The Frosted Faces

Page 5

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. Their "Family" is listed as "Frosted Faces Foundation."  View 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.  

Reggie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 4th, 2016
Date of Passing: February 11th, 2024
Family: Elaine Byrnes
Fans: Tralynn Gray

Tribute: On February 11th, Elaine fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Reggie.

She shared,

"How do I begin to celebrate in words the sweetest spirit who shared my life almost 8 years? At the beginning.

On May 8, 2016, Kelly and I met at the Downey shelter where I was to pick up “Virgil,” who immediately became Reggie. He joined our pack of non-FFs Katie, Lola, and Jack our cat.

Reggie was totally blind, and navigated everywhere as if he could see. Evfurrybody got along, but Lola and Reggie had a special bond. The only times I ever heard a warning bark was if someone unexpectedly bumped into him - there was truly not a mean cell in his adorable body.

He was incredibly smart, and always ready for whatever adventure we planned. He loved car rides, and the treats that came along. I think he liked our walks, but they were mostly sniff-trips, so we usually went 2 blocks in 30 or 40 minutes, then he was done. 🥰 He would just sit down, and no matter what I tried to, Regg had enough. Needless to say, we always had the stroller for the last half.

He either didn’t want to or never learned to run. If I pulled on the lead to try and go faster, he would stop immediately, and sometimes sit. I decided something must have happened in his other life. We met a young family in a park who also had a blind dog that was running with the kids. I asked the mom how they taught him to run - she said it took a long time. They would position the children so the dog would go from one to the next. So I bought a big furry ball that squeaked and tried to have Reggie chase it in the long hallway outside our apartment. A sweet neighbor joined a couple times when we had, “Bowling for Reggie,” but he never ran.

Reggie LOVED toys - he was such a tactile little guy. All his toys had squeakers or crinkle noises. But I believe chewing anything paper was his favorite pastime - he didn’t eat the paper, just left it for me to clean up. He adored being held and snuggled. When he would come up on the sofa, he would lean into me waiting for a tight hug and many kisses…then repeat…and again. We danced, too. A lot.

Everything changed, of course, when Covid happened. I began working from home, Lola and Katie passed, and Jack left in 2022. Reggie and I found comfort in each other - I kept thinking there would be more time to bring a new pawson home, but sadly I waited too long.

I can’t wrap my heart and mind around Reggie being gone - it’s been almost a month and I expect that he’ll be waiting for breakfast, and by the front door when I take out the trash, and wander into my bedroom if he doesn’t find me in the living room. He could be sound asleep, and if I came into the room, he woke up, found me, kissed my legs, and went back to sleep. It’s impossible to express how much I love and miss my boy - truly a treasure in my life."
 

Zucky

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: May 4th, 2016
Date of Passing: October 9th, 2023
Family: Andy & Kelly Smisek
Fans: David Triemert

Tribute: On October 9th, Andy and Kelly fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Zucky.

They shared,

"When adopting senior dogs, we never get to love them as long as we would like. Zucky defied the odds, and we had the privilege of loving him for 7 whole years, longer than most dogs we adopt. They say the bad boys always live the longest- and he did. 🙂

We exited Zucky from Downey Shelter during a mega collaborative rescue event. He had dreadlocks like you see in an ASPCA commercial and was snarling at the front of his kennel. This was 'back in the day' when FFF was a foster-based rescue, so I called Andy to plead his case. Surely he was stressed in the kennel environment and after some time being fostered by us, he would come around. 7 years later, he died a Smíšek, our loyal roommate.

We could not touch Zucky much of his time with us because he would bite us, but we went on a heck of a lot of adventures. It seems as though we were his social event planners. We went to the mountains, countless trips to the beach, hikes, camping, dinners- and as he aged, we mastered the art of the stroller. He got pushed while we were on rollerblades, or pulled by a bike.

Zucky was diagnosed with leukemia last year and stage 2 kidney disease, and he declined ever so slowly. Even though we were now able to cradle and kiss him, it made me miss the days that had flown by when he bit me if I tried to belly band him, or offered his paw, a 'truce,' when he knew he was being naughty.

On Zucky's last day, Andy and I cradled him on the big round couch at sunset in the FFF play yard as we set him free from his body. Zucky bought and moved into FFF with us - another milestone together- in a place where so many misunderstood dogs like him find refuge and even families of their own now.

Thank you for David Triemert for being Zucky's Fan for his whole life. You helped to cover blood testing, two dentals, a neuter, eye medication, pain medication a mass removal, you got him through a vestibular episode, and other treatments here and there throughout 7 years. You are an honorary part of Zucky's family that empowered us to help Zucky and add even more seniors to our pack.

I don't know if you needed to see all of these pictures, but I sure did to heal and reminisce. I love the quote, 'The story of our dogs is the story of us,' and we went through a lot together. We love you, Zuck, Zuck the Truck, Zuckerberg, Berger, Berger-meister. Mommy & Daddy will always miss you."

Pip

Acquired from: Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 9th, 2019
Family: Paula Rushton
Fans: Janice Schlesinger
Tribute: On August 9th we fulfilled our promise to Pip.

"I said goodbye to my little Pip today. He sassed it up for an extra 3 years & 3 months (past his scheduled euthanasia date) so I am trying to not be too sad. But I am sad. We had some fun together and I’m comforted to know he went out eating a lot of cheese & loved, age 18. I’m going to miss that ridiculously cute little guy.

More little senior Ultimate Sass Machines are out there who can be saved to live out their lives with love, support & veterinary care. 💙❤️💙❤️"
 

Hade

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 9th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 12th, 2016
Family: Farzin & Cyra Contractor-Morena
Fans: Itzel Pichardo, Martha Perez, and Puneeta Puri
Tribute: We rescued Hade from Carson shelter on May 9th, 2016 after staff had reached out asking for rescue because she was very ill. Hade was hospitalized for poor kidney values in an effort to give her a boost and a few more good days.

Andy and I both rushed to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital from separate ends of town when we heard Hade was not doing well. We sat with her for a long time waiting for a final kidney value retest exactly 48 hours from the first. We were told if Hade was going to improve from kidney failure at all with treatment, it would be in the first 48. Nothing had changed significantly and Hade was far more limp today and quivering than our visit yesterday.

There are no final sunsets, burgers, or beach walks for a dog suffering from kidney failure. With levels so high Hade must have felt horrible and the best thing we could do was let her go quickly. If I had to go, I'd go in the arms of this guy. We spent less than 24 hours with Hade after her rescue before she was hospitalized, but the naïve hope made our hearts bond so quickly. Hade couldn't have been held more dearly in such a safe embrace as we let her go. We agreed she looked newly groomed and familiar with touch, so we are at peace with the notion she was likely cared for prior to being a Frosted Face.

Monty

Acquired from: SEEACA Downey/Idaho Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 10th, 2016
Date of Passing: September 7th, 2019
Family: Ed Steinfeld & Ann McKay
Fans: Rachel Parsley, Roy & Brent, The Cook Family
Tribute: People often say that the dog will “tell you when it’s time to go.” But I believe that when we wait for dogs to tell us, we have often waited too long. “Better a week too early than a day too late” has become my mantra. It's what I have said to myself over and over as I have watched Monty fall deeper and deeper into his dementia. Is it time? Am I waiting too long? Is he in distress and I'm just not seeing it? Am I holding on to an idea rather than what he really is at this point? But as I asked myself these questions, I also gave him as much love as possible, soaking up as much as he would allow. Each kiss he gave me was precious. Each time he peacefully fell asleep in my arms or on my chest warmed my heart and soul. And I finally used that love to find the strength to say goodbye to our C. Montgomery Burns aka Monty aka Tiny Tot.

I fell in love with Monty the first time I saw him posted by Frosted Faces on Facebook…rescued and sent to another state, just for Kelly to have to fly out to rescue him again! Eddy quickly agreed that we would provide this crotchety old chihuahua the loving home he needed. Monty was clearly bewildered by all that was going on…shelters to flights to vet to my car to my house where he was greeted by two dogs much bigger than him. But he quickly established the rules for how he wanted things. And we happily complied. He never played, with toys, chews or other dogs. But he loved his bacon treats! And demanded his food! As bad as the CCD got, he still managed to “follow” us and demand dinner when I was taking too long. Gaining Monty’s trust and love forever changed me. Despite all his senses failing him, he knew we wouldn’t.

Thank you Frosted Faces for saving Monty, and trusting us to love him for who he was.

Annie

Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 13th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 31st, 2016
Family: Bethany Keeble
Fans: Luz Palacios, Roxanne Perez, Beth Leipold, Donna Jo Canale, Kristi Palmer, Tralynn Gray
Tribute: Upon rescue her bloodwork looked excellent and she underwent surgery to remove the mass on her neck and dental surgery. Annie suffered from a quick pneumonia, she stayed at Headquarters until her X-rays were clear, whereafter she went to her new home.

Not even a month went by and weekly correspondence began between the FFF Advisers and her Forever Foster Family as new old dog issues arose: weakness in the hind end, incontinence, dementia-like pacing, diarrhea, sleeping often. Poor Annie couldn't catch a break. She became a regular at Family Animal Hospital and we treated each symptom.

At the beginning of August we reran bloodwork because she began refusing meals and discovered Annie was suddenly in kidney failure which explained many of our concerns. It was difficult for her family to bear the loss of Annie, so she was relinquished back to us ten days ago. FFF Adviser, and the RVT who originally performed Annie's dental back in May, committed to Annie's care.

