentley through these difficult times and help her daughter feel less alone. She knew that a pup was just what Kentley needed. “I don’t have my anxiety as much anymore. I never really had my own pet (except a cat), and it’s really nice,” shared Kentley. Kentley related so much to this new pup that she wanted their names to match, too: their new pup has been named Bentley.

We asked what makes Bentley so special to Kentley, and she shared that “He’s cute. But I think Bentley treats me a little differently, too. We have a special bond because we’re similar. He just knows that.”

Bentley and Kentley have a lot in common, but a big reason why it was so important to me to jump in and help out in this situation was that I saw a lot of what I went through as a kid in Kentley. I wasn’t born with a cleft lip, nor did I go through surgeries, but I was still very different from the other kids my age. I was learning that I was part of the LGBTQ+ community and felt like I was an outcast at school. I was suffering through a lot of dark moments filled with anxiety. My parents also got our family a dog around that same age, and a big reason why I made it through those difficult times was that I had Abby, our family's golden retriever.

When I learned that Diggs had the opportunity to help a family with a child in need, I knew that we had to support in any way that we could, and I’m so grateful that Diggs could help make this amazing initiative happen. In a time that has been hard for so many, I think what is most important is that we all learn to be just a little bit more empathetic to one another and treat each other with kindness.