The Frosted Faces

Page 7

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.  

Peanut

Acquired from:  Los Angeles Animal Care and Control- Palmdale
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: June 8th, 2017
Date of Passing: 
Family: Jeff Dyberg & Susan Ryan
Fans: Valerie Moody, Debbie DeLaCruz

Harriet

Acquired from: Riverside Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: June 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: June 2nd, 2022
Family: David & Amy Zamastil
Fans: Michelle Engler, Bubalove Sweater Club

Tribute: On June 2nd, David and Amy fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Harriet.

Amy shared,

"I had a pre planned trip with my daughter and grandsons to Disney World so I had to leave the next day. I wanted to be there to bring her home but we didn’t want her away from home any longer than necessary.

I have read so many of these FF goodbyes with tears and dreaded the day it would be our turn.

Harriet was a spunky old broad. She loved life so much. She loved her brother Ozzie. For about the first two years they were rarely apart. Almost always sleeping back to back. Always touching. Never out of each other’s sight. Then they slowly began to be more independent but still giving kisses when they saw each other. Harriet loved her walks. As soon as we picked up the harnesses she was bouncing towards the door and stayed nose to the garage door until we opened it then between her and Ozzie it was a mad dash to the outside door. She loved food and treats. Cheese, popcorn, yogurt, ice cubes, snow etc. Being the toothless wonder we of course made sure everything was just right for her.

Harriet was a wonderful traveler to her new home in MI and adjusted well. As long as she had Ozzie and Poppa she was happy anywhere. I always called her Dave’s girlfriend. We both pampered her but Dave even more so. He made sure was comfortable wherever she was laying. The house temperature was always set for her comfort. Sometimes we would be cold but that’s why we have many blankets throughout the house. She loved laying next to Poppa on the couch or after his back surgery I would help Harriet get comfortable on his lap so she could nap with Poppa. And if she didn’t want to stand when we had to diaper her when we went out, Dave would very carefully diaper her so not to disturb her.

She loved to put her nonFF sister in her place. She would growl/bark and get right in her face. Occasionally Gloria would give it right back to her. Over the past few months she learned to wait for help up the stairs outside on the deck. However going down the stairs she rarely needed help. She loved chasing her nonFF brother around the yard. And at times she could really move!! She also loved her stroller rides. She sat properly like a Queen greeting her subjects as we strolled down the road.

We will be forever grateful to FFF for rescuing her. For seeing their potential for a long (but never long enough) future. For loving them for 6 months. But mainly for entrusting us to love and care for both Ozzie and Harriet. We were there until the end. We held her. We loved her. We kissed her. We told her she was a beautiful girl. That we would protect like she protected him. We knew it was time. She knew it was time. We are at peace knowing that she is at peace over the rainbow. Thank you again FF for all you do.

Run free sassy girl. Our lives were forever changed by you and Ozzie. You will always be in our hearts.""

Ozzie

Acquired from: Riverside Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: June 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 29th, 2022
Family: David & Amy Zamastil
Fans: Stephanie Tillman

On July 29th, David and Amy fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Ozzie.

They shared,

"On July 29th, we lost our beautiful Ozzie. Less than 2 months ago on June 2nd we lost his precious sister Harriet.

Ozzie was such a handsome good boy. Harriet was the Alpha but Ozzie was good with that except when we took our walks. Ozzie always had to lead and he would sometime look like a sled dog! He was so proud as he strutted down the street. He would kick each and every time he peed or pooed. Sometimes it was one big kick with all fours legs. He kept his nails trimmed all by himself. Many times our poor nonFF Denver would end up with dirt or grass or snow on him.

When he was in the backyard he did his perimeter check and then he would prance back. He gave the very best kisses and gave them frequently. He and Harriet would play with the squeakers and sometimes Harriet would steal his.

That Wednesday before we lost him he was showing improvement. He even allowed Dave to put the sling on to make his last perimeter check. We had such high hopes for him. However at midnight he was restless so we took him out. By 6am he could not stand. He had absolute panic in his eyes and his legs would flail about anytime we moved him. I was able to get his meds down but no more food. I kept giving him water by syringe. I know he got some of it. We got him to the vet and she offered trying steroid injection, Buprenex, an opiate for pain and would give us another dose for late night. Since he had a great Wednesday we wanted to try. They gave him the steroid, the pain medication, SubQ fluids, and catheterized him since he hadn’t peed for over 12 hours. We got him home to watch him. We never left his side. We never slept. In the morning there was no change so we held him close said our goodbyes, and told him to give our love to Harriet.

I don’t know how often I told myself I need a video of his kisses and how proudly he would prance back to the deck and I never did. You always think there is a tomorrow but sometimes there isn’t. Take all those pictures. Take those videos. Don’t wait for tomorrow.

You will notice in the pictures how Ozzie loved his love sofa and blanket.

The last two pictures show that the scabies babies are now together with us forever."
 

Pirate

Acquired from: Imperial Valley Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: June 15th, 2017
Date of Passing: April 15, 2022
Family: Morgan Baker
Fans: Sarah Harkleroad

Tribute: On April 15th, Morgan fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Pirate after battling CCD.

She shared,

"My sweet Pipi left this world on Friday April 15th. For the last four and a half years he has been a key part of my family and my child. He was a long timer at FFF, and I didn’t know why or how that could be, how he hadn’t found a family; but he was waiting for me. I knew from the moment I saw his one eye and scruffy hair on the FFF site, that we were meant for one another.

