Page 23
Enjoy scrolling through all of our Frosted Face senior animals who have benefit from our mission at Frosted Faces Foundation. They are listed in order of date of rescue, including those that have passed. If you have been following a certain Frosted Face's story and would like to know how he/she is doing, please email us at friends@frostedfacesfoundation.org.
Please make note of animals still looking for families as their "Family" is listed as "Frosted Faces Foundation." View their biographies and more photos at Available Frosted Faces, learn more about becoming a family and the different programs we offer. You can also help fund their care by registering as their monthly sponsoring Fan.
Sassy
Acquired from: Chula Vista Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 12th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Marsha Kantor
Fans: Lisa Corsinita, Marsha Kantor
Decker
Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 12th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 19th, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Simone Havel, Lori and Kelly Smith-Riccardi in memory of Tucker, Ray & Nancy, Molly Berkery
Tribute: We fulfilled our promise to Decker today.
We rescued Decker from Downey Shelter on May 12th after he was surrendered by his family. We did surgery to repair an orbital ulcer on his elbow and he went on two Frosted Flings. Decker declined quickly and we decided that he needed a team of caretakers as long as he kept on smiling- the FFF team of volunteers.
Decker got acupuncture once each week from Dr. Lipman, he got laser on his elbow from Danielle Robbins, and he went on Frosted Fakers hikes getting strolled several miles at a time to see the sights! He wore a diaper, got frequent baths, was an all star treat catcher, and barked when he was thirsty which was ALL. the. time from his prednisone. He was on a slew of meds from Prednisone, Gabapentin, Tramadol, and Adequan. He was treated for recurring UTIs and skin infections from his previous life.
His Flingers, Nancy Funderburk and Molly Berkery, visited him frequently. For a guy who was denied a dignified ending with his original family, he sure stole the hearts of many as we tried to make up for his abandonment. We are continually blessed to be surrounded by such good, kind people.
Deck lived every last good day, and probably a few extra. Love is greedy, you know, but how lucky was he to be loved so much that he was hard to part with?
Decker, your smile will forever warm our hearts and we were privileged to take care of you.
Mia
Acquired from: Humane Society of Imperial County
Age upon Rescue: 4
Date of Rescue: May 14th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Alex Roland
Fans: Birdsong Backcountry Retreat
Magnolia
Acquired from: Humane Society of Imperial County
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: May , 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Timothy & Hyacinth Salazar
Fans: Wendy Davis
Goose
Acquired from: Humane Society of Imperial County
Age upon Rescue: 5
Date of Rescue: May , 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Eli & Jennifer Thibodeau
Fans: Erica Pensack and Pups
Hendrix
Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Susan Xanten
Fans: Anisa Flowers
Tribute: On April 12th, Susan fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Hendrix.
She shared,
"Hendrix found our family and I'm not really sure who needed the other more. His passing has been the hardest loss of a pet I have ever owned. He came to me with such an open heart and need for love and in no time, became my best friend. His smiling face and gentle brown eyes were a hook for everyone who met him, out on our hikes at Grasslands.
I don't know that I will ever encounter an animal like him and, though his short time with us and his passing have devastated me, he will live in my heart and memory forever.
Thank you to Frosted Faces for trusting me with this gentle soul. I love and miss him tremendously, but am so very blessed to have been his mom."
dusty
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Lilly Barnett & Gustavo Lomas
Fans: Amber Carini
Lint
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 1st, 2022
Family: Lisa Carolla & Menotti Minutillo
Fans: Monroe Gene, Megan Faircloth
Tribute: On January 1st, Menotti and Lisa fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Lint.
They shared,
"We will never forget the way that Lint - blind, deaf, arthritic, and four-toothed Lint - never crossed a french fry she didn't try to steal, right up to her very last day. When she was turned down by a few potential adopters, I indignantly told Lisa that enough was enough and I'm keeping this silly foster dog.
Every day for the next two and a half years she dutifully followed me to work in my home office, only stepping out for the occasional bathroom break or to investigate the kibble left behind by one of the others (or, during one of the weirder periods in our lives, to finish a bowl of chicken feed set out for a recovering hen). We are going to miss the pitter-patter of her daily routine: morning potty, nap in front of the fire, trek to breakfast, off to "work", trek to dinner, evening self-directed laps around the living room, retire to bed. We crack up every time we watch a video of her doing typical dog things with the atypical Lint approach, snapping on our fingers to gnaw a spent bone or completely missing a ball thrown right at her feet.
It was so hard to say goodbye and it will never be the same without her, but it fills us with happiness to know she lived out her final years with the love and comfort she deserved. See you on the other side of the french fry bridge, friend."
Gayla
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Maurice DeFino & Karla Peck
Fans: RZ
Princess
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 23rd, 2020
Family: Maurice DeFino & Karla Peck
Fans: Matthew Piazza
Tribute: On June 23rd, we fulfilled our promise to Princess.
We rescued Princess and Gayla from San Diego Humane Society as a pair. Princess had been surrendered with a horrendous, gigantic mass on her abdomen that they removed. Princess was the younger, more outgoing of the two dogs, and Gayla is older with sight impairments. Truly, the girls would meet two different families' expectations, but rather, Karla and Maurice agreed to adopt them both so they could stay together and take anything in stride. And so they have.
Spunky, full of life, Princess suddenly could not walk well and was incontinent. X-rays showed metastasis of the mass causing severe pain in her spine. She was in so much discomfort, it was unfortunately a simple decision that pain meds were not helping, we had to let her go.
Her family shares, "It’s a very unexpected and sad day for Maurice and me. We weren’t prepared to say ‘goodbye’ to one of our girls.
It was just one month ago today we became ‘forever fosters’ to two special ones, Princess (6yo -brown) and Gayla (11yo -black). Princess came known to us as the “drama llama”…always the center of attention, and always showing her love. Prior to making her home with us, she underwent surgery removing a tumor-mass along her tummy. Little did anyone know, after recently seeing her hind legs walking wobbly, more cancer was taking over her lower spine, and x-rays pointed to a mass in her lungs as well.
Losing bodily functions rapidly, hearing her pain as she tried to walk, it was we felt in her best interest to give her final comfort.
Gayla is going to miss her sleeping companion, and we’re going to miss her unconditional love. We were so fortunate getting to know her, even for only a short while. Thank you, Frosted Faces Foundation, for blessing us with this beautiful girl. Be free of any pain, Sweet One.♥"
Kitt
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Maggie & Richard Lichtenberger
Fans: Mary Arkwright, Kathleen and Aaron, Danielle White, Sarah A.
Kuma
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 19th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Anna & Adrian Jonan
Fans: Jeanne Wilder
oLLIE
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society- Oceanside
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: May 2nd, 2023
Family: Robert & Dulce Gutierrez
Fans: Jake & Charlie
Tribute: On May 2nd, Robb and Dulce fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Ollie.
They shared,
"Ode to Ollie.