The hard part about kidney failure is that the dog requires hospitalization for a chance, followed by attentive medical care, and they oftentimes miss the final beautiful chapter of just enjoying time with their family. Annie was lucky enough to have the experienced Bethany who could administer IV fluids for that final push to flush toxins at home while at the same time helping her check off items on her bucket list. Items included meeting chickens, getting a new toy, celebrating a final birthday, experiencing the beach, seeing a sunset, and even haphazardly meeting the Doobie Brothers!

Today an abdominal ultrasound was donated by San Diego Bay Animal Hospital, verifying there was even more going on than we knew. With further justification of her symptoms and peace of mind, we decided to let her go.

Bethany writes:
"I let Annie go this afternoon. I tried my hardest to heal her. We found out today she has a mass on her liver and her pancreas could be effected. Along with kidney failure. She was declining fast.

Although I had her with me a little over a week I've fallen deeply in love with that sweet girl. I tried my hardest to take little breaks from her hospitalization to work on a bucket list because I just knew how sick she was.

As you all have seen we accomplished a lot. Last night we had an early 10th birthday party for her! And this morning instead of going to see and feed the ducks we decided to stay home and cuddle and enjoy the fresh air. We spent our last moments at the beach which she loved the smells and the water! She walked for days there. Lastly we had some acai bowl at the park which she wasn't interested. So I got her a hamburger and she did take a couple of bites, she couldn't resist that one! ❤️

I was truly blessed and grateful to have gotten to spend her last days with her and give her good loving memories!! Now she is at peace and pain free! She can run and play and eat as much as she wants. My heart hurts for my sweet Annie. RIP sweet girl ❤️"

All sunshine and no more discomfort, tender Annie.

Bones

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: May 15th, 2016
Date of Passing: February 22nd, 2018
Family: Jen Haselow & Brian Corcoran
Fans: Lisa Switzer, Lissa Gienty, Devan Lane, Patrice Slettengren
Tribute: Yesterday we fulfilled our promise to Bones at the age of 14 years old.

We rescued Bones, formerly Pepper Perry, on May 15th, 2016 from Carson Shelter. He struggled to walk and corrected with his mouth from the get-go. His mom Jen is tough, with an even stronger heart. She said the minute she saw his photo she knew he was her boy and she gave him time to decompress and got to know him.

Immobility does not necessarily mean it's time to pursue euthanasia if the owner is willing and capable, if pain is managed, and joy is still had. Brian and Jen, this very special couple, put Bones on the appropriate pain meds and carted him around for over a year and a half, likely the best years of his life!

He went boating, to the beach, sunned by their pool, never missed a Packer game, enjoyed regular brushing, a whole lot of spooning, ripped up countless toys, and he even came to cheer his dad on at our fundraiser, Kick it for K-9s. We don't always know how awesome people are going to be when we screen them, and some people surprise us. We just decide, "Yes, these people seem responsible and will make decisions out of love for their pet." As much as this story is about Bones, it is also about the magical couple behind his happiness who made sacrifices and accommodations to give their family dog every last good day.

Bones' mom writes, "I know we all follow each other's heartbreak and triumphs as we blindly follow our big hearts and offer the life that 'should have always been' to our frosted faces. So the heartbreak is, that today we euthanized our Bones. The triumph though.. this is that he will be given what he always should have had...to be pain free. And that, that makes me so happy even through the tears.

Bones ..you are mine and I am yours...forever. We are forever entangled and I know we will be together again. Thank you for everything you have given us.

Frosted Faces Foundation...your dream of giving discarded animals a home of love and respect is one of the most beautiful things I have come to see. Thank you for letting me be a part of your dream.

Frosted Face parents..you are all so amazing, I love to see the good shine through you all.

Love you, my tough as nails! 
Your biggest fan,
Mom"

Thank you to Brian Corcoran and Jen Haselow for being Bones' family, and thank you to Lisa Switzer, Lissa Gienty, Devan Lane, and Patrice Slettengren for being Bones's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Roxy

Acquired from:  Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 21st, 2016
Date of Passing: May 11th, 2017
Family: Kirsten Wilson
Fans: Tanya Nielsen
Tribute: We had actually rescued who we think was her brother or dad named Brooklyn in early May who was a stray. Weeks later we got a call from a shelter volunteer who let us know that Roxy had been kenneled in the "females only" building away from her brother, but was adopted and being returned due to extensive medical issues. We offered to help cover the costs, but the family wanted to surrender.

While we could not place Brooklyn and Roxy together, the next best thing was to ensure both of their safety by also committing to Roxy. Roxy had a large mast cell tumor filling with blood on her chest. We rushed her to the vet for a risky blood transfusion and operation. She survived just to have it grow back. Thinking we did not take good enough margins, we redid the surgery in full force when she was healthier. Poor Roxy was fighting a losing battle. Her mast cell tumors took over her body and her time started ticking.

Her mom attributes her longevity until now to the turmeric that kept the tumor growth at bay, along with benadryl and prednisone. Unfortunately, Roxy was no longer eating, was vomiting, and did not have a good quality of life. Goodness did she ever get some great moments with family before today though! She went camping, got lots of hugs from her boy, and our favorite was watching videos of her play chase around the living room. Roxy would roll over for belly pets almost to a fault, it was adorable!

Dottie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 23rd, 2016
Date of Passing: December 3rd, 2020
Family: Kristin & Calvin Penfound
Fans: Melissa Muik, Enythe Green
Tribute: On December 3rd, Calvin and Kristin fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Dottie.

Recall upon rescue, Dottie was found abandoned in an apartment as a down dog with a broken leg. The landlord brought her to the shelter for care. We had to amputate her leg, and through acupuncture, she miraculously began to walk again and did not need her wheelchair!

Her family shares,

"We said goodbye to Dottie. My heart is breaking into a million pieces. I wanted to cancel the appointment and keep her forever...but I knew her body was tired and she was really just existing. I knew keeping her would be for me not her.

Thank you is not enough to Kelly Smíšek and Frosted Faces for trusting us with her. She has brought so much joy and love into our home and lives. She has filled my heart with joy and compassion. We played, romped, road tripped and cuddled so much over the last almost 4 years. She brought smiles to everyone that met her. Her silly snaggle teeth and three legged hop were the best!!!

Run free sweet Dottie. I loved being your momma...it was an honor Be free of your broken body...and we will see you again at the rainbow bridge."

Cheech

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 26th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 16th, 2022
Family: Mike & Jeri Foley
Fans: Cherylynn Miykeilah Roberts, Tralynn Gray

Tribute: On August 16th, Jeri and Mike fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Cheech.

Jeri shared,

"It has been such a sad day. Cheech just crossed the rainbow bridge to be with his brothers and sisters. This was so hard, he had such a will to live and a love of life that can’t be described.

He touched the heart of everyone who met him. He was such a special boy and will live on forever in our hearts. We are so happy he rescued us and we got to spend 61/2 years with him.

He is at peace and free from pain now. He can walk and run again. We know wherever he goes he will bring love and be loved. We have learned so much from him.

Cheech, Rest In Peace and be happy wherever you are.

Love you forever."
 

Dally

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: June 4th, 2016
Date of Passing: September 11th, 2020
Family: Andy & Kelly Smisek
Fans: Jeremiah Evans, Itzel & Martha Perez, Pam Walker
Tribute: On Friday, September 11th, we fulfilled our promise to Dally.

Dally was brought into the shelter as a stray and scored a D on his temperament test. His shelter photo haunted me for days, until enough was enough, I just had to have him.

When we met him we realized he was barrier reactive and anxious, but fantastic with dogs and people! We loved him immediately and we had far too many dogs in our house to make him our own, so friends offered to be his people.

Two years later the family was really struggling with Dally's anxiety and needed to bring him back to FFF. It was meant to be. Dally was even more beautiful with frosting and slid into routine. We were able to take him off all of his anxiety meds, he never had to be crated for destruction because we are always home, and he liked all of our dogs - a whole new pack! Everything happens for a reason and he had a better quality of life.

Dally aged fast. We get Frosted Faces all of the time here and wish we had them sooner and wondered what their lives were like. This was different. We actually got to see what Dally was doing from playing fetch, to sleeping on their laps on the couch, and meeting foster kittens. Dally's previous family was good to him. I just wish it was Andy and me, especially as we saw him decline after his first 6 months back with us. His mentation changed, he could no longer jump on the couch, and he didn't acknowledge toys. He could hardly hike like we used to with him upon rescue, much less, make it around the block because his knees were so arthritic. We did diapers and Help 'Em Up harnesses, and for two years we did our very best for him.

Four years ago prior to his adoption we had to board Dally for a week at 24 Hour Dog Daycare. When we returned, he jumped up and down at the sight of us, nearly knocking us over. It feels so good to have that connection with a dog, you know? We were "his people" then, and now we were more of his caregivers. We would be whatever he needed us to be, but when you are in those last months, you just have to toss that little green ball with wonder and hope that maybe his eyes would sparkle again.

Instead, we tried very hard to engage Dally in what WE liked! Some people say their old dogs just sleep all the time. Dally would if he could, but the poor guy landed with us! We took him on several bike rides, AirBnb stays, he went to the beach, wineries, apple picking, to bonfires, and we pulled him up on the couch each night until he got restless. Dally still liked bones, but didn't know how to chew them. He just held them in his mouth until he fell asleep and we unclamped his jaw. Dally was the king of cuddles and you will see lots of photos of him cuddling with our other dogs, cats, and resident Frosted Faces. Dally loved to be dressed up as much as we loved to see him dressed up, and we tucked him in each night covered up by a big blanket so he would sleep soundly. Dr. Lipman donated acupuncture treatments on him weekly and she bought us several good weeks where Dally was able to walk more comfortably.