In his early years with me and my other non FF dog, he was feisty and spunky as any chihuahua terrier could be. We traveled all over and it was my goal to give him an adventure for however long he was physically able to. Don’t get me wrong, he was a totally normal and peppy dog the first couple years. Pipi went camping in the Grand Canyon, Sedona, countless road-trips to Lake Havasu, Big Bear, Las Vegas, and more. He escorted me to a myriad of wineries and breweries; dog parks and dog beach in SD; always trying to show off (he had little man syndrome.) What he enjoyed most was snuggling with me on our couch at the end of the day and laying out in the sun on the deck. The last year and a half his cognition changed and declined over time and in the end his dementia advanced dramatically and took Pirate’s zest for life and the sparkle from his ‘eye’. I loved him through all what comes with doggie dementia and you bet yourself I would do it all over again for him.

What an honor and gift to have been given the opportunity to care and love a senior dog like Pi, he was special, just look at his pictures. I realize I had Pi longer than most FF parents get with their dog, and I’m so grateful. My heart hurts with the loss, but I know he lived his best and final years surrounded with so much love and laughs. Rest easy my baby bugaloo. I know our souls will meet again and I will love you forever,"

Cara

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 20th, 2017
Date of Passing: August 2nd, 2017
Family: Nigel & Clare Hyde
Fans: Monique Karlen
Tribute: How could she be so fortunate to have been rescued in the last months of her life and land a loving family in the last two weeks? We rescued Cara, formerly Mocha, on June 20th, 2017 from Bonita Shelter. Her family did not intend on adopting a "hospice" Frosted Face, and we did not know that her medical ailments were so extensive.

Her family shares, "It is with a very heavy heart I write this email. Cara's thrombus started moving and stopped the blood flow to her legs so she could not stand up today. She had vomited all last night, so we had her at work again (a veterinary hospital) for a few injections and Doc said her femoral pulses in her legs were non existent. She could not believe she had been walking last night.

She had stopped eating again and tonight when I came home I knew it was time. She passed away in both our arms and I have been crying since.

Thank you for all you do and thank you for allowing us to have had the couple of weeks with one of the sweetest dogs we have ever known. xxxxxx"

Thank you to Nigel and Clare Hyde for handling the unexpected with incredible grace and compassion.

Angie

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 20th, 2017
Date of Passing: December 12th, 2020
Family: Judy Ipema
Fans: John Oliphant
Tribute: On December 12th, Judy fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Angie.

"I had to say goodbye to little Angie yesterday. We had 3 years together. The last year was one of downhill changes for her. I watched her slowly become less and less herself. She was always such a feisty little girl.

When we first met I picked her up from FF to go on an outing. We went to a local winery where she sat on my lap and barked at anyone who got too near to us. It was like she was telling people excuse me, this is my new mom, (even though she didn’t know it yet) and we’re getting to know each other. She was very protective; all 10 pounds of her. I knew at that moment we were meant to be fast friends.

We didn’t go on many outings because she didn’t like car rides. But she did get to visit dog beach where she ran around like crazy greeting both humans and dogs with a sniff and a tail wag. She delighted everyone.

I’ll miss you little girl."
 

Hobbes

Acquired from: The Barking Lot
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: June 22nd, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Sam & Emma Hoyt
Fans: Stacy LaFrance, Stacy Rust, Dana Vines
 

Grayson

Acquired from: Riverside Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: June 24th, 2017
Date of Passing: April 13th, 2018
Family: Jim Ito & Melanie Granfors
Fans: Shannon Hadley, Alicia Mertz
Tribute: On Friday, April 13th, 15 year old Grayson passed away.

We rescued Grayson on June 24th, 2017 from Riverside Shelter when he was medically alerted to be euthanized due to failure to thrive.

It became clear that Grayson wanted to live, but would require personalized attention to hand feed him and express his bladder. There are circumstances where for many dogs we would call it quits at this point, but once you got food into Grayson, and gave his bladder a good squeeze, Gray was ready to party and we make these decisions on an individual basis. We reached out to one of the few families who we knew held out hope like us and rallied for quality time like us, and they said YES!

His mom reflects, "We fulfilled our promise to our darling, beloved Grayson on Friday. Making the decision was, as always, agonizing beyond words. But seeing him so at peace, his muscles and body completely relaxed and pain free, helped us come to grips with the gift we had given him. We kept him comfortable & safe & close to our hearts for nine months.

During that time his disabilities didn’t improve. But we pampered and spoiled him in every way, to make sure his last months were pure bliss and that we more than compensated for whatever went on before.

We treasure the day Kelly wrote us about him, admitting that “at first this little guy doesn’t seem like the type that screams ‘Melanie & Jim’”. (We usually lean toward the bigger ones.)
But oh-my-god did this little gray man get into our hearts.
We’ll let pictures tell the rest of the story."

Thank you Jim Ito and Melanie Granfors for loving and caring for Grayson unconditionally. We know you made sacrifices with no mention to make his days bright. Thank you to Shannon Hadley and Alicia Mertz for being his dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Asher

Acquired from: OC Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: June 26th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 14th, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Mona Ueda, Raquel Baehl
Tribute: We rescued Asher on June 26th, 2017 from OC Shelter when he was scheduled for euthanasia because he was immobile and struggling to breathe. He arrived drenched in urine, tufts of loose fur, oil, and dirt all over him. We cleaned him up and willed him to live until his vet appointment in the morning.

Asher was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis as a result of his vertebrae being completely fused in his neck from arthrtitis. We medicated with just about every pain medication and supplement in the book, and added the power of steroids. Asher became mobile through about the middle of August and his breathing normalized.

There are some dogs who once they lose mobility grow frustrated and wear the lack of dignity obviously on their furry faces. Asher always had the biggest smile as if he had just discovered ice cream saying, "These people will carry me around, wrap me in blankets, bring the water bowl to me, and entertain me with more bones than all of my friends! This is the life!"