Ollie (Oliver) was a gift from heaven. He brought so much joy and happiness to our home. Our family will miss dear Ollie. It is like yesterday that I can remember bringing him home and his first night with our family. Everyone was excited and eager to spend time with Ollie. He would run around our house chasing each of us.
He would stand on his hind legs hopping in the kitchen. We would put a bowtie
on Ollie so that he would look dashing for the day. In the winter he would wear his sweater vest to keep him warm. He enjoyed the company of people. I can remember waking up in the mornings and making noise in the kitchen. He would casually walk in and start walking over to me or the sound of my voice. At the end of my day, I would come home, and Ollie would greet me at the door. Ollie gave my family and I so much joy and happiness.
He has left his mark here in our home. We will celebrate his time with us each day."
Valentino
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society- Oceanside
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: July 4th, 2021
Family: Seth & Erica Caskey
Fans: Sue & Tim Kinnan
Tribute: Our sweet, sweet Bambino Valentino. You were small but your big personality filled up every space. And every space feels so empty without you in it. It was a gift to be your people for the 14 months that we were given, and my goodness we wanted so much more time to hold and love you. You filled our hearts and our days with your hysterical, loving, joy-filled personality. You made us laugh out loud every single day. Your constant need to snuggle was welcomed with our open arms. You demanded attention (and treats) and we couldn’t have been happier to give you everything that you needed and wanted.
We needed you, as much as you needed us. The three of us haven’t been apart since the day we brought you home, and we are in shock and overwhelmingly sad that you are gone so quickly. We love you deeply, and we will miss everything about you. We are so incredibly grateful that you chose us. You were impossible to resist from the first second, and it was an honor to be loved by you.
On Thursday, they discovered cancerous tumors on Valentino's spleen, liver and small intestines. They gave him an initial round of chemo to see if we saw any improvement, but by Sunday afternoon we knew he was not improving. We had been driving around for hours to avoid the sounds of fireworks, and at 8pm we knew we needed to get him to the ER. Driving on the 405 with fireworks going off in every direction, playing calming music to drown them out, and telling him we loved him and how grateful we were for him. Everything went in slow motion, and yet so fast. I still sit here in shock at how fast it all happened. His abdomen was filling with blood, and he could not breathe on his own without oxygen. And we had to say good-bye so quickly. Arms around him, and telling him that he was the very best boy as he left his pain behind and crossed the bridge.
We are two lost humans today expecting to see or hear our Bambino following us from room to room.
Ronni
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Sandy & Jim Hurlburt
Fans: Cathy Marlow
Pita
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: January 3rd, 2021
Family: Mai Cao
Fans: Leah Richardson
Tribute: On January 3rd, Mai Cao & Tom Magnussen fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Pita.
"To my forever dream girl: I hope they are giving you all the greenies and short ribs across the rainbow bridge. Your dad and I miss you so much. Thank you for giving us the honor of loving you and in the process, falling even more in love with each other and life during what may be the hardest year of our lives.
2 years before we met, I was searching to adopt with a wishlist that I learned to be impossible: cavalier, female, senior, in california. I looked for you every day, applied out of state, and stalked shelters only to never receive a reply back. Until one day you popped up at Frosted Faces only one hour away and my heart stopped. Your name was Pita and of all the strictly food-themed dog names I had saved on my phone, I couldn't have dreamt of a better one. I said "this is meant to be!" and I couldn't wait to meet you. I applied and got a response a few hours later.
I showed up on June 5 and you were the first dog I saw on the porch. You were sitting on your Fling mom Randa's lap - timid and uncertain. I noticed Randa's sweater and was SHOCKED. It was merch from your dad's family business! I thought "what a sign!". Turned out to be your fling mom and I had met 2 years prior in Mexico. I signed the papers within 20 minutes and brought you home forever. Every night since that day, I checked adoption centers for another girl like you because I couldn't believe you were mine...and I'm still doing that today.
You snored just like me but LOUDER. You LOVED to eat but would rather starve than eat dog food. Your one bulging dry eye on the right popped out just like mine does. You woke up at 6:45am every morning and let out a ghost bark to wake us up too. You would rather cry than go potty in the house. You were deaf and the cutest. You loved the grassy park and sleeping on cold hard surfaces. You were sweet as can be... and your greatest fear was being left behind. So I took you everywhere! Wine tastings, Apple orchard, pumpkin patch, palm springs, beaches, christmas tree farms, GROCERY shopping...it was girls gone wild! We were never apart and gosh we were so in love! We lost your Frosted Faces dog tag on one of those trips and I was really sad about it. But the night before your last day, when you could no longer walk, you shuffled over to a dirt patch and found it for me. I think it was you saying goodbye.
My sweet girl, I think about you every day and I love you so much. So much that I told you I wanted your babies like a crazy future granny. You were a gift from heaven and one of life's wonders. The only thing your dad and I regret is not finding you sooner. We wish we had more time with you and I would've given you years off my life if it were possible. Now that you have your wings, you and your ghost bark can fly home any time. We love you forever and we'll see you again. To my forever dream girl
Pita Cao-Magnussen 1.3.21"
Wilbur
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: December 26th, 2022
Family: Mackenzie Leveque
Fans: Susie & Cooper Smith
Tribute: On December 26th, Mackenzie fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Wilbur.
She shared,
"We dreaded this moment for so long, but the time came for Wilbur to pass away very peacefully in our home. He was the best friend and the best dog.
It is hard to put into words how much he was to us, but some highlights include that he was the ringbearer in our wedding, my co-worker at multiple jobs, a great listener, and an absolute bone addict. He attended Friendsgiving, Halloween, and New Year's Eve parties, a road trip to Big Sur, multiple trips to Joshua Tree, and just about everything else we did in the last 2.5 years.
We and so many others deeply miss him, but we are so grateful for every single day we got with him. Despite how hard it is to say goodbye, we still could not recommend adopting a senior dog more because he was worth it all."
Charlie
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Oceanside
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Mary Trevithick & David Leingang
Fans: Priscillia Seelan
Salsa
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 17
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: September 8, 2021
Family: Sacha McDermott & Kai Sutton
Fans: Cathleen Orchard
Tribute: On September 8th, Sacha and Kai fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Salsa.
"We lost Salsa late last night. We really aren’t all too sure what happened because she was seemingly okay and then wasn’t. She got fed dinner and was resting and when my fiancé came back into the room she was already fading away. A couple months back I relocated to PA and took a new job as the foster coordinator the spca out here. Salsa stayed with my fiancé and they were both set to move out here in just about a week's time.
I was so excited to see my girl again and I’m absolutely devastated that I didn’t get to be with her in her final moments in person. We said our goodbyes and I love yous over video chat. Salsa was our 4th senior rescue and she kept us on our toes.
The first day I met her she tried to bite me and I went 'yeah that’s my dog!' I knew from the moment I saw her picture on FB that she was meant for me and I couldn’t have been more right. She came to us confused and hurting after being abandoned by her family of 17 years. For the first 3 weeks we had to bribe her to eat with things like chicken, turkey and breakfast sandwiches. We didn’t know how much time we’d have with her and we are so grateful we got over a year to love her. She overcame so much, including paralysis, and brought more joy than I could ever put into words.