On Friday morning Andy and I were actually on a little staycation in Coronado and Alicia woke us up to let us know that Dally's temperature was 96 degrees and he was limp. We raced back to FFF to take him to the vet were he was having seizures. We knew we had arrived at the "event" we had perhaps been waiting for to make this impossible decision.

We want to thank Dally's Fans who helped cover his multiple mass removals and pain medication throughout his whole four years as a Frosted Face. We see you, and we appreciate your unwavering commitment to our boy. Thank you Jeremiah Evans, Itzel and Martha Perez, and Pam Walker.

We are so glad that Dally was blessed with two families who loved him. He never fell through the cracks, I mean... we could hardly let him go. We love you, Dally.
 

Winston

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 6th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 6th, 2020
Family: Lynne Christmas
Fans:  Cristina Tello Berumen
Tribute: On August 6th, we fulfilled our promise to Winston.

His mom shares,
"It has been three days since we said goodbye to Winston and the pain of losing him is real! He was such a soft and gentle soul, so full of love, he leaves a large empty space in our lives. He left us surrounded by his human and doggie family, with soft music and the sound of the ocean.

I miss his head on the pillow at night - he always wanted to be the closest to me. He would rub his head into my hand whilst stroking him and always had those beautiful soft eyes looking at me.

Mealtimes are too quiet now. Winston would bark for his food then when he knew it was being prepared would go play with his toys, throwing them in the air with joy as he knew his bowl was always the first.

He had arthritis in his little legs however really enjoyed his walks and kept up with his doggie family until the last few months. The neighbors loved him, he always had a tail wag for all he met on his walks.

We knew from beginning of March that he had a large inoperable tumor on his liver but still were hoping he would be with us longer. He finally told us it was his time - we knew it was coming but that didn’t make it any less painful. Winston was ready but we were not. We love you Winston. Four years with you were not enough. Rest In Peace dear friend, fly high, you have many doggie friends greeting you over the Rainbow Bridge. You will always be in our hearts. 😢💔❤️❤️❤️"

Raven

Acquired from: Riverside Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: June 18th, 2016
Date of Passing: July 6th, 2016
Family: Johnny & Betsy Moreno
Fans: Joanna Poleszczuk and Sandra Buechner
Tribute: She came to us matted, with blood coming from one nostril, a deformed eye and a head tilt. As we got to know her, we learned that she was a pacer, but had times where she could engage and be aware. She still hopped over thresholds in doorways, loved to sniff the bases of trees, and melted in your arms enjoying attention.

All signs pointed to the diagnosis of a brain tumor, and we tried treating her with antibiotics, steroids, pain medication and CBD product. Over just two weeks the tumor behind her eye grew noticeably larger and she began to make odd mouth motions seeming like the tumor was also behind her jaw. She had lost 6 pounds in three weeks and she was fed the best food.

Today Raven went in for a quality of life evaluation and we were told that the tumor behind her eye was probably very uncomfortable, that we could see how quickly it was growing, and that quality over quantity of life is oftentimes better.

Encapsulated in the arms of Johnny and Betsy Moreno, we let soft, sweet Raven go. 

Phyllis

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Lancaster
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: June 19th, 2016
Date of Passing: November 24th, 2017
Family: Al Munoz & Charline Twitchell
Fans: Lena Peters, Eve Syvanen
Tribute: Her family knew they wanted her instantly and offered her dignity through dementia and all.

They shared, "Good morning, I have some sad news to report. Phyllis has crossed over. Yesterday morning Phyllis was having a seizure and it wouldn't stop so we rushed her to the vet. They gave her Valium to calm her but said it wasn't working very well so they had to administer a little more. They kept her there on an IV drip to monitor her. We were notified in the afternoon that she was still having tremors and was paddling. Blood tests were taken and they all came out fine, so the issue could possibly be a brain tumor. They said they would keep her overnight to monitor her activity.

We received another call later in the afternoon and the vet said she was still having tremors and paddling and that she was on two anti-seizure medications now. The vet said she would call in the morning to let us know how Phyllis did during the night. We got a call from the vet around 10:30 pm, telling us that Phyllis has been having more seizures, last long amounts of time. She advised us to come in. Al and I decided it best if we let Phyllis go and release her from her pain. We knew the day would come when we'd have to say goodbye , but we didn't want it to happen like this. We took in her blanket and one of our pillow cases so she can have a familiar smell surrounding her as she was drifting away.

Al and I both slept, holding her blanket, last night. We are heartbroken. Thank you for giving us the chance to foster and eventually adopt this wonderful little creature. She was truly loved. Not only by Al and myself, but also by my mother and brother. They were so gentle and kind to her. Friends, neighbors and people at the dog park were always so taken by her. If they didn't see her for a while, they would always ask, "Where's Phyllis?" or "How's Phyllis?" Phyllis was an interesting girl. Sometimes she'd know us and sometimes she wouldn't. She hated grooming. Giving her a bath or trying to wipe her face was a struggle. Even the groomers would come out traumatized because Phyllis would put up such a fight and cry out bloody murder. She always made a huge mess when eating and has tipped over many a water bowl.

It's hard to describe her personality. She never played or begged or followed us around. She would walk around the house quite a bit. We tried hard to "Philly proof" the house but it wasn't 100% perfect. She did love having a treat, only if it was meat. She would go nuts for a piece of hot dog or burger. We would give her small pieces every once in a while. What Phyllis enjoyed most, was sleeping between me and Al, every single night. She would be wandering the house aimlessly, be fussy or restless, but the minute we put her in our bed, she would curl up and fall sleep. Al and I always slept on the edge of the bed because we were both afraid of crushing her. As uncomfortable as it was for us, we couldn't deny her her comfort and happiness. Thanks again for giving us this wonderful opportunity of letting a frosted face. We look forward to doing it again very soon."

Champ

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: June 21st, 2016
Date of Passing: June 8th, 2017
Family: Mike and Renay Peters
Fans: Emily Elliott, Victoria Conway, Debbie DeLaCruz
Tribute: When the plea came from OC Shelter that a 14 year old paralyzed "stray" pittie needed to be rescued by the end of the day, we started coordinating only to have the timeline changed. The shelter again reached out and said he was breathing heavily and needed to exit within the hour because he was suffering. Was it even worth it then?

That was June 21st, 2016.

We rescued Champ intending to keep him thinking no one would want him or do right by him. Man were we wrong. Not only did Mike & Renay Peters do right by him, they extended his life well beyond imaginable measure with happiness and quality.

On June 7th Champ was given the gift of euthanasia in his home surrounded by his family. He suffered from degenerative myelopathy and he could no longer move any of his limbs. His family put up a hell of a fight for him. They had a whole system of getting him around the house, out to go potty, express his bladder, giving him a bath, changing his sheets, feeding him- Champ loved them so much he was bright eyed and even played with toys until just recently. Until Champ's decline, he had a wheelchair that he used to go on frequent outings!

Champy's family knew that he was special and his story touched many hearts. They could not keep him all for themselves, so they shared his life on Marilyn's Medical Makeover- Help Her walk the Red Carpet. You can experience all the adventures of his "Cherish Day" and life by viewing this page.

Slayer

Acquired from: Paws Pet Ranch
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: June 24th, 2016
Date of Passing: July 1st, 2016
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Tribute: On June 23rd, Paws Pet Ranch, had San Bernardino Animal Control visit their sanctuary where they found dogs living in unacceptable conditions outside and one dog was discovered dead. The owner, Stephen Caro, was advised that they would be back on Saturday. Later that day Stephen posted on Facebook about the circumstances and that he needed fosters for many of his animals because he was over the legal limit. Late that evening other animal rescues showed up at his house to answer his plea for help.

One advocate notified us that they were on the property helping. We offered assistance, and Slayer was the first dog to come to mind because we recalled a recent post where he looked terrible in the photo. From what we understand, after some negotiation, the owner of Paws Pet Ranch, Stephen Caro, passed Slayer over the fence knowing Frosted Faces Foundation would be receiving him.

There is much speculation as to what happened that evening and the following days, so we are going to leave it to this article to fill in the details:http://m.hidesertstar.com/…/article_bf944084-3a97-11e6-bf24…

Animal Control got their warrant earlier than Saturday and returned the very next morning, Friday, to confiscate the rest of the dogs. "In what turned into a daylong operation, they removed more than 150 animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits and birds. The stench of urine and feces drifted from the open door as officers led out dogs ranging in size from Chihuahuas to pit bulls and one spotted hound. Some were skinny, while others limped or had missing fur or visible injuries. Others looked well fed and healthy."

Any dogs that were exited the night before by rescues were asked to be reported, and have several photographs and full vet records forwarded to authorities for the investigation. We immediately contacted San Bernardino County and Apple Valley Animal Control investigators on Friday, June 24th, and have fully cooperated while paying for all of Slayer's diagnostics and care. We did not have any dogs on Paws Pet Ranch property as fosters, nor had we pulled any dogs for them.

On Friday morning a volunteer transported Slayer to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital where he had a full senior blood panel and exam. He was covered in dried feces, was weak, and completely emaciated. Stephen had sent down previously prescribed Orbax for infection and Soloxine for hypothyroidism. In a Facebook post Stephen stated that Slayer was hypothyroid and was struggling with kidney issues. When Slayer's bloodwork came back relatively normal, with only a few mild abnormailities, we did full body X-rays which showed nothing significant causing his emaciated body. ...Nothing was wrong with Slayer!

Over this weekend we played pet detective. We went through all of Paws Pet Ranch's Facebook posts about Slayer, "friending" each person who commented, and we figured out where he came from and why after some digging! Slayer lived with an older gentleman who passed away in 2012. They found vaccine records dated back as far as 2001, so Slayer is at least 15 years old! The man's son took responsibility for Slayer (who had a sister named Buffy), and then in 2016 Slayer was found wandering the streets by a good samaritan. When it was discovered the son no longer wanted Slayer, he was kept in the backyard of the finder's business where she built him a cardboard dog house.