What I loved about Asher is what he brought out in my husband, Andy. With each dog that passes through FFF I propose "keepers," and rational Andy declines. Even with a solid, more than capable foster offer on the table, Andy made the demand, "Get Ash off of Petfinder, he is ours!" The most laborious dog at FFF was the keeper. In a teasing tone, I never gave Asher a big enough bone, a soft enough blanket, a long enough bubble bath- only Andy could do it right for his boy and if he was on site he would gladly beat me to Asher duty.

Andy wanted to share his thoughts with you.

"The more of yourself you put into something, the more you love it. This is true for jobs, hobbies, relationships, and, of course, dogs.

Asher was only with us for a few months, but we loved him like we'd spent a lifetime with him. Despite his inabilities, he had that spark in his eye like he wasn't going to give up. We saw that and did our best to keep him happy because he still showed he wanted to be with us. I'm a sucker for the needy ones and, every time I heard his raspy bark from across the house, I'd go running to his call. He was saying 'I'm thirsty!' or 'I pooped!' or 'I'd really like more chicken, please!'

We worked hard for him and he deserved every bit of energy we put in, probably more. The reward was the satisfaction of seeing peace and happiness in his eyes. That, and the lizard tongue kisses. So many lizard tongue kisses."

This last week Asher said he was all done. Every person has their own philosophy about euthanasia based on personal experience, and I can tell you that for as many times as we have been through this, the timing and situations are never easy. Andy and I can make a dog last forever if he/she has the sparkle. We can carry them, clean them, cook and hand feed them, and take them on outings. It is quite literally our "day jobs." We need to be careful to evaluate each dog on an individual basis with the support of our vets. We invest ourselves in knowing each dog to understand what is best, as longevity is no contest without quality. What is understood is that every decision to treat or euthanize is made out of love. It is absolutely remarkable to us that Asher thought we were so cool that he wanted to hang out for as long as he did.

On Asher's last day we took him to the beach for a few hours. We floated him way out in the water so he could feel the weight off his tired bones. He was surprisingly relaxed and he loved it. We let him work on a bone while the wind evaporated our tears.

Thank you to Andy Smíšek for sharing these joys and heartbreaks with me. 

We love you, Ash.

Nicky

Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: June 28th, 2017
Date of Passing:November 29th, 2019
Family: Liz McDonnell
Fans: Lauretta Johnson, Adam Smith, Robin Zakoor, Jennifer Baum, Kevin Hoffart
Tribute: We fulfilled our promise to Nicky on November 29th.

Nicky was surrendered to the shelter and a video was captured of the owner requesting her to be euthanized.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/lchis/videos/10211107819108940/

We rescued both her and her sister, Roxy, who is still alive. Nicky was insecure, barky, hard to catch, and reactive around males. It is all a memory behind the love story that Liz authored.

In gathering photos for this announcement I could hardly choose only a few, nor could I see through massive tears. You will see what I mean. We marveled at Nicky's new life from afar. I simply cannot imagine the gigantic void in her mom's days right now after she prioritized and included Nicky in such an extraordinary way. Beyond the magical life Liz showed Nicky, she also managed her diabetes and progressing glaucoma.

Her mom shares, "Last night Nicky said she was tired, and I knew it was time. We went to the beach one last time this morning and laid in the sand, listening to the waves crash and felt the ocean spray gently fall on us. I carried her, something I have never really had to do until now. I think of all the time she carried me, maybe not physically but emotionally, mentally. Nicky was my first dog and I couldn't have been more lucky for it to have been her. I love you little dog, we'll hit the trails again. Until next time."

Roxy

Acquired from: San Bernardino City Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: June 28th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Adam & Alissa Richardson
Fans: Lauretta Johnson, Robin Zakoor, Gail Rose
 

Finley

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: July 7th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Anonymous, Laura Lechner
Tribute: We rescued Finley from Baldwin Park Shelter on July 7th, 2017 after he was surrendered by how owners. This was a decision I would have happily passed off the burden of and I will tell you why.

When we rescued Finley networkers claimed he did not have eyes. Once we groomed him and vetted him, of course he had eyes, but they had such terrible ulcers from entropion that they were crusted shut. We treated the ulcers and kept his eyes clear the best we could. Finley ate well always in spite of his rotten teeth, and welcomed being held. He had horrendous spondylosis in combination with his blindness causing his head to always hang low. We would witness him lose his balance frequently and fall while wandering the lobby and turning wide circles.

Finley was lucky enough to land a foster home for a few weeks where he received excellent care, but the time commitment of a new job left his foster feeling like she could not provide for Finley as he required. With no new prospects we continued to cook for Finley, change his diapers, and tuck him in each night as our own dog. It seemed to us as though he had dementia, but it was oh so hard to tell based on his posture which could have been from lack of vision, and because we could not see the personality in his damaged eyes, and he could not hear. I just wanted to see a little bit of light left.

A positive thing I would like to share is that Finley loved food. We arranged snuffle mats and a flip board in his bedroom and loaded them with soft treats. They were always gone by morning!

We started to see that he was pawing at his eyes frequently which told us they were painful, so I scheduled the most ridiculous appointment (in my opinion) to date. Finley was going to go in for a quality of life exam and we were either going to perform dental surgery and eye enucleation, or put him to sleep.

Our vets agreed it was very difficult to interpret whether Finley was "in there" with his other impairments. It did not seem humane to put him through such a major surgery not clearly understanding his quality of life, but what we did know for sure is that he was in pain. We made the decision to put Finley to sleep.