I know she’s up there with FF Ben, who we lost on Christmas Eve, and our other departed animals. My heart is broken and a piece of our family is missing. She will never be forgotten. Thank you all for being on this journey with us. We are grateful to have been apart of this community."
Tyrone
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Devon and Lindsay Matier
Fans: Tacit Networks, Sarah Russo
River
Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: August 27, 2021
Family: Michelle Yang
Fans: The Kreysar Pack, Seth and Myra Cummings
Tribute: On August 27th, Michelle fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face River.
"River passed in my arms yesterday afternoon. It happened very suddenly and has left a hole in mine and Bryan’s hearts. Our family of three will never be the same.
The plan was never to adopt a 12 year old husky. But look at that face! We became foster failures. River had a hard life before joining our little team, but he slowly opened up his heart and trust to us. I’m so thankful that he allowed me to be his mom, and Bryan to be his dad.
We love you so much, big boy. You brought so much joy to everyone around you. You were the light of our lives during this dark period of time. Every moment with you was a gift. We hope you know how much mommy and daddy love you. We love you so much. We love you so much. We love you so much."
Coleridge
Acquired from: Carlsbad Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: September 26th, 2020
Family: Ron & Kerry Ferreirae
Fans: Toochie Aiza
Tribute: On Saturday, September 26th, we fulfilled our promise to Coleridge.
Coleridge was brought to the shelter as a stray and when no one claimed him, the shelter requested a rescue exit because he was weak in the hind end and would require specialized care.
It seemed that Coley was weak from kennel life, because once he was at FFF he was a big, strong, handsome boy who walked much better. We had him on a tapering dose of prednisone which ended and he remained strong. He found a family quickly with Ron and Kerry, family to the late Frosted Face Rayban. He went camping, did pack walks, and got lots of beach time!
After about two months Coleridge started showing signs of neurological dysfunction in his hind end again. New bloodwork looked okay, but he had a raging stinky UTI and x-rays identified a splenic mass which seemed unreasonable to remove given his condition. We started Coleridge on a new steroid regimen along with other pain medications, and cultured and treated his UTI. Dr. Lipman performed acupuncture on him too! One scary night his belly filled with fluid and we rushed him to the ER to tap his abdomen which produced milky fluid, but the culture and cytology didn't give us any great idea of its origin. We just kept on loving him and the fluid never came back.
What did come back in his last week of life were his neuro deficits in his hind legs. We got three awesome weeks of Coley's new steroid regimen allowing him to regain his mobility. We fitted him for a wheelchair and he was instantly a pro. We expressed his bladder multiple times each day because he couldn't feel it anymore to go potty himself. He was on our list of unwanted short term discussions we needed to have to determine if quality was diminishing. Coleridge was bright, cruising in his chair, and he LOVED food. He would eat just about anything you put in front of him. During dinner time we would have to give him a bully stick to prevent him from barking at us through meals because he was such a beggar!
On Saturday something changed, and fast. Coley got pale and he needed veterinary care immediately. Volunteer Jodi Mosher, rushed him to Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego from FFF where it seemed his splenic mass had ruptured. We are so grateful that Jodi was ready and willing to be present with Coley to let him go as quickly as possible so that he could be pain free. We are all devastated we could not be present, but we and Coley's family did not want him to suffer unnecessarily.
Taking care of Coleridge was a team effort and he was lucky to have so many people who loved him and wanted what was best for him.
We love you big beautiful beggar bear.
josie
Acquired from: Barstow Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: April 9th, 2023
Family: Debbie Zie
Fans: Diane Parmigiani, Dawn VanNatta
Tribute: On April 9th, Debbie fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Josie.
She shared,
"With a sad heart I want to let you know our sweet Josie crossed the rainbow bridge Easter Sunday. Her little heart grew weary and too tired. She was such a sweet, good girl. Zorro and I are heartbroken and take comfort in knowing she's resting peacefully now. "
jill
Acquired from: Barstow Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: May 25th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Daniel Zimmer & Andrea Liou
Fans: Misty Dodero
Coffee
Acquired from: Tijuana
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Alicia Anthony
Fans: Whitney Best
Tula
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 2nd, 2020
Family: Jing P
Fans: Stephanie, Vicki
Tribute: On September 2nd we fulfilled our promise to Tula.
Her mom writes,
"First of all, I would like to thank you all for all your kindness and support throughout the whole journey; Tula couldn't have lived the last couple of months of her life with so much love and care without you all.
They say that a happy ending doesn't exist anymore but in Tula's case, I genuinely believe she had a happy ending. I adopted Tula on June 12, 2020. For that short 82 days, she was loved every single day. We had our routine together: every morning after she did the potty, we would bring her to bed and just cuddle with her for a good 15 minutes, telling her how cute she is and how much we love her, then I will go to the kitchen to boil some fresh chicken for her, simply because that's her favorite food and she deserved to be pampered every day. When she chose a spot to nap, she was always able to track down where we are and plopped down right next to us (yes, her nose was that good!) And she always did a little happy dance when she found us home from running errands; never would have I thought that she could recognize us due to her age and disability, but she was an angel that just kept surprising us.
When Tula crossed the rainbow bridge, we lost a family member. The morning after she passed, I stood in the kitchen about to make chicken for my baby, but she's no longer by my side patiently waiting for the chicken to be cooked. The house feels empty without her.
It was so hard to let Tula go, but knowing we were there for her till the very end gave us some comfort that this is not necessarily a sad story. We were unable to be there for the baby when the euthanasia was performed due to restrictions under COVID but were lucky enough to see her one last time after it's done. She looked like she was just taking a nap, still so lovely and adorable. The vet told us that she did not suffer. She in fact didn't last through all shots of euthanasia; they gave her the first shot so it wouldn't hurt but she passed right when they were gonna give her the second shot. I guess it really was her time to go, after living her life to the fullest.
She was so peaceful and content. She was our baby - the cutest, goofiest, and most loveable baby that will forever have a place in our heart. Tula had a happy ending. Thank you all so much for giving us the opportunity to love such a wonderful creature."
Adele
Acquired from: Moreno Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 30th, 2020
Family: Delia Haust, Karin Allen & Wayne Taylor
Fans: Jeanette Valdez, Christine Paradise
Tribute: On June 30th we fulfilled our promise to Adele.
We rescued Adele from the shelter with a terrible skin condition, dental disease, congestive heart failure, and her mentation did not seem quite right. A skin biopsy came back showing that she had calcinosis cutis.
Adele was loved in two foster homes where they gave her the dignity of soft blankets, keeping her clean and fed well, and offered her their shoulders to melt upon.