That is when she began to look for a "sanctuary" and Paws Pet Ranch was recommended by animal rescue networkers. Slayer made his way from Lodi, CA to Morongo Valley, CA with a volunteer on May 12th, 2016. He was a senior arthritic dog, but in no way was he in the poor condition that we received him in!

We don't have a lot of cold hard facts. What we do have is a very emaciated dog from Paws Pet Ranch whose body score significantly declined between May 12th and June 23rd in their care. After days of hospitalization and when more symptoms became apparent, we learned that Slayer had Parvo and only one day later he passed away on July 1st, 2016.

We were privileged to be able to make Slayer Frosted Face number 216 and be his true advocates for the rest of his life.

May 10th, 2016 Slayer at Transporter's House:https://youtu.be/hPRQKI75lQE

June 24th, 2016 Slayer at San Diego Bay Animal Hospital:https://youtu.be/4_GQly0hKF0

Patrick

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: July 13th, 2016
Date of Passing: October 5th, 2019
Family: Bert & Kris Wood
Fans: Judith Traub
Tribute: On Saturday, October 5th, we fulfilled our promise to Patrick.

We rescued Patrick when we were still a foster-based rescue. He was scheduled to be euthanized for treatable medical conditions that were untreatable by shelter veterinary standards. We struggled to find a Forever Foster, and unexpectedly beagle-mama, herself, volunteered her heart and home all in the name of saving a life. I still remember telling Kris half jokingly, "Don't lose him!" knowing she had bigger, tougher dogs.

As Kris always says, "Hound dog healing powers to you!" I think she really needs some hound dog healing powers to heal her. It is clear there is a Pattywhack shaped piece of her heart missing now.

"To say I'm shattered is a complete understatement. He was the come back kid...

I was so nervous when I first met Patrick...he was so tiny and frail...coyotes, hawks, horses, big dogs... definitely not a farm dog. Me, not a small dog person...

Pattywack changed my mind, my husband's too! He got fat, sassy, confident, exuberant my little shmunchkin. We went all over the farm, to Montana, on the boat, in the lake. He slept in the middle of the bed kept the big dogs in line.

He gave us some big scares but with some carnitas, love and fluids he always came back. We just celebrated his third Frostiversary, he was a fighter!

I will miss kissing him when he really didn't want it, watching him nestle up in the blankets, seeing him chase me with his hilarious gate, eat carnitas...so many things. He's touched our lives and I loved him so much!

Thank you Kelly for entrusting us with that little nugget!"

Bella

Acquired from: Riverside Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: July 19th, 2016
Date of Passing: September 7th, 2016
Family: Trina Snow & Tammy Parton
Fans: Leslie Smart and Arnold Valdez
Tribute: On September 7th, 2016 Bella went into cardiac arrest and passed away during pre-anesthetic procedures prior to dental surgery at Vail Ranch Veterinary Hospital.

When we rescued Bella from Riverside shelter on July 19th, 2016 at the age of 13, she was weak and emaciated. We learned that she was diabetic and her WBC count was 56,000! In the care of her new family her WBC count got down to normal, her diabetes was regulated, and she looked incredible.

Against our better judgement, although we took every precaution by doing chest x-rays and bloodwork, Bella underwent a much needed dental surgery. This circumstance brought forth the relevant discussion in the work we do with senior dogs.

We rescue these little dogs whose love and lives have been abandoned and often neglected for so long. We want to squeeze new love into them and fix them all up. With so many risks and not knowing their pasts, we are forced to evaluate quality of life and how much is too much for their little bodies.

How do we make these Frosted Faces live the longest happiest lives possible? We wish they could talk, of course, because they are so stoic. Is it better to live with infected teeth that are painful or try for the surgery? Do you remove infected cancerous masses in hopes to lengthen their lives, or risk losing them from becoming septic? Do you remove painful eyes, or does the dog not have a long enough life expectancy to justify the procedure and is happy enough to forgo it? We commit to a decision, moving forward with only love and the best intentions, because in that vein you cannot go wrong.

We are heartbroken to lose Bella as the loss seems so preventable. At the same time, we have included photos and video to show you how much Bella was loved in her last weeks surrounded by a family.

Her mom writes:
We are so heart broken to say that we lost this sweet girl today. She didn't even make it to surgery as she went into cardiac arrest before she went under anesthesia. We never saw that coming! She had such a big personality and our house seems empty without her now. Losing her is heart wrenching! All our fur babies seem to know that something is not right. We totally thought we would have her for much longer. We had so many plans to let her do fun things that she probably never got to do before. We only hope that she felt all the love we gave her to make up for what she should have had all along in her life before she became a frosted face. She will be a shining star in the night. We love you and will miss you sweet baby!!!! Bella Elle...Beautiful Elle!!!!

Bella's new halo: https://youtu.be/B4bcs6tne98
Bella barking for breakfast: https://youtu.be/aYgSPyZzkac
Bella couch hopping: https://youtu.be/qC4F39VK56o

Gertie

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: July 19th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 29th, 2020
Family: Dianne Phillips
Fans: Barbara Kohn, Millicent Townsend
Tribute: On Friday, May 29th, we fulfilled our promise to Gertie.

"We know when we adopt a senior dog our time together will be short. It is part of the arrangement. But we are still so unprepared for that final goodbye. Gertie was with me for nearly four years and over time I noticed and commented on how she was aging and slowing down. Friday morning I emailed Frosted Faces to let them know she was declining – she was weak and off balance and refusing food. But I didn’t know I would be at the vet saying goodbye to her later that same day. I knew this day would come but losing Gertie knocked the wind out of me.

Gertie came to me by chance. I didn’t choose her, it was timing and fate (and Kelly 😊). It was a perfect match! She had severe injuries and needed a lot of care and attention, but she blossomed as she healed and she flourished. She became puppy-like and won the hearts of everyone who met her. She was the sweetest girl, and so gentle. She wasn’t a cuddler, but she did want to be pet and fussed over. Everyone who met her commented on how sweet and polite she was. She was never affectionate or playful with her furbrother but she learned from him, tolerated him and seemed to enjoy it when he cleaned her ears. On Gertie’s last day, the vet tech told me she had only been working there for a little over 2 months, but Gertie was one of her favorites and that she loved Gert’s adorable head tilt.

In these crazy times I was very fortunate that the vet bent the rules a little and made some adjustments so that I was able to hold Gertie all the way to the end. She passed peacefully with me holding her, kissing her forehead and telling her she was Mommy’s best girl and I loved her very much."

Jericho

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Lancaster
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: July 24th, 2016
Date of Passing: December 20th, 2016
Family: Heidi Arambula
Fans: Lina Leslie and Trisha Snyder
Tribute: We rescued Jericho on July 24th, 2016 from Lancaster Shelter when he was 11 years old. He was not eating and could not stand after over a week of treatment for vestibular disease. This on top of his crippling arthritis for which he needed a slew of meds that could not be taken without food, we knew we had to let him go.

Heidi carried Jericho everywhere, cleaned up messes, hand fed him, and kept him stimulated with toys and strategic placement to enjoy the breeze and sunshine with his siblings. He couldn't have been more adequately accommodated and loved. Heidi donated the additional expense to have Jericho put to sleep in her own home surrounded by his brothers.

We owe thanks to Heidi Arambula for going the distance not many go- committing to a senior hospice bully breed. We love you, Jericho.

Tulip

Acquired from: Long Beach Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: August 7th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 7th, 2017
Family: Aurelle and Carl Garner
Fans: Melissa Burrows
Tribute: My Tulip, My Tootie, Tush Tush,

Today was your Frostiversary. We shared a Cheeseburger and Fries, but today was bittersweet, as today we said goodbye.
It was obvious it was time, pain was all you knew lately, and it would have been incredibly selfish to try and keep you to ourselves.

Your full name is Tulip O'Hare. You are a heroin in a comic book/TV show now. I chose this name because you looked like a frail little lady, but you had heart, you had guts, you had resilience, and we would have been in trouble not to see it. Just like the original Tulip, your life was definitely tough before we met, you had the stigmas in your soul, but you took life full throttle and never let it be in your way.

You didn't always know how to show love, you were a scaredy cat when we got you but with patience and unconditional love you started trusted again. That was all the proof we needed.

You couldn't walk anymore when we picked you up from FFF this week, but you didn't want to show us you were feeble, and you started walking again once home. The toll pain was taking on your little body, was breaking my heart. I am so sorry we had to let you go, but I know it was for your greater good.

You deserve to run free. Bennie, our previous Frosted Face, made sure we knew. I'm sure it was him sending us a message this weekend on my radio, when we lost reception. There are no coincidences, everything happens for a reason. We love you my sweet baby Angel, my little flower of love. We will miss you terribly. 💔💝🥀

Westley

Acquired from: North Central Los Angeles Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: August 10th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 16th, 2019
Family: Jim Ito & Melanie Granfors
Fans: Donna Miller, Bonnie Sposato, Ann Sehorn, Cynthia Munoz
Tribute: On August 16th we fulfilled our promise to Westley. We pleaded for a foster for weeks for Westley after seeing him at the shelter. He was reactive to quick touch and needed a patient family. We were acquaintances with Melanie and Jim who were new in town, but it was Westley that caused them to finally leap into the FFF Forever Foster community. They were everything and more for Wes. Three years and 10+ hospice Frosted Faces later, they are saying goodbye to their first Frosted Face after supporting him through dementia.

