- Shannon
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
Save the Clefts rescue is joining us for their first-ever Spring Fling! Save the Clefts is dedicated to saving cleft lip/palate and other special needs animals that would normally be euthanized. Their team hand raises them around the clock from birth- caring for their physical, medical, and psychological needs until they are old enough and healthy enough to be adopted into forever homes.
Save the Clefts Rescue believes these dogs are blessings, not mistakes, and they have a very special purpose to fulfill in this life. Their team works hard at raising awareness, educating, and advocating for the lives of these pups.
Save The Clefts Rescue (STCR) was founded to save special-needs animals that are often euthanized at birth. The founder, Jodi Sterner-Findling, had been saving pups on her own for many years, but she realized she needed help to advocate, educate and take on the financial responsibility for these special animals. She formed a nonprofit rescue in 2018 in NC; the rescue now also has fosters in SC, GA, VA, PA, OH and MO. Volunteers in many other states help get these amazing pups to trained foster owners quickly.
A cleft palate and lip puppy’s biggest hurdle is the inability to suckle at birth because of their deformity. Each call about a puppy is an emergency because they need to be fed as soon as possible. Volunteers drop everything to pick up puppies and get them fed. The puppies are tube fed around the clock (every 2 to 3 hours).
After a few weeks of tube feeding, the puppies are introduced to kibble, and once they’ve mastered food, they go on to live amazing lives. To date, no corrective cleft surgeries have been performed on any of the puppies rescued by Save The Clefts Rescue.
STCR is blessed with volunteer pilots, ground transport, caregivers and event/fundraising volunteers. The organization maintains a nationwide database of rescues and volunteers for special needs animals. Currently 100% volunteer-operated, most of STCR’s foster owners have full-time jobs which allow them to bring puppies, incubators and supplies to work to provide nonstop care. The rescues’ fosters dedicate countless sleep-deprived nights to tube feeding pups (just like a newborn baby requires).
“This type of rescuing is truly a calling,” says Jodi. “Fosters are true parents to these puppies. They not only form an incredible bond, but caring for them also makes it extremely difficult to let them go to their forever families. As if sleep deprivation wasn’t enough, they then hand them over with tears in their eyes when the perfect family comes along. But that’s what they do--raise these perfect babies to go out and be amazing inspirations for very deserving families!”
STCR has other important goals, including becoming more active in the human cleft community. Recently they shared their pups at the Cleft Palate Gallop 5K hosted by UNC Craniofacial Center on the campus of UNC Chapel Hill. Cleft humans and animals came together, and it was pure joy. Another goal is to have some of the dogs trained as therapy dogs to visit cleft-affected children in hospitals and clinics. To date, STCR has adopted out five puppies to families with cleft-affected children, and the impact has been incredible.
This year, Save the Clefts Rescue was proud to be able to do more with the cleft human community. That is a huge goal for their rescue. Their pups truly brighten the day for cleft affected humans. Difference is a great thing! #whyfitinwhenyouwereborntostandout
For information about volunteering or adopting, including more about how to help with a cleft puppy, please visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
You won't want to miss visiting the pups and your chance to browse their shirts, hats, key chains, lanyards, and MORE at Spring Fling 2026 on April 26!
Stay up to date on all things Spring Fling 2026:
2026 FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HZBMS3x3S/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k9springfling