On the morning of June 30th when Adele was to go in and sit for a test to confirm she was Cushenoid, she presented with new symptoms and her foster mom was very worried. Her temperature had dropped during the night and she began a swimming motion. It was very clear her body was all done. Of course, she was declining prior, but some unrealistic hopeful part of ourselves thought that if perhaps we diagnosed all of her problems and treated them, we would get this baby girl back to "normal."
Delia writes, "On May 25, Christine Karnes and I headed to Moreno Valley to pick up two new Frosted Faces, Radar and Adele. Adele had major medical issues, most obviously a painful skin condition that made her snap at anyone who touched her. It turned out there was a lot wrong with her, but everyone was determined to help her and make her feel better. She went to several veterinary appointments, got held and comforted by volunteers, went on a fling with Karin Allen Taylor, and then on foster with me. Addy (Adele) only got to spent one week with me and FF Priya (and non-FF Titan) before we had to let her go.
When she came home with me, she devoured her meals with any medications I mixed in. She loved to pace, mostly in circles, but she knew her name and came over when I called her. It was obvious, though, that her raw skin was painful. She cried out when I picked her up, even when wrapped in a soft blanket, and before she settled into a hug. She’d put her head on my shoulder and get a moment of comfort, though not real relief.
I took her to College Animal Hospital and it turned out her temperature was way down. Addy was in distress and didn’t appear to “be there.”
I admit, when I drove her to CAH, I was hoping they wouldn’t come up with potential treatments. I saw how much Addy had been suffering already.
It doesn’t take away the emotional pain, though, to let her go. I wish I could have done more for her. She should have been able to experience a happy life as a Frosted Face, even if just for a short time. Addy didn’t get that. She came to Frosted Faces Foundation too late. I ask myself, what if we could have gotten her just half a year earlier. We could have helped her. I’m still asking myself if I could have done more for her.
Kelly and Andy don’t give up on Frosted Faces easily. But today we had to let Adele go. It was a merciful act. I held her and I cried for her.
Happy trails little girl! You deserved better."
Jonesy
Acquired from: Moreno Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 27th, 2023
Family: Renee Smith & Chris Bryant
Fans: Peggy Galusha, Chelsea Brandt
Tribute: On January 27th, Renee fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Jonesy.
She shared,
"Unfortunately, Jonesy became ill and after multiple trips to the vet and emergency room, it was determined he had a rupture that was leaking bile fluid into his belly that was affecting his liver. The vet said they could perform surgery, but was not optimistic of his recovery. His opinion was, it would be most humane to euthanize Jonesy today. So we made the difficult decision to let Jonesy go home to doggy heaven. We were able to spend his last moments with him.
We truly will cherish our few years we had with him. We are so grateful to have found Frosted Faces Foundation and adopt Jonesy. He moved across the country to Atlanta Georgia. He spent a lot of time outdoors.
We took him on lots of weekend trips which created fond memories of our little family. He went to Savannah Ga, Charleston NC, New Orleans LA, Memphis Tn, and lastly St. Augustine Fl. He was such a chill little dude who definitely knew what he wanted and had no problem letting us know. He spent lots of time napping and taking it easy.
We’ll miss seeing his little nose poking out from underneath the table patiently awaiting a treat. Jonesy’s favorite treats were Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. And he sure got lots of them. How could we refuse that little face?
I have included some of our favorite pictures of Jonesy. He touched our hearts forever and we will miss him dearly.
Thank you for all the wonderful work you are doing to connect loving dogs to families. Jonesy was a gift in our life 💕🌈💕🌈
With much love,
Renee and Chris ~ loving parents to Jonesy, the best Chonky boy there ever was!"
Betty
Acquired from: South LA Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 10th, 2023
Family: Kim & Rich Marin
Fans: Honoring Molly, Cheryl in memory of Puddy
Tribute: On October 10th, Kim and Rich fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Betty.
They shared,
"We went to Frosted Faces in August, 2020 in search of a senior rescue to replace our recently passed Bichon named Cecil. There we found a scrawny, wispy-haired white dog known as Cheyenne and before that (in the LA Shelter where she came from) as Snow White. We believe she was about 12 or 13 years old. What attracted me to her was that she was such a lady! She liked to sit with her legs crossed which was so cute. But she was also very sad and really kept to herself when we visited her at Frosted Faces. She was diabetic and because of it going untreated, she had lost her eyesight. She was blind and skittish, but we were very willing and ready to love her back to life. We brought our sweet Betty Girl home the next week.
Once we got Betty home and she had had a full vet review, we scheduled dental surgery right away and then shortly after that, cataract surgery which restored most of her sight. I should have named her Amazing Grace…because she was blind, but now could see! She LOVED having her eyesight restored and gradually gained the confidence that came with the gift of sight. Betty loved the morning time and was such a happy dog at 6am!! She would wake me every morning, ready to go out for her walk and would do her happy dance as we moved through the house to get to the kitchen door. We would stop each morning at the mirror for me to remind her that she was a beauty.
Over time she began to really trust me and my husband and then slowly she trusted others enough to let them show her some love. Twice daily insulin and lots of eye drops was our daily ritual. The days of biting off my fingers when I gave her a treat receded as we bonded. We took Netty everywhere. She did a cross country road trip with us like the trooper that she was! She enjoyed long walks along the ocean but anlso enjoyed long naps. As much as she enjoyed her new life, put on a few pounds and thickened her soft white fur, after three great years with us, Betty started to slow down. Her naps got longer and her walks got shorter and more stumbling. Betty had always been a good eater, so when her appetite started to wane, we knew she was nearing her end.
We said goodbye to Betty on October 10th. To honor her, my husband just finished the Betty Garden on Betty’s favorite knoll, right next to our Cecil Garden. We thank Frosted Faces for bringing Betty into our lives. We are inspired by the beautiful work Frosted Faces does to help care for senior dogs and we know one thing for sure now….they deserve the care. Thank you."
Boba
Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing: July 10th, 2020
Family: Alicia & Bryan Tremble
Fans: Michelle Dellino, Heather Madsen, Seth and Myra Cummings, Armenta Family
Tribute: On July 10th Boba passed away.
We rescued Boba from Bonita Shelter when she entered as a stray. She was in renal failure and had horrible HORRIBLE dental disease. We opted to do dental surgery where she had a full mouth extraction and hospitalized her for a few days to make sure her kidneys could tolerate the procedure. She survived all of that and her days were looking brighter! She was fostered by Katrina Doy and Jon Dunn where they took her on lots of special adventures, and they were overjoyed when the Tremble's expressed interest in being her family! Boba made silly gremlin noises when she wanted to share your food, and her little pink piggy nose was boopable!
They agreed to doing her subcutaneous fluid regimen for the maintenance of her kidney function, because they wanted to give her every last good day. Where most young families are out buying puppies from breeders, this nice family not only chose to adopt, they also chose a 15 year old hospice dog as their pet! Not a lot of families sign up for that gig. They had even made little imprints of all their dogs' paw prints the morning of Boba's death as a fun family project.