"Westley’s story ended today. Our first Frosted Face, three years ago. Our little loner will always hold a huge place in our hearts and our family history."
 

Buddy

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: August 11th, 2016
Date of Passing: April 14th, 2018
Family: Denise Mendonca & Rob Bailey
Fans: Elizabeth Pratt, Isabel Rosser
Tribute: Yesterday evening Buddy passed away at the age of 15 years old. We rescued Buddy from Coachella Valley Shelter on August 11th, 2016. Rob and Denise immediately committed to him and offered Buddy a beautiful life!

"Last night we said goodbye to Buddy. For those who don’t know or remember, Buddy had multiple masses, including one on his spleen. He bounced back from three splenic bleeding episodes, but his fourth, about a month and a half ago, took a lot out of him. We knew he wouldn’t survive another, and at the first sign that one was starting yesterday, we let him go gently.

When Buddy joined our family 20 months ago, we fell in love with his sweet soul right away. He was always right in the middle of things, but never pushy about it. He was our really, really, really good boy. He loved to go places and loved to eat. He wasn’t overly snuggly but loved to lean in for head scritches. He spent the days with me in my office, relaxed with me in the evenings, followed me to bed at night and slept at my feet. His absence today is palpable but we’re so lucky to have had him for the time we did.

My little Bud-man, mommy and daddy miss you and we’ll love you forever. You’ll find lots of dogs at the bridge to run and play with until we see you again." ❤️

Thank you Rob Bailey and Denise Mendonca for being so strong for Buddy, not giving up too easily by learning about his condition, and instilling hope through this commitment.

Thank you to Beth Pratt-Bergstrom and Isabel Rosser for being Buddy's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Nettie

Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: August 16th, 2016
Date of Passing: October 2nd, 2023
Family: Ken & Linh Vandermar
Fans: Laura Miles, Trina Snow, Nina Dalle, Kathy Cleveland

Tribute: On October 2nd, Ken and Linh fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Nettie.

They shared,

"We are sad to share that we had to say goodbye to our adorable, fluffy, Nettie bear. She was rescued back in the earlier days of Frosted Faces so she's one of the old old-timers! She had many healthy years with zero issues, but in recent years dealt with a lot of things including surgery to remove her spleen, a pyometra, mammary masses and seizures. Nettie had a quiet strength and go with the flow attitude and one by one she just handled and got through those health challenges. More recently, she declined quite a bit cognitively and physically and it just became too much for her mind and her body.

For her recent frostiversary we got a Wisdom Panel DNA kit and learned that our best guess of her breed was on point. She is mostly Chow Chow with some shepherd and other breeds. She definitely had that Chow Chow aloofness to her. She was very loyal and wanted to be near us but did not want or need a lot of affection. She would gladly accept pets and then just walk away when she was done with you. We learned to not take it personally. It made it all the more special when she would actually come up to "ask" for pets and love.

Nettie was sweet and friendly to everyone and every dog. She had no beef with anyone and if any dog had beef with her she really didn't care! She was tolerant of her sometimes annoying siblings and kind to the few foster/fling dogs that visited our family.

We affectionately called her "roadblock" because she somehow managed to be exactly in the way of wherever we were trying to go. She liked being curled up, comfortable and she only really got excited over food. She gave us laughs because we'd find her in funny positions - upside down, or with her head tucked under the bed or a dresser.

We are grateful that we got to be her family and that we had her with us for so many years. We miss her terribly and will always hold her in our hearts.

Thank you to Nettie's long-time fans and our friends at Frosted Faces for all of their support over the years. "

Vivian

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: August 30th, 2016
Date of Passing: August 31st, 2016
Family: Anthony and Mary Savoia
Fans: Julie Kole
Tribute: We rescued Vivian on August 30th, 2016 from Downey Shelter after the shelter staff had determined that euthanasia or rescue for further treatment was necessary. The shelter did bloodwork on August 27th which reflected that Vivian was in kidney failure. Upon rescue, we reran labs to see if anything had changed in addition to doing a urinalysis. Bloodwork had not improved and gotten worse verifying the diagnosis of kidney disease, but also showed low proteins in the blood which usually indicates liver or intestinal disease.

We went to visit Vivian on the 31st immediately after being notified that her condition had worsened. She had been hospitalized for the night for fluids and injections. Her diseases were taking her body quickly, as just two weeks prior, although she had diarrhea and was not eating, she was alert. The day of rescue she was limp, but could lift her head and had brighter eyes. The very next day when she was carried into the exam room she was listless and had that all too familiar look that she was nearing the end- where in fact, we felt the need to keep checking to make sure she had not passed on her own.

There were no further diagnostics or treatment she would endure. Our veterinarian recommended euthanasia based on the combination of the low proteins in the blood and her obvious physical state of suffering. Her new mom held her for a good hour before we let her go, and she passed peacefully with her head on Mary's heart and paw in my hand.

Thank you for alerting us to Vivian's case and providing the funding so that we could adequately test and treat her, and ultimately, let her go with dignity. 

Sparky

Acquired from: Devore Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: September 2nd, 2016
Date of Passing: November 10th. 2019
Family: Claire Jenkins
Fans: Patricia Powell- Gonzalez, Julie Kole, Michelle Gavaldon
Tribute: On Sunday, November 10th, we fulfilled our promise to Sparky.

"With a heavy heart I said goodbye to my beloved Sparky and released him from the hell of canine dementia. The Sparky that I knew faded away many months ago and left behind an empty shell of dog who dealt with daily confusion. Run free my beautiful Sparky and go find your two favorite girls Daisy and Delilah. I will cherish all our memories of our three years together and will always be in my heart. Love you always my little old man."

Lobo

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: September 14th, 2016
Date of Passing: April 20th, 2017
Family: Jackie Portman
Fans: Joni Duke, Stephanie Powell-Pilgrim
Tribute:  We rescued Lobo on September 14th, 2016 from Baldwin Park Shelter after he had been surrendered there by his owners at the age of 15.

Lobo was always happy and truly smiling. He knew exactly when mealtime was and let everyone know. His mom was so good about making sure he had a soft bed to lay on, kept him clean, and most importantly kept him moving by taking him for walks.

Lobo was tired and his eyes no longer sparkled. When we took him to Family Animal Hospital the vet agreed it was time and quality was lacking.

Lobo's mom shares, "It has taken me all day to find the state of mind to sit down and share with you all that yesterday Lobo & I had to face the unbearable. It is with a heart heavier than I can say that yesterday Lobocrossed the rainbow bridge.

Although I watched the progression of him getting weaker, one is never ready to deal with it when the time comes. As we sat together and he rested his chin on my leg he had this tired, far away look in his eyes. Somehow I knew he had become tired and that yesterday was his day to be released from his tired old body.

My old man Lobo was so endearing. He stole the heart of anyone he meant. He ran (the beat he could) with my pack and was always happy to see me when I got home. I feel like we shared a love and a bond that it would normally take a dog's whole life to build. Lobo & I only had 7 months together but it felt like a lifetime. I will miss you old man but I know your running and having fun with Bob-O right now."

Petrie

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 17
Date of Rescue: September 19th, 2016
Date of Passing: February 1st, 2017
Family: Matthew and Nadia Fulkerson
Fans: Nikki King, Rena Mcdonald
Tribute: He weighed only 1.78 pounds and was discovered to have trouble keeping his blood sugar elevated.

He loved to eat so it wasn't hard to keep him going and he loved to held! He would chirp the most unbelievable bark when he wanted attention. And don't let that tiny body fool you! He could jump off of couches and onto large dog beds with cat-like reflexes. He also moved across the floor with a soft and quick stride to be anywhere his human was.

The saddest part of losing Petrie was that we had just approved a family for him, Nicholas and Ashleigh Hale, and they were to come pick him up this Saturday. Petrie was loved by so many people during his time with us though! He was loved by Matt & Nadia Fulkerson, Bethany Turnbloom, and Sarah Melick, who all took part in his happiness.

Bethany reflected, "He had such a special place in my heart, sharing my old boy's 14th birthday with us, and Christmas, and going to look for wedding venues in Julian."

Sarah shared, "Thank you for letting me love him," as she just took him on a trip to Arizona with her last week and he spent the whole trip at her side in a sling.

Nadia shared her daughter's thoughts after learning of Petrie's passing, "Mommy, I love how he would always lick my cheeks and eyebrowns (her version of eyebrows) when I ate chicken. Do you think he'll have chicken where he is now?" I told her yes, he's likely eating a ton of amazing food, and she says, "They better not serve him steak, he has no teeth!!"

Sarah was present to hold Petrie tightly after we were advised at Pet Emergency & Specialty Center to let him go. We Facetimed with Petrie to say goodbye in his final moments.

Petrie will be remembered not for his few weak moments, but his completely surprising strong and ambitious months. As fragile as he appeared, he only spent truly about 4 days sick, and all of the others were filled with joy and energy.

Get chubby, Petrie! Bark a lot, mark every corner of heaven, and eat a lot of chicken. We love you.

Dougie

Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: September 23rd, 2016
Date of Passing: June 6th, 2018
Family: Trina Snow & Tammy Parton
Fans:  Eileen Taylor
Tribute: On Thursday, June 6th, we fulfilled our promise to 16 year old Dougie.

We rescued Dougie on September 23rd, 2016 from San Bernardino City Shelter urgently without a foster family. Tammy and Trina had just suffered the loss of their Frosted Face Bella, but stepped up for Dougie to keep on sharing the love shortly thereafter. Dougie's retired life boiled down to a lot of naps and a whole lot of outfits!