I think what is hard for me to cope with is that our philosophy is to even let dementia dogs keep on so long as they are not distressed from the condition. He could have kept on had he not been in pain. At the same time, had we proof he was bright, we could have performed the surgery. I have to believe, that with our experience, if still after three months we could not determine Finley's mental state, that he was declining and that although not yet in a state of distress, he was in pain, and we made the right decision. Too, perhaps his owners relinquished him because they saw this decline knowing how he was before, and this also cushions this decision.

Here are a few photos I love where we caught him with his head up, which always meant a "good day!"

Thank you to all of the volunteers who spent time bathing, hand feeding, holding, and changing the diapers of Finley. 

Tate

Acquired from: North Central Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: July 7th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 2nd, 2018
Family: Lori Hunt
Fans: Judith Ann Johnson, Emma Caperelli, Jerrica Naito, Emmit Luther
Tribute: On October 2nd, 2018 we fulfilled our promise to 14 year old Tater Tot.

On July 7th, 2017 we rescued Tater Tot, formerly Osie, from North Central Shelter- LA. For the last year he has battled congestive heart failure under the dedicated care of his mom and Animal Specialty and Emergency Center (ASEC).

His mom shares,
"He was very special and I feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to love and care for him. I am truly heartbroken."

I want to mention what a pleasant experience it was working with Tater Tot's mom, Lori. We cover medical expenses as an incentive to families who offer a home to our seniors with chronic conditions. We have accumulated a lot of Frosted Faces under our care over the last four years so we have protocols in place to streamline communication.

In the most urgent situations, and Tater had more than most, his mom followed these protocols. She was respectfully involved in decision making, even offering to donate towards his care to ensure he had gold standard treatment.

Beyond this, while caring for one of our most critical dogs, she always took the time to write emails about all of the things that she enjoyed about Tater. Ah, how refreshing it was to open emails that were sweet and balanced. It would have been easy to complain how he always peed in the house or how often she had to go to Costco to refill his medication. None of that came up. It was always about how much joy Tater brought to her life and Monkey's! Thank you, Lori Hunt!

A special thank you to the FFF Foster Coordinators, Bethany Keeble and Emily Elliott for answering your phones at all hours of the night between your "real jobs" and personal lives, for offering sound advice, and sharing sincere empathy with all of the FFF families.

Thank you to Judith Ann Johnson, Emma Caperelli, and Emmit Luther for being Tater Tot's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.
 

Quito

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: July 8th, 2017
Date of Passing: March 5th, 2019
Family: Lynne Christmas
Fans: Melody Harper
Tribute: On Tuesday, March 5th, we fulfilled our promise to 17 year old Quito.

"We said Goodbye to our sweet Quito today. Our hearts are broken. He was such a little trooper. We already miss his barking, his feisty attitude and most of all his love and cuddles. Cookie is sad she has lost her cuddle buddy. I always feel so defeated when I lose my pups. Always wonder what more could I have done to prolong a healthy and positive life for them. Wish I knew the magic!"
 

Cookie

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: July 9th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Lynne Christmas
Fans: Trudi Schoolhouse
 

Kami

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: July 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: August 5th, 2018
Family: Danielle Bressi
Fans: Lauretta Johnson, Heather Muncie, Nancy Semrow, Terrilea Hopson
Tribute: On Sunday, August 5th, we lost 13 year old Kami.

Kami was just diagnosed with kidney failure last week when she would not eat, and even though her mom tried every last recommendation, it was time.

"Last night Kami let me know it was her time to go. Even though I didn’t want to let go of that hope I knew I fulfilled my commitment to her. Till we meet again my little Kamster the Hamster."

We rescued Kami from Baldwin Park Shelter on July 9th, 2017 and she was a matted confused cute little mess. We got her all clipped up, she had dental surgery, and went on to live with a foster until Danielle came along. We approved her as a family all of the way from Arizona, and she came to FFF to get her girl. Kami was terribly delicate and soft. She wore many outfits and was loved deeply.

Thank you Danielle Bressi for literally and figuratively going the extra miles for Kami. Thank you to Lauretta Johnson, Heather Muncie, Nancy Semrow, and Terrilea Hopson for being Kami's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

LEENDA

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: July 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: March 19th, 2022
Family: Steve Weinberger & Marna Venzke
Fans: Lisa Lindberg, Katja Guenther

Tribute: On March 19th, Steve and Marna fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Leenda caused by lung cancer.

Steve shared, "Leenda’s time with us unfortunately came to an end. The family is heartbroken! She was with us for just over three years and everyday with her was a blessing.

She played basketball, football, or any kind of ball outside that was in her path running around like a puppy.

She loved her walks and rides in the car. She was the absolute perfect dog!"
 

Winston

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: July 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 30th, 2019
Family: Alexandria Mena
Fans: Tamara Larson
Tribute: On July 30th we fulfilled our promise to Winston.

"We said goodbye to Winston last week 💔

I was looking for a walking/hiking buddy, Chris wanted him potty trained, Riley didn’t want him eating his food- Winston was none of those things, but boy did he melt hearts.

The first time Winnie old man hobbled into the room my heart leapt out of my chest, this was it- he was it. He had no teeth, couldn’t see or hear, and maybe wasn’t all mentally there but he was mine. And incredibly, I was his. Chris told me how much he whined when I wasn’t home, but I never believed him because the only sounds little winnikins made for me was when he told me all about his day in his cartoony, almost human little voice and the loud snoring in my ear each night as we went to sleep. He was perfect.

This tiny monster taught me about real responsibility, unconditional love, and oh so much patience. I never thought something so small could change my life so massively. My heart aches but I’m eternally grateful for every goddamn second I got to be his person. 🐻🐾🥰

Thank you Kelly, Jenna, and the rest of FFF for the advice, support, and bringing Winston into my life. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfectly imperfect first dog 💕"
 

Jemma

Acquired from: SEACCA
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: July 11th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 22nd, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Teena Deering
Tribute: All I can say is that I loved her too much to rationally comprehend the reality. We rescued Jemma on July 11th, 2017 from SEAACA Shelter in Downey, CA.