After just two weeks in her new home, Boba was attacked by a coyote in the Tremble's back yard and did not survive. She was outside with another large and small dog, and the family's pet chicken. This wasn't rural Ramona on a vast farm with several animals treated as back yard dogs. This was in the middle of the city of Poway in broad daylight at 4:30pm where four family pets were getting a potty break outside in a developed fully fenced back yard. Their daughter, Abby, was home alone and inside turning off the stove where she was boiling spaghetti and she said she just ran in for a moment when she heard the attack. She ran outside where the coyote dropped Boba. Boba was still alive, but died on the way to the Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego.
The family called me on the way to the ER sobbing in irrational pain and regret explaining what had happened. Their daughter cried out in the background, "I am so sorry! I am never eating spaghetti again! I am so sorry!" When we talked to the vet, he explained that Boba's lung had been punctured by the coyote and it was collapsed.
Our contracts read that Frosted Faces are never to be outside unsupervised because bad things can happen that lead to preventable deaths such as escape, heat exhaustion, falling into pools, and even being attacked by predators. We want to set excited, well intentioned adopters up for success! We don't want families to have to learn hard lessons with our dogs because while the consequences are very final, the long lasting sting of accountability only dulls with time, and can creep up on you for a lifetime if you choose to dive into that abyss of "what ifs."
We are grateful that Boba's family is allowing us to share their story with you so that you, too, can be more cautious and plan for the worst. This was a nightmare, that happened to good, caring people and an innocent, loved dog. Coyotes are just trying to survive as we develop areas, taking land away from its original inhabitants. This was an accident that happened in a brief moment, and everyone did their best.
Boba's mom shares, "We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken. We loved our time with you and we know you loved your time with us. We are shocked and traumatized by all of this. Prayers for Abby, she is having a really hard time and blames herself. Kelly Smíšek and Frosted Faces Foundation, I am so so sorry. You trusted us to love and care for her. Watch and love your pets."
Sophie
Acquired from: Redlands Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Nicole Macguire & Charles Grabat
Fans: Kathie J
Gordon
Acquired from: East Valley Shelter LA
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 13th, 2020
Family: Diana Coelho & Spencer Abele
Fans: Honoring Molly, Emily Weldon
Tribute: Today we fulfilled our promise to Gordon.
We rescued Gordon from East Valley Shelter just a few weeks ago after he was surrendered by his owners. We vetted him immediately and his labs showed early kidney disease and a mildly enlarged heart. Nothing horribly concerning or indicating the end was near. We try to give our Frosted Faces time to decompress and heal before making final decisions.
One evening Diana was at FFF filming a Live segment for our social media channels and she noticed little Gordon struggling. Diana just started taking dogs on Frosted Flings this spring, but she certainly knocked the socks off of all of us when she offered to give Gordon a Frosted Fling. The poor man most certainly needed it most, but he required a different level of care that we weren't sure Diana totally understood.
Let me just say, she did simply an amazing job with little Gordon from cleaning up messes, to hand feeding, to keeping him safe when he paced in aimless circles, and even taking him on enriching adventures. As the two week Frosted Fling came to a close, we were faced with the cold hard reality that Gordon was abandoned at the shelter when quality had ceased, and we wished that his family would have had the courage, knowledge, or resources to be with him in the end.
Not only did Diana and Spencer selflessly "Fling" Gordon, they now were being asked if they also had the strength to let him go having never ever had to euthanize a dog before. We offered to shoulder that loss for them, and they were adamant they wanted to be with him in the end. <3
Diana shares,
"They always say you should follow your instincts & when I was at Frosted Faces two weeks ago something told me I needed to bring Gordon home. He just looked so weak & I thought a 2 week Fling would be great, he can rest, he can eats lots of food & I will take a billion pictures to help him find his Forever Family. I didn't know back then that these 2 weeks would be Gordon's final chapter.
Gordon was not the easiest dog to look after, he couldn't see or hear & just always seemed lost. He struggled with just about everything including eating but boy did he love to eat & he tried with all his might to get every last bit. The more he ate, the stronger his little weak body got. This gave me hope, maybe he would turn a corner? But it wasn't meant to be. Any strength Gordon got back, he used to circle more. He would circle for hours & there was no calming him, his little weak body was on a mission & there was no stopping him. That was the hardest part for me.
Today, I held Gordon as he passed & it was so peaceful. He just went to sleep & finally his little weak body and his spirit were free. I wish I could have known Gordon all his life, I wish I could have known his little personality long before it started to slip away. He may have come to me as a Fling but we ended up being his family & I will forever be grateful of that. Gordon mattered & Gordon was loved & he will always be remembered as one of my dogs.
Until we meet again little Gordy Pops! I will always love you & I promise you will always be remembered. Thank you Frosted Faces for giving him a chance & for letting him leave this world with his own family."
allie
Acquired from: East Valley Shelter LA
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 17th, 2023
Family: Malua & Malia Reis
Fans: Seth and Erica Caskey, Martha Kohut
Tribute: On August 17th, Malia fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Allie.
She shared,
"At the beginning of the pandemic, I lost my yorkie of 14 yrs. She left behind her sister who would need a new brother or sister. As I did not want a puppy, a friend told me about Frosted Faces. I went on the website and picked out Allie and set up a time to meet her. Unfortunately the other dog passed of what I think was a broken heart 2 days before. Nonetheless I was still going to get “Simone”.
At the time she was only able to walk on 3 legs, but I was told that it would be fixed. Two days later Allies’ little sister came into our lives and our family was now complete. After her leg surgery, she was able to walk on all 4’s and one would never know she had a problem. A day without a walk was like a day without sunshine.
She loved to do her power walks. She did not like to have her picture taken. She could always seem to tell when I was going to get my phone, but we did manage to get a few shots in. She liked to hum sweet lullabys at night as she slept in her crate next to me. She will forever be known for her famous “happy food dance”.
Allie warmed the hearts of everyone she met and will be greatly missed. Forever in my heart. Until we meet again....."
Elaine
Acquired from: East Valley Shelter LA
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing: November 5th, 2022
Family: Monique Karlen
Fans: Liz Sandlin
Tribute: On November 5th, Monique fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Elaine.
She shared,
I adopted Elaine (Lainey Poodle) not too long after I lost FF Hopie at 18. I did not know I was a Little White Poodle person until I met Hopie and since then, have gravitated to the little white floofs I’ve seen on the Frosted Faces website.
I had vowed not to get a third dog again but something about Lainey Poodle’s past and neglect tugged at my heartstrings. I watched from afar in Wisconsin as Elaine was passed up over and over for adoption because she was not active or very interactive. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her when she was pictured in the little’s yard, resting her head in a pooper scooper, not a care in the world.
Being blind, deaf, and toothless, often the trifecta of old dogdom, made me want to cuddle her and give her the stability she never had. Hopie had had a double enucleation, grew deaf in her older years and had just a few remaining teeth. It would be similar. I wasn’t sure how I would get myself to California with my busy schedule when out of the blue I got a call from Martine announcing, 'I’m driving to
Frosted Faces to get Trixie,' and that she could bring back Elaine upon Kelly’s approval. Wow! I said 'yes,' and signed the adoption papers shortly thereafter via zoom.