Trina shares,

"I can not believe how incredibly hard this was. Much worse than I thought. His fragile little body just couldn't cope with his enlarged heart, and all the meds to contain his congestive heart failure just took their toll. I am devastated. He was my little bug and his amazing personality was a gift. I love you Dougie!"

Thank you, Trina Snow and Tammy Parton, you two have been so generous and attentive in support of Dougie and Frosted Faces Foundation. Thank you to Eileen Taylor for being Dougie's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fan.

Frannie

Acquired from: Devore Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: September 23rd, 2016
Date of Passing:
Family: Paul & Teresa Mondello
Fans: Bobbi Moody

Oakley

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: September 28th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 28th, 2022
Family: Karla Real & Joe Borriello
Fans: Donna Felten, Jane Wilkinson

Tribute: On May 28th, Joe and Karla fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Oakley.

They shared,

"Our sweet boy Oakley went over the Rainbow Bridge this weekend. It’s been unbearable. This is the first dog that Joe and I have lost as adults. Nothing prepares you for this.

Oakley came to us 2.8 years ago on September 29, 2019. I had watched a special on dog hospices/sanctuaries and it was the first I’d heard of something like that. No more than a week later, Joe’s work was volunteering at Frosted Faces Foundation (FFF) a senior dog rescue and I said I’d be thrilled to come. I started volunteering on my own, and came to know that a senior that was blind and deaf was going to be returned because the senior owner could not take care of him anymore. As amazing as FFF is, I’d seen little blind seniors in the yard and it’s tough for them because they can’t follow other doggies’ social cues. I wondered how hard that would be blind AND deaf. So, I talked to Joe that I was interested in adopting him before we even met him. I think Oakley was at the rescue for only 1 night, we went to meet him and adopted him. Oakley was meant to spend his last chapter with us as a family.

Oakley was watched 24/7, I already worked from home when we got him and Joe was also at home 6 months later. We immediately bought cameras to watch him when we weren’t home, if you ever came over you’d notice that we had wonky bubble wrap on our furniture so that he wouldn’t bonk his little head and hurt himself, not that he ever went that fast, and bought enrichment toys for him to occupy him like snuffle mats and treat dispensing toys that he had to work for. When we went on vacations, someone had to stay at the house so that Oakley would stay in his familiar environment, etc.

We had so many happy times with Oakley - going through my pics and videos this weekend, I came across SO many videos of Joe and I laughing at Oakley’s antics - falling asleep with bully sticks in his mouth, videos of him as the littlest member of the house snoring louder than the largest member of our house, short runs early on, walks in the park, puppucinos. At home, I became a crazy dog mom and bought doughnut beds and soft baby blankets for him. When we moved to Nevada, a home with a yard for him and Buddy was at the top of our list in our search. Oakley was adored.

Oakley started declining the last few months. I thought it was time. Joe did not. Joe did the heavy lifting with Oakley at the end. It was too hard for me to see him decline. I’m mad at myself for not being stronger.

It’s brought us the most comfort looking at old videos and pics, where you can hear me and Joe happy, laughing at Oakley’s antics in the background. To those of you lucky enough to have met Oakley, he was our sweet boy, the sweetest boy you have ever met. Thank you for your unconditional love and all the amazing, happy times, sweet boy. My mind goes to I could have done better, not spent time away from him volunteering, not spending so much time on my iPad at home, etc. But in the past 2.8 years, Oakley was the center of our world. I promise you I did my best, Oakley.

Mommy Daddy love you and miss you so much already, Oakley. Mornings and nights revolving around your routines are unbearable right now. We can’t wait to be reunited with you, sweet Oakley. "
 

Buffy

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: September 29th, 2016
Date of Passing: November 8th, 2016
Family: Pedro & Suelay Traveceras
Fans:  Lauretta Johnson, Melissa Muik, Katrina Nelson, Julie Holt
Tribute: We rescued Bufffy on September 29th, 2016 from Coachella Valley Shelter with congestive heart failure.

If you ever met Pedro and Suelay, you would find they are absolutely magnetizing. One can have a sincere conversation with them for hours. Suelay told us, "We honestly didn't know what we were getting into when we got Bufffy. We knew it was going to take dedication and hard work, but wow, props to all the FFF fosters out there..."

When they offered to be Bufffy's family we knew that they would put their entire hearts into each of her days and we knew her days were numbered upon rescue. "Props" to them for not only committing to a Frosted Face, but a very sick Frosted Face who required a lot of medications, refills, veterinary visits, eating enticement, close monitoring, accident clean up, and most importantly- packing a tremendous amount of love into such a short amount of time.

Bufffy, Pedro, and Suelay laid together listening to classical music into the evening. Bufffy's breaths were slow and she assured her family that she was ready to pass. It sounded like it was a tender last moment in time together to appreciate life.

Snow White

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: October 2nd, 2016
Date of Passing: October 15th, 2016
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Darby Hall, Joe & Renee Dalo, Marco Chavira
Tribute: We fulfilled our promise to Snow White on October 15th, 2016 as recommended by our veterinarian. Her quality of life was poor and her condition was not improving as we had hoped.

We rescued Snow White from Carson Shelter on October 2nd, 2016 after she had been surrendered there by her owners at the age of 16 because she was "too old."

We always get closest to the dogs that require the most care, and Snow White was no different. She spun very tight circles to the right. We had to make sure she got all of her medication, did not run into things, gave her (nearly) daily baths, tried tucking her in and cooing her to sleep a couple times each day to give her rest, and tried to enrich her life by creating activities for her. Our most successful attempts were peanut butter filled Kongs and spreading kibble all over the bedroom floor where she would actually spin more slowly and pursue each piece!

Andy and I agree that the dementia dogs are the most difficult to make the very final decision to euthanize, and he thoughtfully expressed why.. I asked him to write a tribute about Snow White because she really melted him, and here are his thoughts that he has poured himself into to say farewell to our "Snowy" :

"After two weeks of vet visits and medication, we came to the sad realization that she was suffering from fairly severe dementia and likely brain tumor (not the assumed vestibular disease).

We have cared for dogs suffering from dementia many times and, although we have learned a lot, it never gets easier. There is no question that it’s hard saying goodbye to every dog, but the dementia dogs seem to be the hardest.

The problem lies in a lack of communication. Dementia cuts off their ability to recognize where they are, who they are with, and what is happening. Most of all, they are unable to recognize and reciprocate the love we give them. We can pet them, snuggle them, and try to console them but they don’t seem to even know we are there. Simply put, dogs are walking, barking balls of reciprocating love. Dementia steals this dog-ness away and leaves us with a confused and broken heart, and worst of all, complete helplessness.

That was the case with Snow White. We just wanted her to know we loved her, but nothing we did seemed to get through. We imagine she used to be a dog that was well-loved by her previous family. Maybe she slept in bed with them, played with toys, and ran free somewhere. We can only hope these are the memories she knew as she faded away in front of our eyes.

Please share love with them while you can, while they are still there."

Snow White was flailing confusedly that evening and we were unable to console her, so considering her last joy was food, we let her eat a big can of wet food to calm her down before she passed on her prayer blanket donated by Debbie Pendleton.

Rest in peace little lamb.

Rocky

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: October 7th, 2016
Date of Passing:
Family: Marisa Salas
Fans: Patricia Gonzalez-Powell, Nicole Pierce, Trina Snow
 

Skip

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Castaic
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: October 7th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 20th, 2018
Family: Jenna Larson
Fans: Ryan Malina, Laura Meadows, Trisha Snyder, Nicole St.Aubin
Tribute: On Sunday, May 20th, we fulfilled our promise to 15 year old Skip after battling renal disease.

We rescued Skip on October 7th, 2016 from Castaic Shelter after he was surrendered by his owners who had adopted him from the same shelter 14 years earlier.

His mom writes in tribute, "We have had so much loss as a FF family this month, I am absolutely heartbroken to say that I let Skip go. After overcoming the odds of his splenic tumor and being a Frosted Faker for over a year, his diagnosis of kidney failure took a toll and he made a quick decline this past week.

He was the most amazing little buddy, followed me around, always wanting to know what you were up to. He would even stick his head in the shower-just to check in! He had this infectious personality that would just make you smile because of his absolute and utter enjoyment of life. I called it the Skip Sparkle. His absolute favorite things were running through the grass at full speed and food.

We worked on his bucket list and he got to experience a ton of new things these past few months. Skip was one of the most loyal, happy, amazing dogs that I have ever met and he has taken a huge chunk out of my heart. I will forever be grateful that he came into my life, we were meant to be together. I don't think it has quite hit me yet that my little shadow is gone, I think that I will be looking for him for awhile. No one will be as excited as he was when I walked through the door every time. I hope that he knew how much he was loved and cherished.

Hug your fur kids tight today and give them a kiss for me in Skip's memory. Thank you for all your love and support throughout his time with me. He will be missed beyond words."

Jenna Larson, you were truly meant to be Skip's mom all along. Few make dogs shine like you, hard sad cases where frowns are turned upside down. Jenna is also the FFF Database Coordinator who collects monthly updates from hundreds of our Frosted Face families and makes sense of organizational information. It is a privilege working with someone of your enthusiasm and integrity. Thank you to Ryan Malina, Laura Meadows, Trisha Snyder, and Nicole Kelsey for being Skip's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Muneca

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 18
Date of Rescue: October 12th, 2016
Date of Passing: March 3rd, 2018
Family: Richard & Amy Gann
Fans: Annette Murphy, Victoria Hobbs, Christina Anthony, Brook Humphries, Johanna Leap, Jeanne Morales, Meissner Meissner, Michael Zelekovic, Tasha Seeba, Marnie Collier, Rosary Califano
Tribute: It was the relinquishment that stung around the world.