We knew from the initial x-rays right away that Jemma was sick and we needed to hospitalize her in oxygen. We didn't know if it was lung cancer or pneumonia, but we had to try. Both lungs were filled according to x-rays, but after just one day of hospitalization Jemma was eating and barking for food which meant she could take pills orally so we took her home. Her x-rays even looked better, so we thought perhaps she had "just" pneumonia! The following morning we saw a significant decline so we hospitalized her again at San Diego Bay Animal Hospital to be blasted with baytril, unasyn, amikacin, and lasix.

By Friday evening new x-rays showed that her condition was worsening, but we had hope that the first read of a culture would be back the next morning so we begged Jemma to hold on. We took her home once again to love on her. She had a warm bath, even barked a little, had no interest in food, but hopped off of our bed to get a drink of water in the morning!

Saturday morning it was evident that Jemma was actively dying so we rushed her to High Valley Veterinary Hospital where they graciously fit us into their busy Saturday schedule and Jemma passed in my arms.

Dr. Traversi even guessed it may be an odd fungus and to start her on fluconazole, but we didn't have the time. We have yet to learn of the full culture results, but we will know over the next couple of days to hopefully help other rescues who get dogs out of SEAACA.

We are still numb as though our Jem is not gone, and we are still pleading her to hold on for just "one more day" because we could fix this!

Jemma slept in our bed, watched late night TV with us, and nudged us for pets until an hour before her passing when she ran out of oxygen. She was so beautiful, so deserving. We want answers, but no answers will bring us back our Jemma, so we must find peace that we fought really hard and loved really hard and that Jemma knew she was wanted.

We owe thanks to Linh Pham and Kris Valverde for helping us to transport our girl back and forth from the vet in San Diego from Ramona so that we could get more time with her. 

To Jemma, I am sorry beautiful girl. We selfishly fought for you with only hope in the forefront of our minds, and we are so sad your little body could not withstand it. Our hearts are aching for you.

Twix

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services-Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: July 11th, 2017
Date of Passing: May 1st, 2024
Family: Donna Krudwig
Fans: Teena Deering, Nancy Semrow

Tribute: On May 1st, Donna fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Twix.

She shared,

"Adopting Twix rounded out our happy pack!

I am so grateful to everyone at Frosted Faces Foundation for rescuing this little guy from the shelter and for giving him a second chance at life. He came into our family at the age of 10 and we loved him for six years. Every single day, right up to the end he was a feisty and fun little snuggle bug. I cherish the happy memories he gave us and I’m so grateful to all of you for giving us this amazing little dog to love!

Thank you all so very much!"
 

Fender

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services-Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: July 12th, 2017
Date of Passing: January 25th, 2021
Family: Stephanie Stolzenberg
Fans: Marco Chavira
Tribute: On January 25th, Stephanie fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Fender.

She shared,

"My sweet Fender crossed the rainbow bridge at 1:05 pm today. His heart was enlarged. He had high blood pressure and a heart murmur. The vet was monitoring him closely now and had him on several medications. He had declined over the last week to the point where he would no longer eat or drink. He was so weak he could barely stand. The vet tried everything to save him but just couldn’t.

My heart is broken. He was the best dog ever, and I loved him more than words could ever say. I will miss him every second of every day, and while he is now gone from my sight, he will never be gone from my heart.

Thank you Frosted Faces for the privilege of loving and caring for Fender for the last 3 1/2 years. His memory will forever be a blessing."
 

Habu

Acquired from: Owner Relinquishment
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: July 13th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 28th, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Emily Elliott
Tribute: It's fair to say Habu's story did not go as planned, but had a satisfactory last chapter. We planned for him to thrive and grow comfortable at FFF, but instead, this morning we had to let him go. Habu was relinquished to us on July 13th, just over two weeks ago. It was a family tortured by indecision out of different kinds of love, not knowing how to proceed in Habu's favor, but undoubtedly wanting what was best.

When we agreed to take responsibility of Habu's life and when he showed up at Frosted Faces Foundation, he walked through our front doors. His legs were evidently wobbly, but his front legs were strong enough to be fitted for a wheelchair and go on. Looking back, it had to be a burst of adrenaline for those days.

Over the course of that first week Habu declined dramatically. We chalked it up to an irritated stomach and weakness from a food change and possible depression from an unfamiliar environment. He was not eating, vomiting, had diarrhea, and had no function of his front legs- much less, raising his head.

We continued to offer him dignity, keeping him clean and carrying him in and outside at least three times each day to get him fresh air and attempting to keep him part of the pack. Ask any FFF volunteer, it was a labor of love, a stubborn will to see him make a turn around. There was a point last weekend where we swallowed a strong dose of reality. Front foot flipping was not an indicator of failure to thrive, but the neurological dysfunction of his disease progressing.

We shared the news with volunteers that we feared Habu was not living a life of quality and that we were soon obligated to let him go. Many came by to sit with him, brought him interesting foods to try, and assured Habu he was loved. Notably, Amy (who pays for an Uber to FFF each week just to be with our Frosted Faces) sat with Habu for an hour brushing him on Wednesday. Megan Gragg brought Habu to the park and got him an In & Out burger with some ice cream. Kris Valverde brought him a Starbucks Puppaccino, and Angela Gunnett brought Habu to Dos Picos pond yesterday. Yesterday morning, Cabrera Animal Wellness donated Habu an extended massage and he fell fast asleep.