Elaine was not an easy dog. She had chronic ear infections that took over a year to get under control. She didn’t seem to enjoy being touched because of her chronic skin condition. She did love her food and would voraciously gobble down her Honest Kitchen with chicken topping several times per day. I didn’t really know what to do with her to give her a better life and then was reminded of the Frosted Faces
mantra 'to act is to love.' I loved her and so I would act, even if it was baby steps. She deserved it. I started taking Lainey out in her doggie stroller that I bought especially for her. We spent time in the backyard so she could sniff her way around and also took her out for special treats. We even had a sweet 16 party where Lainey was queen for a day. One day Lainey let me hold her for the first time and I just let her lay on my chest until she no longer wanted to. I just loved her the best I could. She spent 2 years and 2 weeks with me and it was hard to let her go. In the end Lainey was weak and could no longer stand and would scream more often than not with her dementia. I realized the metric of her still eating was not necessarily the marker of living a fulfilling life. My poodle was tired. It was time to let her go.
I am grateful for the gift of home euthanasia, where on Nov. 5th , I was able to hold my sweet Lainey Poodle one last time. I felt her melt into my chest as she took her last breath and was freed from her old body. I am happy that she is no longer in pain and is frolicking over the rainbow bridge where Hopie and many other frosted faces await her.
Thank you to Frosted Faces for entrusting me with Lainey and for allowing me to be her mom for two years. Also, many thanks to Sue King and Kim Marshall Green for being Elaine’s awesome fosters before she got to me and to all the Frosted Faces family who supported our journey together. We are immensely thankful to have made many forever friends through senior dog rescue."
winnie
Acquired from: Chula Vista Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 27th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Andora Nguyen
Fans: Krista Van Tassel
Tazz
Acquired from: Carlsbad Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 28th, 2020
Date of Passing: July 17th, 2023
Family: Tom & Emma Zink
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On July 17th, Emma and Thomas fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Tazz.
They shared,
"TAZZ took a turn for the worst in his fight against IVDD and was in such constant agonizing pain that no medicine could prove any relief whatsoever. We had no choice but to euthanize TAZZ early this morning. It was not an easy decision but a necessary one for TAZZ's sake.
We both feel a tremendous personal loss that continues to be extremely painful. No one can imagine what TAZZ continues to mean to us. He was a unique and very special dog and we will grieve for him the rest of our lives."
prim
Acquired from: San Bernardino Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 28th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 24th, 2021
Family: Jim & Suzanne Wagner
Fans: Seth and Myra Cummings, Kerry & Lincoln, Nanette
Tribute: On February 24th, Jim and Suzanne fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Prim.
They shared with us,
"I had to put Prim to sleep today. . The vet said that her lower jaw was completely rotten. He said that it was most likely cancer, probably was the same as last year but hidden within the infected tissue. He said her quality of life prognosis was very poor so I didn’t see the point in putting her through another biopsy or any more pain.
I’m very happy that I was able to be part of her life for even just a short time. She was very very special to me. If I could’ve kept her forever, I would have. Always in my heart."
Tootie
Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 28th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Therrol & Nikki Troxel
Fans: RZ
bIANCA
Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 28th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Dinorah & Paul Baker
Fans: Cathy Minshall
Mister
Acquired from: Upland Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: May 28th, 2020
Date of Passing: November 18th, 2022
Family: Kristin Klarity
Fans: Seth and Myra Cummings, Kristin Klarity
Tribute: On November 18th, Kristin fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Mister.
Kristin shared,
"The truth is I never wanted another dog. The bond with my first ever and only dog (non FF) Friday was so strong that I truly believed I could never love another dog. I would volunteer, foster, donate etc but adopt another dog? Nope, never.
Fast forward to May 28, 2020. Friday is now 13 years old and we are in the midst of a pandemic. I’m out of work and truly living my best quarantine life- finally having the time and headspace to focus on things I truly love and feel passion for. I’d been volunteering for FFF for a few months when the email came through. A 16 year old corgi mix needed a freedom ride- I must’ve been pretty quick with the send button because I was the chosen one, I was headed to Upland Shelter to frost a face.
Really the rest is history. The volunteers at the shelter told me that this was a special dog. His family gave up on him but he still had life left to live. What an honor that life was lived with me.
Mister expanded my heart. He taught me not to resist love, but to lean into it instead. That it is worth the risk. And it was a risk adopting Mister. It had just been me and Friday for a long time and she wasn’t great with other dogs, but something in me trusted her to know that Mister was special and with some work and patience she accepted him into our family and they formed a bond that still amazes me today.
The loss of Mister is shattering, there is just no sugar coating it. I regret not being able to give him a proper send off here at home like we did for Friday just 6 short months ago. I regret not filling his last days with all of his favorite foods that he wasn’t supposed to have. I regret picking up that extra shift- 6 less hours I had with him. I could write 100 posts about all the things I will miss about him. He left a Bubby sized hole in my home.
But like Bubbs taught me, I’m leaning into love. And gratitude. If you love me, you love my dogs and Bubbs had a lot of love in his life. So grateful to all of my people for showing up for the little guy since the day I started texting them 2 years ago like “So, I met this dog…” I am grateful to Kelly and the medical team at FFF- their support has been unwavering. I am astounded at what Kelly and Andy have built. My life changed forever because they took a chance on a 16 year old blind and deaf little old man.
Most of all I am grateful to Mister. For trusting me, to eventually softening to me. For letting me care for him in his last years on his adventure of life. I’m grateful for all the laughs and smiles he brought to daily life. Thank you for showing me that the idea of one dog for life is ridiculous, Bubbs. That if there is love to give you better give it. I hope that you felt safe and loved."
khalil
Acquired from: Carson Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 29th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 7th, 2020
Family: Andy & Kelly Smisek
Fans: Laurie Gentry, Bugle Laws, The Wood Family, Nathan and Katherine
Tribute: Today we fulfilled our promise to Khalil.
Last night we asked friends to "send all the loves" because Khalil did not want to eat and his temperature was on the low side. During the night he woke us up with a big beagle bellow to ask help finding the water, and then he slept soundly the rest of the night. We were hopeful that today he would be much better.
I think he felt all of your love and knew it was okay to let go... just 7 days out of the shelter. Today his temperature dipped below 97 degrees on heat support, he couldn't go potty, his little nose was pouring boogers, and his breathing changed. We rushed him to Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego where there was a 2.5 hour wait, but they were so gracious to see our Frosted Face Khalil right away and let us be present to offer him peace. Last week Dr. VanMaele suspected that he had lymphoma.