Muneca was surrendered to Baldwin Park Shelter on October 12th, 2016 at the age of 18 years old. Yesterday, March 3rd, 2018, she left this world loved in the arms of true family.

Yesterday on the phone her mom was terribly upset, as if losing a piece of herself- an example not too far from reality! We quickly learned the reason she was likely relinquished was due to incessant barking for attention. Who was going to argue with a legend? Muneca got exactly what she wanted and for the last year and a half, there were surely only a few times she left her mom's side. She even accompanied her to work!

Her mom shares, "We said goodbye to this little bony bean burrito today. She would have been 20 in August.

I only had her for 17 months, but in that time she taught me so much about being patient, not giving up and problem solving.

Thank you Mooner Booner for finding me, teaching me & waking me up every morning at 4 am. I sure fell in love with you. ❤️"

Thank you to Richard & Amy Gann for your unrelenting commitment to Mooner. Thank you to Annette Murphy, Victoria Hobbs, Christina Anthony, Brook Humphries, Johanna Leap, Jeanne Morales, Meissner Meissner, Michael Zelekovic, Tasha Seeba, Marnie Collier, and Rosary Califano for being her dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Mattie

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: October 14th, 2016
Date of Passing: November 22nd, 2016
Family: RJ & Emily Watson
Fans: Heike Maglaque, James Boyce, Hilary O'Kelley, Inhara Ortiz, and Marta Palos
Tribute: She was diagnosed with a very enlarged heart, mammary masses, and a terrible eye ulcer. We debrided it and added serum drops just last week, trying a new form of treatment. This morning the sun rose and the family awakened, but Dad's "little spoon" wouldn't wake up. They rushed her to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital where it was determined her heart was all done, and we let her go.

Emily reflects, "This is my last picture of baby Mattie. She had a really good day yesterday and this was her enjoying a little spot of sun in the room with me while it sprinkled outside.

She went on a walk with us and seemed to be enjoying her day. She slept curled up next to my husband last night but just didn't want to wake up this morning.

She was such a good girl and we fell so in love with her. She was so happy with us for the short month we had her and we are going to miss her so much. She was perfect and now she's an angel in heaven. My heart is so sad."

Thank you to RJ & Emily Watson for being Mattie's final resting place, and thank you Heike Maglaque, James Boyce, Hilary O'Kelley, Inhara Ortiz, and Marta Palos for being her dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

We love you big-hearted, Mattie!

Phoebe

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: October 14th, 2016
Date of Passing: March 10th, 2018
Family: Daniel Maccia & Nelson White
Fans: Linda Pham, Elaine Carlton, Rossana Valverde
Tribute: During the darkness between March 9th and 10th, tiny Phoebe passed peacefully in her sleep at the age of 17 years old.

We rescued Phoebe from Bonita Shelter on October 14th, 2016. Her family was the first of over 50 applications to be approved for internet sensation, 18 year old Muñeca the dachshund surrendered to Baldwin Park Shelter who coincidentally also passed away this week. When asked if Nelson and Dan would consider a different senior dog in need because Muñeca had so many applications, they agreed with little hesitation and Phoebe won an extended life thanks to them.

Dan shares, "Yesterday our little Phoebe just wasn’t herself. This morning we woke to find she had passed over night, somehow I knew what I would find when I went to check on her.

A lady always knows when to leave. We are so greatful for the 17 months we were able to love her with all of our hearts. She will be missed dearly.

Thank you to all her supports, fans, sponsors and Secret Santas. A special thanks to Frosted Faces for giving us the opportunity to give her a wonderful life."

Thank you to Nelson White and Dan Maccia for blindly offering your hearts to Phoebe and helping her live the most beautiful days. Thank you to Linda Pham, Elaine Carlton, and Rossana Valverde for being Phoebe's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Georgie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: October 18th, 2016
Date of Passing: February 28th, 2017
Family: Melanie Phillips
Fans: Tiffany Jackson, David Katona, Michelle Gavaldon, Caryn Requejo, Pooja Teckchandani, Tricia Gisewhite, Mike Mendenhall
Tribute: It was horribly awful, and far too soon. After frequent enough seizures we started Georgie on phenobarbitol, and his recheck was scheduled for a month later - coincidentally exactly today.

Quite early this morning Georgie suffered a 45 minute seizure between realizing it wouldn't stop, rushing him to California Veterinary Specialists, to getting him medicated to rest. The acting veterinarian said he surprisingly looked bright afterward with brain function so we prepared to have him hospitalized there for 24 hours for phenobarbitol injections, brain swelling injections, a blood panel, testing his phenobarbitol levels, and fluids.

For as often as veterinary professionals deal with death, and sadly, as often as I receive that heartwrenching phone call, I don't think I have ever heard a veterinarian so upset and crying over the news this vet had to share this afternoon. We had built up so much false hope, and he was very special. Georgie's body was curling into a fetal position, his muscles were twitching, and he had something very wrong with him that he needed to be released from.

His mom wrote a beautiful tribute for you to read.

"I'm at a complete loss for words. Hoping that if I start rambling that the thoughts will magically appear on my screen.

We lost Georgie today. I woke up to an active seizure that lasted about 5 minutes longer than his usual ones when we decided to take him to the emergency roo,. That seizure just never stopped. I watched my boy whose favorite hobby was to sleep, struggle to get peace and it was excruciating. We got the call a few hours later that the vet was recommending euthanasia and I feel like I've had the wind knocked out of me ever since. I kept hoping that while we were there he would show some sign that he knew it was us. I wanted so badly for him to know that he was loved, but I can't say for sure that he knew I was there at all. My daughter got to say goodbye but I was the one who had the distinct honor of holding him as he left us.

I have no idea how anyone could have surrendered a dog with that personality, but I am immensely glad that they did. That boy loved to be loved. Never slept without touching someone, be it dog or human. He held hands with his sister and collapsed for belly rubs on site. He was the only dog that I've ever had that broke into not only one, but TWO food bins regularly. It is with incredible sadness that I will move them back from the counter to the floor.

I thought I had years with my boy. He seemed so incredibly healthy and happy and I'm in complete and utter shock that I'm typing these words right now. As much as my heart aches right now I feel blessed and honored that I got to spend the last 4 months with him. My family and I are feeling a very big void without our little guy on the couch. I'm hoping that the 'I could have done more' and the images of him struggling all day will eventually fade from my mind because I want to remember him as the goofy, cuddly, flirty boy that he was.

Thank you for entrusting me with such a beautiful soul. For that, I can never thank you enough.

Hug them all a little bit tighter for me tonight."

There are a lot of Frosted Faces up there to cuddle with you, Georgie. I hope you find them. We love you.

Sequoia

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue:14
Date of Rescue: October 18th, 2016
Date of Passing: March 7th, 2017
Family: Jim Ito & Melanie Granfors
Fans: Tralynn Gray, David Katona, Matt Hamblin, Chandra Jackson, Paulette Libby, Ann Sehorn, Tammy Gregory, and Dust Bunnies Vintage Co.
Tribute: Oh, those deep and mystical eyes!  For the last four months, we craved & cherished Sequoia's kind and grateful gaze.  To wake up today without her was breathtakingly sad.

And that unmistakable princess gait!  Tippy toe, clicky-click and ever-so-careful.  I'd give anything to hear that again as I sit here without her now.
When her adorable strolling around turned painful and without purpose, we knew she was losing her spirit and will. When she cried for help and couldn't stand, we knew those adorable long redwood legs needed to rest. And when those stunning eyes just stared blankly into a corner, we ached for her, wondering if she thought she was alone and abandoned again.

Whatever she endured and survived in her 14 years, I hope & pray we erased and replaced it with exquisite devotion, respect warmth, peace and love. It is such an honor that Kelly chose us to give Sequoia the best of her days.  She gave us some of the best of ours, for sure.

We will continue to love and cherish many more Frosted Faces in honor of our gorgeous grand lady.
It was heaven here with you, sweet Sequoia."

Thank you to Jim Ito and Melanie Granfors for being Sequoia's patient, doting family.  Thank you to Tralynn Gray, David Katona, Matt Hamblin, Chandra Jackson, Paulette Libby, Ann Sehorn, Tammy Gregory, and Dust Bunnies Vintage Co. for being her dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Maggie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: October 18th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 5th, 2020
Family: Jim & Suzanne Wagner
Fans: Denise Mendonca, Terry Hensely, Allison Choi
Tribute: On Tuesday, May 5th, we fulfilled our promise to Maggie.

She had a horribly painful sarcoma invading her hip joint and the kind thing to do was to let her go.

"I said goodbye to Maggie. I have so many wishes like since-puppyhood and forever, but I’m grateful to have had her with me for three and a half wonderful years. She was a true sweetheart, with grace and serenity and love in her big brown eyes. She will be missed."

Bellagio

Acquired from: South Los Angeles Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: November 15th, 2016
Date of Passing: December 24th, 2016
Family: Rand & Jo Reed
Fans: Rachel Walsh, Donna Stuber, Catherine Reich, Tralynn Gray
Tribute: He was only 8 years old, but was diagnosed with lymphoma and a large mass in his abdomen.

He had great days and good days, but never bad days. As his mom said, "Gio was very proud." On December 23rd his edema was pretty significant, making movement more cumbersome, but his appetite was great. On the morning of Christmas Eve he would only eat cookies, but none of this normal food. He struggled to stand for very long, and his edema still had his legs quite swollen. In the early evening he started vomiting and his gums grew pale. His family rushed him to Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, and he passed on the way in his mom's lap. It happened so fast that it is suspected his mass ruptured.