This morning Habu's family, his real family of 15 years, came back to FFF to spend time with him and say goodbye. Dr. Leach of HouseCollar Vet discounted her services and put Habu to sleep in his family's arms. We covered the expense of euthanasia and the handling of Habu's remains.

It's confusing to wrap my heart around all of the different emotions and how dynamic Habu's story became. It started as a young girl thinking her mom wanted to kill their family dog prematurely, to realizing that Mom was trying to do what was best for Habu matched with her capabilities. There was hope where we were able to extend quality life for Habu similar to a nursing facility when the family entrusted us with Habu's care. This week it was entirely despair that we were not able to help Habu thrive and wishing he had his family in his last days. At the same time, after hugging Habu's family after sending off Habu, I realized that we offered them peace in their decision so that they felt like they did everything in their power to give Habu every last good day.

His family writes, "He's always been such a good companion/family member to us and we love him so much. I could spend hours detailing his cute little antics. Like the times he saved Celine from rattlesnakes or when he dug himself so far into the ground that we could only see his tail, while trying to catch a gopher.

He could even open the latch on his dog run. My ex-husband used to blame me for not latching the gate right. When I told him Habu knew how to open the latch, he didn't believe me. Until one day he put Habu in the dog run then he hid in the corner to watch. Sure enough Habu would jump up, put his paw over the gate latch and pull until he got the latch open. Up until 2 years ago he had a huge yard and the run of the house.

Most mornings we would go to the back of the yard where I would have my coffee and he would lay beside me, keeping me company. Sometimes I would hide the crust of my toast in his food, kind of like a treat. He would literally dig for those pieces by grabbing a mouth full of food and dumping it on the ground. He would repeat this process until he had eating all the pieces of crust.

If you would ask him 'Where's Buffalo?' he would start looking all over the yard until he found his favorite squeaky toy. He would bring you the toy and you'd know for the next hour or so you would be throwing it until it was a slobbering mess that you didn't want to touch.

Thank you, so much. I'm trying to hold it together, but it's really hard. I'm glad he is surrounded by loving people. Thank you.

I truly believe God puts certain people in our lives at times that we need them the most. I believe you, Frosted Faces, and all the volunteers were put in our lives just at the right time, and I pray that I'll be able to return your kindness someday."

We love you, Habu, and were honored to care for you the last two weeks. ❤
_______________________________
Original Story: https://www.facebook.com/frostedfacesfoundation/posts/1607433825985828

Last week on Thursday, July 13th, we invited 15 year old Habu to be a Frosted Face as an owner relinquishment. I have been trying to give myself some time so that I could compassionately and purposefully share with you his story. Before I do, I would like you to remember that we are an organization of action, we practice thoughtful evaluation from all perspectives, and relay respectful exchange of ideas and opinions. It is a privilege to participate on our social media page of which can be denied if comments are not in support of our mission.

On our website we have an owner relinquishment form that I question why we even have some days. We often decline assistance so as to not give people an "easy way out," and we prefer to help animals with no advocates who have already been abandoned.

Early last week we received a relinquishment form from someone pleading for us to take their 15 year old dog who they bought in a parking lot as a puppy. When asked why they felt they needed to surrender responsibility of their animal, the response was, "The stress of taking care of Habu has finally gotten to my mom (even though I've taken over his feeding and walking duties). We are also almost never home, which isn't fair to him and is probably the reason he's had a few accidents. I would love to keep him, but if I don't find a place that will definitely take him by Friday, my mom is going to put him down. As much as I don't want to give him up, I know that I have to to save his life."

When asked, what can we do to help you keep your animal? she responded, "I don't think you can do anything. My mom is dead-set against keeping him. My plan was to take care of him until graduation and then get a job so I could pay to board him somewhere, but she won't even let him stay with us for another year.

ow much would they give us for taking over responsibility of his life and funding his lifelong care? "$150.00, the amount it would cost to euthanize him."

call her. She is 17 and sobbing. She named multiple familiar organizations that she had contacted in addition to FFF and no one could help. I am not surprised, this situation is sticky, the dog is aged, and we are all full. Something about her having no control, something about her irrational passion to see her dog live the entirety of his natural life- and then there's the fact that she put her love into action, something not enough people do in this self-serving world. Our intention was to honor her incredible efforts and agree to transfer ownership of their dog for this reason, in hopes that she practiced this passion for animals throughout her life and to justify her struggle because it's always worth the good fight.

We talked to the young girl's mom for perspective and permission. Mom is recently divorced, works three jobs, is never home. Her daughter will be a senior in high school, has after school activities, and no one arrives home until late in the evening. While I appreciate that many of you reading this are dog advocates who go above and beyond, this sounds like a pretty normal family life to me with perhaps a little extra strain. What is important for me to share with you is how much I noted that Mom also loved the dog. They were beginning to see signs of neurological dysfunction where the dog would get stuck and not be able to stand without assistance. He could still walk, but that fall would keep him down all day when unattended. I could understand that a dog walker was not feasible, and Mom was not physically able to help her dog back to his feet with her sore back.

As much as the dramatic side of me wanted this to be good versus bad, compassionate helpless daughter versus callous selfish mother-- it wasn't. This family was battling to decide if they personally could not provide their dog dignity, should they let him go? They saw the potential for more happy days, but understood his condition was ultimately progressive and could not manage it. Do we suggest premature euthanasia so he never has to transition to another family? Do we take responsibility of him so that they know he would live out the rest of his quality days with dignity?