We can't believe that a week ago today Khalil was biking with us by the beach and barking at us for treats. Driving home from Khalil's euthanasia Andy said to me, "Khalil didn't spend more than one night in a kennel. I am so glad we followed our instinct to keep bringing him home at night of all the dogs in our care." Truly a blessing with few regrets for us as caregivers. I feel like we have been doing this long enough that, unfortunately, we see these terribly sick dogs being surrendered, and in our guts we just know that they were surrendered because their owners saw something very wrong with them and we know to make the most of our time with them. Khalil's owners must have seen his fluid-filled legs, and snotty nose, and occasional uncontrolled dribbling pee stream and known something wasn't right. Was it his incontinence? The act of disposing of something that was problematic? Or naively relinquishing responsibility hoping someone else would help him? We will never know.
Thank you to the Fans who immediately fell in love with our "friend" and signed on to help cover his extensive medical treatment that would hopefully buy him time and comfort. Your hope is our hope, and we did all that we could. Seemingly biased, but you may agree, beagles just have this adoring way about them that makes the unfairness of illness so much more profound. We have our eye on another abandoned beagle we hope to help in the next day or two so Khalil's legacy can live on.
A whole lot of us loved you, Khalil. No more pain, innocent friend.
lila
Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 29th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 20th, 2022
Family: Patti Ruff
Fans: Laura James
Tribute: On October 20th, Patti fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Lila.
She shared,
"Last week, she had fever, abdominal retention, and disorientation. She ended up being very anemic and not generating any red blood cells anymore.
I took Lyla home and my sons came and stayed with me. She was in her favorited little bed and slept off and on while I slept on the sofa, so she could see me at night.
We took her in to my vet in the morning and they let her go. She was cremated and I will have her ashes in a few weeks.
It is very sad and quiet at the 'Ruff House.' Lyla was so funny. She thought that everyone who came to our house, was here to see her! She would run around in circles jump on the couch, on my bed, then lie down, to get loves. I told friends who
ever raised her did a good job. Thank you for your kindness."
Nikki
Acquired from: Long Beach Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 30th, 2020
Date of Passing: November 11th, 2021
Family: Ali Manz
Fans: Judith Johnson
Tribute: On November 11th, Ali fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Nikki.
She shared,
"Oh my sweet Nikki
I miss you sooo much
Our journey together was wonderful
Nikki came to live with us on May 31, 2021. Kelly had sent an email with hospice dogs needing homes. She was listed as mentally inappropriate, recently returned after a year in a home. I had no intentions of committing to a second dog permanently. May 30 my foster pup Pascal was adopted. I left without a new foster, which didn’t happen often.
Holly Buderus and I were chatting that night and she mentioned how much Nikki was struggling, getting stuck in the littles yard and just crying and crying.
I had not met Nikki. I don’t even know where she was when I was there for Pascal’s appt. I slept on it. The next day I asked if I could help and in that same breath was driving to FFF to get her. No fling this time, it was a forever commitment and one of the best decisions I have made.
I was scared with a blind dementia dog that didn’t know me, my house or Jet. But I thought if her QOL was poor and she was nearing her end the least I could do was spoil and love her for the short amount of time she had left. I knew I could do that. That’s how Nikki came to be a lil Manz. What an amazing decision that was!
When I brought her home I put absolutely no pressure on her to understand/learn routines or even bond with me. She proved me totally wrong. She exceeded every expectation I had for her. This little girl was definitely still in there, a feisty foodie with a shining outgoing personality.
Sure she paced, got stuck sometimes, we added lots of gates and plugged up holes, but she also consistently got better with being held, quickly starting to find my feet to cuddle. She’d bump into her brother Jet (FF Gene) and he’d snarl at her to my dismay. Her response was always a “jeez grumpy” and just kept waddling/toodling around, never letting it phase her. She LOVED her calming beds and babe cave, waking up at 5am grunting and mumbling until she got her breakfast. I was super not thrilled about that part but her spunky “get up lets get our day started” was absolutely adorable
Her favorite things were going on walks around her park, meal time, her calming beds and her best friend, Daisy, a cuddle pup with a thumping heartbeat.
We had so many good times together. She was my little sidekick. She loved me through and through. And the feeling was mutual. Dementia or not she definitely knew I was her mom and loved me so much. Allowing me to do everything to her. When I returned from a trip a few weeks ago she was soooo excited to see me. Mumbled and grumbled “where you been momma” and snuggled into my chest sooooo hard Those are the moments I’ll remember forever.
Everyday at least twice a day folks stopped me to ooh and ahh over her. She was so beautiful and sweet and drew all that met her into her aura.
After she settled into our family I thought often how this little girl who I expected I may only have a few weeks was going to live forever. I wish that were true!
About 10 days prior she got ill and started to decline, we did everything we could to help her. Her little body just couldn’t fight anymore. Her kidneys were failing and pancreas was painful and keeping her from holding down food. I think her dementia ultimately contributed as well. Her poor little body needed rest to recover and her brain just wouldn’t let her rest. Those last few days were rough. She hung in there, fought hard and cuddled a lot
Ultimately she let go on her own terms on November 11, 2021. It was fast and I held her through it all. I believe that was the best gift she could have given me. We spent the day cuddling but I still think to myself I could have been walking Jet or eating lunch. But no, she waited for me to be right there holding her as her breathing got erratic I was able to tell her it was ok to let go and I love you forever sweet girl as she said goodbye to this world
My sweet feisty ninja cat Nikki, I love you so much. You brought so much joy to my life. I feel so privileged to have been your mom.
Thank you to Frosted Faces for rescuing this little girl, and always taking continuous care of your pups in situations like this when her first family gave up on her. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to be Nikki’s final family, thank you "
PEETY
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 31st, 2020
Date of Passing: May 27th, 2022
Family: Jade & Samuel Babbitt
Fans: Danielle White
Tribute: On May 27th, Sam and Jade fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Peety.
They shared,
"When I first saw Peety's story, instantly I showed my husband and asked if we could adopt one more. Of course he says no and he gave me that look like I'm crazy. I asked my husband how can a family that had 14 years with him abandon him when he needed them the most. We had just adopted Marnie and Stella in the middle of January of this year. We have 3 of our own, making our total 5 dogs.
We first starting volunteering at Frosted Faces Foundation on Mother's Day when we returned Pops from his 2 week Fling. That was when I fell in love with Peety. He was so cute and just plopped his head onto your shoulder when you picked him up. How could you resist his cuteness 😍? I knew I had to have him! For two weeks after our fling, I showed my husband Peety's picture everyday so that he would ultimately give in. Well it worked and we discussed how we needed to change our work schedules to accommodate this sweet boys needs. Sam finally said if he was not adopted the next time we volunteered, then we can take him home. So I sent an email and we finally adopted him this past Sunday. We were thinking our 5 might be a little too energetic for Peety but they were so gentle with him and FF Marnie instantly bonded and snuggled with him every chance she got. It was just so sweet to see.
