For years, 10-year-old Kynlee Rogers asked her mom one simple question: “Mom, why am I different?”

Born with a bilateral cleft lip, she began noticing her unique smile around age 6 — and so did other children. “They would make her feel different, and they would draw attention to her differences,” Kimberly Rogers said of her daughter’s experiences. But one evening, Kynlee’s curiosity took a furry twist, leading to a bond that would rewrite her story.

But then one night, instead of asking about herself, Kynlee wondered aloud: “Mom, do dogs have cleft lips?” When her mother replied, “Of course they do,” the Kentucky mom of five sprang into action. She discovered Cleft Rescue Unit, a nonprofit rescuing puppies with cleft palates and lips, founded by Lindsay Weisman. “Our mission is to combine the two different cleft communities: the human community and the canine community,” Weisman said. The organization, part of New 2 U Rescue, saves puppies nationwide who face life-threatening challenges.

Kynlee getting Tennessee from the airport to bring her home. Photo by Cleft Rescue Unit

Cleft conditions, caused by genetic or environmental factors, leave both humans and dogs with gaps in their lips or palates. For puppies, survival hinges on intervention. “If these puppies are not taken from their mothers, they will not live,” Weisman said, explaining that cleft puppies require tube-feeding. Many find homes with families who understand their needs — like Kynlee’s.

At a Nashville camp for kids with craniofacial differences last summer, Kynlee met her match: Tennessee, a 5-week-old Boston terrier with a cleft lip. The pair shared more than a smile — they even had the same birthday. “Tennee is just like her,” Rogers said. “It just gives her something she can relate to. She’s not alone.”

Since adopting Tennessee in September, Kynlee’s nightly question has vanished. “She has not asked one question about why she’s different,” her mother said, noting the pup now snoozes in Kynlee’s bed. “There’s just a bond. Tennee is her comforter.”

Kynlee Rogers, 10, with her dog, Tennessee. Both Kynlee and Tennessee were born with a cleft lip. Photo by Kimberly Rogers

Weisman emphasizes careful placements for the rescue’s puppies, many of whom have complex needs. “We’re super restrictive with where we adopt the puppies,” she said. Still, she prioritizes connecting pups with the craniofacial community. “If someone isn’t able to adopt, I always offer them to come play with the puppies,” Weisman added.

For Kynlee, Tennessee isn’t just a pet — she’s a mirror, a friend, and a reminder that differences can be bridges, not barriers. And as the pair nap nose-to-nose, it’s clear that sometimes, the answer to life’s biggest questions comes on four paws.

Watch below for a look at another sassy puppy who doesn’t let his cleft palate stop him from talking back to his mom.