I do not have the answer. What I compare this to is the care of an elderly human. We don't euthanize aged humans with no one to care for them, and there are certainly many families out there without the funding, time, or capacity to care for an elderly relative. That is why there are skilled nursing facilities, if one is so lucky to have the finances or assistance. So, is that what this family needed, was a senior doggie skilled nursing facility? Is that appropriate? Is it fair to not stamp the dreaded "relinquishment" on the action, but moreso a "transfer of care" where the family is still allowed to make the decision out of love?
Here's what I know. I knew we had the capacity and volunteers to care for their dog. I know that we only get to live once, and that's it. I knew that I needed to not control the situation. If they wanted to euthanize their dog, it was up to them. If they wanted to entrust us with his care, we were willing.

This dog has a name, it is Habu, and he is loved very much by two very kind people. Today he is loved by even more people who have met him just over the course of the last four days at FFF. Habu's family drove him down to Frosted Faces Foundation, brought all of his toys, left a monetary donation, promised to send a donation each month for his care if they were able, they wrote a two page description of everything we needed to know about Habu, walked away drowning in tears, and have called or emailed everyday since. Habu went to High Valley Veterinary Hospital where he was diagnosed with likely degenerative myelopathy. He has elevated calcium values and his chest films were clear. We loaded him up in a wagon for the Pride Parade and he had a blast. He laid across our laps this weekend as we caught up on our Netflix series, bumping our hands for pets and trying to snag pizza from our hands. We fit him for a wheelchair and he is learning how to pull it so that he can gain some strength and independence back.

Long story long, we have a new Frosted Face. They all have a story, we just happen to know Habu's and hope to inspire thoughtful conversation about this scenario.

Thank you to Brandon & Emily Elliott for volunteering to be Habu's monthly sponsoring Fans. Thank you to Celeste & Emme Leander for helping get Habu comfortable upon his arrival.

Harley

Acquired from: South Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: July 13th, 2017
Date of Passing: November 30th, 2023
Family: Christian & Robbin Hansen
Fans: RZ

Tribute: On November 30th, Robbin and Christian fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Harley.

They shared,

"Well, we lost our Big Boy Harley on the morning of 30Nov2023. I was right, it hurt to breathe. He made it to 14.5 y/o. He made it past his 6th Frostiversary. He was our Boy for 6 years, 2 months. I could tell you about 100 silly nic-names we called him, most frequent was Stinky, but you have all called yours all of the same silly loving names. I could tell you of at least a 1000 stories of his adventures and dufus-y things he always did, especially learning to talk. But you know them as well. He was Stoic, Brave, had a heart like a freight train, loved us literally “to death”, Smart, Beautiful, Loyal…..literally the BEST dog ever. I cannot write about him, they are such deep thoughts in my heart. I heard a song the day before yesterday that took me down. It is FROM Harley to us for sure.

By Lucas Nelson (Willie Nelson’s son) “Can’t you hear me LOVE you?”

So, I’m not around, but I still surround you

Can you hear the sound of my love around you?

I won’t be able to stay but I am glad that I found you

Is my song OK? Can you hear me love you?

Can you hear me love you from “miles” away?

Can you hear me love you more than I can say?

Can you hear me love you?

Yes Harley, we can hear you, we will hear you forever. I hope you can hear us back and yes, your SONG is perfect! We LOVE you Big Boy Stinky!

Mom & Dad"
 

Lady

Acquired from: Found in South Gate Park
Age upon Rescue:  13
Date of Rescue: July 19th, 2017
Date of Passing: March 15th, 2020
Family: Ray & Nancy Funderburk
Fans: Terri Denning, Diane Graf
Tribute: On March 15th we fulfilled our promise to Lady.

Lady was not eating well, and when bloodwork and x-rays weren't too concerning, we did an ultrasound to find cancer spattered all over her abdomen. It was what we needed to know to decide that her body was failing and we should let her go.

"We are hanging in there and just keep remembering all the good times I had with Lady! She was truly my buddy. She was such a sweet girl and took her illness gracefully, never letting me know if she was in pain but instead curled up and slept close to me. I miss her, but I am happy she is no longer suffering. She was special and will always have a place in my heart."

Gizmo

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: July 22nd, 2017
Date of Passing: January 26th, 2019
Family: Kimberly Fremo
Fans: Penny Mcnamara, Renee Feldman, Tralynn Gray
Tribute: On Saturday, January 26th, we fulfilled our promise to 16 year old Gizmo.

Two weeks ago we hospitalized him for inappetence and vomiting. Bloodwork showed that he was in renal failure and he stayed in the care of San Diego Bay Animal Hospital for a little boost. He went home to be cuddled and eat whatever he wanted after a few days, but this weekend declined quickly.

"Mr Giz went to the forever green and sunny dog park in the sky today. He's ready to feel no pain, run and play again and have ribeyes all day.

He made of laugh and gave us great love as part of our family. While we will miss his idiosyncracies and regulating the other dogs, we know he was done fighting and is happier now.

Thank you Frosted Faces for letting us be Gizmo's forever-foster family - what you do is so special."

Dede

Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society- Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 18
Date of Rescue: July 30th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 24th, 2017
Family: Andy & Kelly Smisek
Fans: Loree Cook, Christina Arnott, Sara Rodelo
Tribute: We knew Dede had renal disease, but we are surprised how rapidly it progressed. Dede nearly immediately fit into our little family, as we always reserve evenings for one on one time with our cats and less socialized pittie, Sawyer. Dede would fling my rubberbands off the counter and she was confident, but polite. She loved fresh water coming straight from the faucet. Although we are conservative water users so much that Andy takes "Navy showers," we would each leave the faucet running ever so slightly during our morning routine so that Dede could lap up the fresh stream.

Just this last week she stopped eating altogether and we were giving her fluids, but as you may know, kidney failure makes animals and people nauseous and she was forming uremic ulcers in her mouth. Andy and I held her quietly at High Valley Veterinary Hospital until she took her last breath.