First day we took him home, we were so excited and happy to have him be a part of our Babbitt pack. He ate so well the first day. As the days progressed his appetite decreased more and more. Towards then end we were feeding him baby food thru a syringe which he seemed to tolerate without vomiting. But his body was tired and he had a bad seizure as I was holding him. His breathing started to slow down so I woke Sam up and told him I think Peety is ready. So we cried and told him we loved him and all the other pups sniffed his head and laid next to us. We told him our other dogs that have passed are waiting to greet him on the other side and then he took his last breath.
Peety had CKD (chronic kidney disease) stage 2 and CCD (Canine Cognitive Disease), which in humans is Dementia. Peety reminded me of my grandpa and like my grandfather, Peety was blind and we also thought he had a hard time hearing. He would pee anywhere and often times on himself. So we had a belly band on him a lot. He had a hard time pooping because he was just so weak. I had to help him by holding him up with one hand and hold his little tail with my other hand while he grunts and pushes to let out a soft stool. He did have some confusion. He wandered throughout the house and also at night time.
Because of this, he slept on a bed on the floor next to us but I was always there if he needed anything. He would get frustrated and grumble a little bit and I had to help him back on the bed. He would let out little barks, which we found were his cues that he needed to be changed or needed to have a bowel movement or he was hungry or thirsty.
He loves his cuddles and love being held. I would put him in a sling and take him with me everywhere. Whether it be washing dishes or taking out the trash or walking one of the other pups, he was always with me in a sling or laying on my chest with his head on my shoulder. His last night with us we decided to put him on our bed so we could snuggle with him, not knowing that was his last time we would be doing that with him.
Although we only had 4 precious days with him, we loved Peety immensely and fiercely. I'm so thankful and grateful that you came into our lives and that we were able to give you your final resting home. Run free sweet boy we love you so much and you are missed dearly!
Thank you to all the Frosted Faces volunteers and staff for giving my boy all the cuddles and love that he deserved, and to the community for all your support. He had lots of people rooting for him and sending him love from all over the US. Thank you to Kelly and Andy and all the Frosted Faces staff for all your amazing hard work rescuing all these Frosted Faces that are in need. You all are true advocates for the seniors and underdogs of this world. From the bottom of my heart I thank you!"
Griffin
Acquired from: South LA
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: June 3rd , 2020
Date of Passing: July 29th, 2020
Family: Denise Mendonca & Rob Bailey
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On July 29th we fulfilled our promise to Griffin.
His mom shares,
"You may remember that he had a large ugly mass on his leg when rescued by FFF. It turned out to be...no surprise...a mast cell tumor. We found that it had spread internally, so we tried some things, including chemo, to try and keep it in check. Unfortunately we’ve had to learn about degranulation of MCTs, which is when the mast cells throw off a bunch of histamines and everything gets red and swollen. He had a bad episode yesterday and ended up in the ER overnight. Sadly, I got a call early this morning telling me he’d arrested, couldn’t breath on his own, and we had to let him go. Even though we knew he was battling cancer, this was completely unexpected. He’s been so strong and feeling great all along! I’ve had a really hard time dealing with it today but I’m relieved that he only had one bad day.
So let me tell you about this beautiful boy anyway. He was such a little character – full of personality and a little too much bravado at times (he liked to challenge my larger non-FF dog all the time). He loved to steal FF Chesterfield’s toys and hide them, and his favorite pastime was barking at the neighbors. He followed me everywhere and ate like a horse – some of the reasons why he reminded me so much of my first Frosted Face, Shasta. The same beautiful eyes too. He LOVED belly rubs. We have a baby gate blocking access to the front door, and when I worked in the front yard he would try anything to get past it. First he squeezed himself through the side. When I blocked it he dismantled the blocking. Then I made the blocking sturdier, so he climbed over. Such a genius! We had to replace it with a Griffin-proof gate.
My favorite memory of him is learning that he knew how to roll over. I’ve shown that video before, but I’m sharing it again because he’s just so cute.
We didn’t even get to spend two months together but we loved that boy dearly. Rest easy, Griff. We miss you. ❤️"
Link to Griffin showing his mom he knows "roll over:" https://youtu.be/gt-XydGbz2o
Oscar
Acquired from: Long Beach Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: June 3rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Alita Hawksworth
Fans: Barbara Perrine
Amos
Acquired from: Long Beach Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 3rd, 2020
Date of Passing: June 20th, 2020
Family: Yadira Bonilla
Fans: Deborah Dean
Tribute: On June 20th, we fulfilled our promise to Amos.
We rescued Amos from City of Long Beach Animal Care Services and they did report that he was in a bad way with senior issues. Of course we were optimistically thinking, "Well not for a Frosted Face!" Unfortunately, diagnostics showed that Amos was in congestive heart failure and his labs showed that he could tolerate treatment, so we went full steam ahead. Amos was curious and even did little kicks after marking his territory. He melted in our arms here at FFF and we all declared him a favorite, but naturally, we all love the helpless looking ones.
Much to our surprise, Amos was chosen to be part of a family nearly immediately. We were shocked and thrilled! Yadira had come all of the way down here from Oregon to adopt him, and she showed us the beautiful tattoo of her late minpin's face on her thigh. If only Amos would be so loved to be remembered in this way after being disposed of in the shelter system. Amos got to fly on a plane and Yadira was ever-accommodating! Over time she noted he was not eating and we spoke daily as she did absolutely everything we suggested and that her vet advised. She poured so much hope and energy into this new little man in her life as if she had loved him for a lifetime. Amos was so lucky to be loved so greatly in the last days of his life.
Yadira reflects,
"I adopted sweet little 10 year old Amos a little over a week ago (6/11/20) knowing he had heart issues. I had hoped that I could take care of him while he was starting on his medications and would be able to bring him back to life. Unfortunately, he developed kidney disease and was not able to fight it due to his heart conditions. I’m very saddened that this adoption turned out this way after only a week of having him. I had already fallen in love with him the moment I saw him on the foundation website. No words can express this sadness. I just hope there really is a doggy heaven and do take solace in knowing he’s no longer in any pain. I am heartbroken 😭💔
Ritchie
Acquired from: Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: June 4th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Roni & Rock Berschneider
Fans: Sara Swist, Natalie Livingston
bubba
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: June 5th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 18, 2024
Family: Luann Reiter
Fans: David Joseph Katona
Tribute: On October 18th, Luann fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Bubba.
She shared,
"Bubba passed away peacefully on October 18, 2024. When he was first rescued, in May of 2020, he had a fungal disease that took time to overcome and heal. Two years later, he was diagnosed with CCD. In spite of these issues, Bubba lived a healthy life and enjoyed his days fully!
He loved the beach, the park, the yard, all of his dog beds, and walks in the neighborhood. When he stopped wanting to go on walks, due to his doggie dementia, we used a buggy to get around. He was a wonderful companion and greatly loved. And I know he loved me.
In the past 2 to 4 weeks, the doggie dementia got the best of him, and his quality of life deteriorated rapidly. It was heartbreaking to watch.
Rest in peace, little man. You will always have a place in my heart. ❤️"
Letti
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society- Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 9th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Kathleen Poulos & Aaron Lach
Fans: Jerry the Min Pin