Just hours before that Christmas Eve his mom had written in correspondence, "We are bound and determined to keep this guy going for months. He has too many presents to open under the tree and an extra turkey baking just for the doggies."

We are devastated. If there is anything to be said about the care Rand and Jo provided for Gio by being his family, it's that from day one when they knew they had signed on as hospice fosters, they ignored the elephant.

They were never ever preparing Gio to die, they were always preparing him to live, and live well. This isn't something all families do, and it requires sacrificing a big piece of your heart because you grow very attached, knowing somewhere deep down that in spite of your greatest efforts you will inevitably lose them to the weakness of their bodies- but never their spirits!

Otis

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 17
Date of Rescue: December 1st, 2016
Date of Passing: December 27th, 2016
Family: Aaron & Lauren Martinez
Fans: Tamara Lindley, Kamela Gladich, Monica Kowalski
Tribute: We rescued Otis on December 1st, 2016 from Orange County Shelter. They had guessed that he had been abandoned in his home when his owners moved and was held for three weeks at the shelter as evidence during an investigation.

When we rescued Otis he was diagnosed with lung cancer and complicated digestion. Lung cancer spreads quickly so we recruited the best family we knew to love on him hard- newbies.

Aaron and Lauren Martinez had never cared for a senior dog before, but it was something they wanted to do and they set the bar. Otis had jammies, was hand fed, was included in family photos, they followed FFF protocol for vet appointments, and most of all, they gave him every last good day they possibly could until the vet said it was time- and they let him go.

Lauren reflected, "Today Aaron and I had to say goodbye to our sweet boy, Otis. As many of you know, Otis was not only extremely old, but also terminally ill. When he was rescued it was determined that he had lung cancer, a heart murmur, as well as a significant deal of other complications...one being his difficulty to walk.

We were blessed to spend 22 days doting on our old fellow and are extremely sad he's no longer with us. Unfortunately, Otis' ailments continued to grow significantly worse each day..and today, under the recommendation of his veterinarian, we laid him to rest in order to prevent any further suffering.  😓

Despite his time with us being so short, we really came to love Otis. His spirit will remain in our hearts and minds and we are thankful that he's no longer in pain, but resting with the Lord in heaven."

Breathe easy now, Otis. We love you.

Julie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Carson
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 5th, 2016
Date of Passing: December 8th, 2016
Family: Peter & Diana Maldonado
Fans: Maryann Mendoza, Melissa Zelaya, Katrina Nelson
Tribute: Yesterday morning Julie began to decline quickly from her battle with renal failure. She had an appointment scheduled for early afternoon for one more evaluation looking for hope. Her mom had stayed home from work to be with her until then, but she realized she was losing her right in front of her eyes, so she rushed her to Yorba Lake Pet Clinic as an emergency appointment where euthanasia was the obvious and most selfless option.

"Sweet, sweet Julie crossed the rainbow bridge earlier today. Needless to say I am beyond heartbroken. My family and I are in shock on how quickly she declined. I was at least expecting a week with her if not longer. She seemed to perk up a little bit yesterday. It all seemed to change overnight. Literally! I did everything I was suppose to do, gave her fluids, loved on her and cuddled with her. Which is what she really wanted. But her body and mind were too tired. I hope Julie felt the enormous amount of love through the beats of my heart as she laid there throughout the night, most of the morning and as she crossed the rainbow bridge. She was only with us for 24 hrs. but she will always hold a special place in my heart. She's now running pain free with our maltese, Spartacus. Run free my sweet little girl til we meet again."

Just FOUR days after being relinquished to Carson Shelter, by the only family she had ever known for the last 12 years, Julie nearly passed away on her own. We don't know why her family did it, or what could have been said to prevent their choice to surrender her--

--that's it. She is all gone and there is no solution in wondering, but perhaps for the next. All we could do was put our love to action by getting her adequate veterinary care and finding her a new family. Promise fulfilled.

Moosie

Acquired from:  Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: December 5th, 2016
Date of Passing: November 10th, 2018
Family: Bob & Andra Fromme
Fans: Michelle Dellino, Katrina Nelson, Christine Thorington
Tribute: On Saturday, November 10th, we fulfilled our promise to 17 year old Moosie.

We rescued Moosie, formerly Goosh, on December 5th, 2016 from Downey Shelter after he was abandoned by his owners.

Due to Moosie's terrible heart and old age, it was a difficult decision how much "fixing up" we should do. He came to us with distichia and his teeth were bad, but he ate ferociously. During Moosie's last trip to the vet we learned how uncomfortable he had become and we had to develop a treatment plan keeping his declining, dulling mind in perspective. We had the choice to pursue surgery and if Moosie did not make it, it was perhaps meant to be. The other option was to let Moosie go, as out patient care no longer seemed sufficient. Moosie's family chose to let him have peace, and put him to sleep. Only one month from his 18th birthday, Moosie was genuinely cherished. The photos tell his story.

His mom writes, "Thank you so much for this opportunity to share with him the last 16 months of a life that lasted far longer than we had hoped."

Thank you to Bob & Andra Fromme for valuing Moosie and his needs, while giving him so many good days. Thank you to Michelle Dellino, Katrina Nelson, and Christine Thorington for being Moosie's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Edna

Acquired from: Apple Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 7th, 2016
Date of Passing: January 17th, 2017
Family: Darryl & Dana Thompson
Fans: Victoria Conway, Tamara A Vullo
Tribute: We hadn't planned on getting her. We drove all the way up there to get Frosted Face Leif, but when something about her empty stare indicated we needed to brighten her life.
Edna always paced in large circles to the right, but was alert and sought attention. During introductions with Dana and Daryl, it was neat to see them melt over a dog, and know they could possibly love her as much as we did.

She did Christmas with them and slept in her mom's office during the day. They accommodated her pacing, arthritis, and bath schedule. The morning of her passing she lost the use of her hind end and was dragging herself in circles without intention. From the empty stare at the shelter, to the security of family, no one wanted to see Edna's light fade.

Dana shared, "We are so lucky to have had the time we did with her. She is our little angel. We held her while the doctor put her to sleep. That was one of the saddest things I've ever done."

Edna legacy will live on, as Dana and Daryl have said that while this was difficult, they appreciate the process, and will be a family to a senior dog again.

Rest in peace, dear Ed.

Bear

Acquired from:  Apple Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue:  December 7th, 2016
Date of Passing: May 15th, 2017
Family: Sheila & Lino Vitale
Fans: Nicole Berthiaume, Carol Edman, Kelsey Lally
Tribute: We rescued Bear on December 6th, 2016 from Apple Valley Animal Shelter and he was in bad shape. It was more of a compassion rescue thinking Bear's time would be limited, but he thrived with good care. He had been matted and covered with debris. Grooming and arthritis medication brought Bear to his feet to enjoy slow walks, bones, and family nights by the fire.

He was the third Frosted Face of the Vitale's and during the appointment yesterday at Family Animal Hospital Sheila expressed with great love that she did not want to wait too long this time. Their previous Frosted Face, Sage, weighed just about 100 pounds and was paralyzed from degenerative myelopathy and had significant spondylosis. They rallied for every last good day for her, and when it was over they realized she may have been all done weeks before.

Bear was showing signs of neurological dysfunction and could not stand or walk without assistance. While his 50 pound body would be no trouble escorting through the motions of life compared to Sage, Bear told them it was time.

To the ever loving and classy Lino & Sheila Vitale, thank you for giving Bear an enriched life and an ending with dignity.

Harley

Acquired from: Hope for Paws
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 12th, 2016
Date of Passing: November 1st, 2023
Family: Judy Barnhurst
Fans: Caryn Requejo

Tribute: On November 1st, Judy fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Harley.

She shared,

"Harley has taken his walk to wait for me on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge. It seems everywhere I turn there is a small reminder that he is gone, German Shepherd fur is still showing up in all the usual places, even after the floors have been well cleaned. Walking down the hall in the dark, I'm still being careful not to trip on him as he guarded us from the middle of the hall.

Harley, I miss you! I can go on and on about how wonderful he was but can sum it up simply, he is a good dog."
 

Catherine

Acquired from:  Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2016
Date of Passing:
Family: Mike Bergstrom & Beth Pratt
Fans: Arnold Valdez, Mari Stein
 

Edith

Acquired from:  Los Angeles Animal Care Control: Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: December 14th, 2016
Date of Passing: July 1st, 2017
Family: Bert & Kris Wood
Fans: Lisa Switzer, Amy Seals, Lori Powers, Judith Johnson
Tribute: 

Edith passed away on July 1st after a valiant battle with kidney failure and months of love.

We rescued Edith, then known as Lumpy Lola, from Baldwin Park Shelter on December 14th, 2016 after she was surrendered by her owners.

Edith was amidst a camping vacation in Montana with her family when her symptoms worsened. She had her whole family's devoted time and energy in her last days and her mom shared, "I am so sorry to report that Ms Edith crossed the rainbow bridge today. Her little kidneys just finally gave up. I was able to take her to the lake to sit in the sunshine and listen to classical music while we waited for the vet.

She came to us as Lumpy Lola who was only supposed to last weeks. But we soon found out what a spunky, opinionated, tough, ole bird she really was! No kidney diet for her...it was pizza, pork tenderloin on the bbq, filet mignon, pizza, and peanut butter sandwiches. It was sleeping on the deck or in the grass...spooning with 2 handsome beagles at the end, and that very loud unlady-like AROOO!

We will miss her dearly and thank Kelly Smíšek and Frosted Faces Foundation for letting us make her a loved cherished member of our family!

Rest in peace sweet girl ❤😢"

We owe thanks to Bert & Kris Wood for opening their hearts to Edith and showing her the world of happy beagle life!