We love you, Deeds.

Cupcake

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: August 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: June 23rd, 2018
Family: Barbara VanHorne
Fans: Melody Harper, Bonnie Sposato, Emmit Luther
Tribute: On Saturday, June 23rd, we fulfilled our promise to 10 year old Cupcake.

We rescued Cupcake from Baldwin Park Shelter on August 2nd, 2017 after she had been confiscated because an independent rescuer had too many animals. We can tell this story now that has time has passed. When Cupcake was at the shelter, her former owner actually stole her from her kennel along with others and ran and hid in the bathroom while being chased by shelter staff. It was then that the Rescue Coordinator reached out asking us to exit Cupcake so that she would be in a safe place. This whole transition must have been very traumatic for both Cupcake and her former rescuer.

Barbara fell in love with Cupcake's unique look and made her part of her family. Cupcake was diagnosed with leukemia just a couple of months ago, but on Friday evening suffered multiple seizures that recurred into the morning even under the care of California Veterinary Specialists, which was when it was decided to let Cupcake go.

Grieving Barbara missed our 4th Anniversary Party, but she was recognized as Home Inspector of the Year having done the most home inspections for Frosted Faces Foundation of any volunteer!

She writes, "Thank you so much for the recognition. However, it is my honor to help these dear pups who are almost forgotten if it were not for Frosted Faces and your commitment on their behalf.

I took a nice long walk today to clear my thoughts and came to this conclusion. I will allow myself time to grieve for Cupcake, Chelsea and all the others who have shared my home, then start again with another dog.

I told you I had an animal communicator ‘talk’ with Cupcake so I told her what happened. Her response was quite wonderful: 
“Mom, stop looking down where I am no longer and crying. Please look up to me and smile, so I know you know I am here. I am here still. Smile to me, I am here!”

As for the last days, the people at California Veterinary Specialists were quick to help when we arrived. They were thorough, informative, considerate and understanding. They did an evaluation as best they could and explained the treatment plan. I opted to leave her there because she needed fluids and as it turned out, more anti-seizure meds during the night. She was not responding well. The vet and I agreed there was little prospect of her having any quality of life. One look at her confirmed that decision. At 8:50am on Saturday 6/23/18 Cupcake left us.

They wrapped her in the blanket I had brought, put little red bows on it, placed her in a box to transport to Circle Of Life in Hemet. She will be cremated today, Monday, and scattered at sea out past Point Loma. I was very pleased with the care she received, knowing they did their best for her. Everyone I came in contact with handled her and me with such care. They were very kind. They even washed her blankets.

P.S. On Saturday late afternoon I heard a soft bark in the family room. No other dogs live around here. She mustered up enough energy for one last little bark. So long Cupcake – I love you and miss you. You brought joy to us all."

Thank you, Barbara VanHorne, for having faith in Cupcake and giving her every last chance to thrive. Daily walks, helping her naked backside turn to frosting, and patience are appreciated! Thank you to Melody Harper, Bonnie Sposato, and Emmit Luther for being her dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Gable

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin Park
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: August 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: April 29th, 2020
Family: Danny & Stephanie Kimble
Fans: Evelyn Fielman
Tribute: On April 29th we fulfilled our promise to Gable.

His family shares,
"From the moment Gable got home you could see his silly side. He loved going on walks, chasing us around the house, and getting into new things. There were days when we would come home and he had pulled the toilet paper down the hallway or gotten his head stuck in the bathroom trash.

Although he hardly ever barked and often appeared aloof, we knew he loved attention and to be playful. Gable would join us at frisbee games and was affectionately referred to as Donut because of his bubble cone he would often be in. Gable had a lot of health problems, but never let it get to him.

He was always motivated and sweet. Even as his body started breaking down, we could see the joy he experienced from the small things. He had one toy he loved, called Goose Goose, who Gable would protect and watch out for. Gable loved food and even found a way through a tiny hole in our divider to get to our cat's food one day. He was a miracle, he could do things that made no sense and was just so unique. We were lucky to call him ours."

Lyric

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services-Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: August 3rd, 2017
Date of Passing: October 9th, 2021
Family: Carrie Chung
Fans: Susan Melton, Vita Lusty
Tribute: On October 9th, Carrie fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Lyric.

Carrie shared,

"It has taken me a long long time to be able to write this. In early October my sweet lyric started to quickly decline as a result of dementia. It was so hard to assess her quality of life but with the help and patience of kelly and the other coordinators it became apparent that she wasn’t truly living anymore so I let her go.

She was my first frosty and has led to 3 more. The moment I saw her video on the FF website I knew with every ounce of being that she was destined to be mine…and she was. She was such a sweet and joyful spirited and made us laugh daily. She loved game time and often plopped in the middle of the board. She made friends wherever she went and loved going to breakfast at our local diner where they made bacon and eggs just for her. I loved dressing her in cute jackets and sweaters which she tolerated only because she would be cold otherwise. She saw me through an incredibly difficult time and gave me purpose. She was loved, spoiled, sweet, funny, and a little odd.

I pray that she entered puppy heaven and was greeted by my dogs that preceded her and by all the other frosted faces that went before her. I pray she has peace, clarity and is experiencing no pain. I love you Lyric. Thank you for letting me be your mommy.

Thank you FFF for letting me love her and trusting me with her care."

Myrtle

Acquired from: Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: August 8th, 2017
Date of Passing: November 16th, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Alexis von Wiegen, Cheryl Blankenship
Tribute: Deeply disappointed~

Yesterday we rushed Myrtle into San Diego Bay Animal Hospital because she was grunting, her temperature was low, and her color was pale. X-rays showed she was in heart failure, but luckily her bloodwork was okay so that we could treat her. She spent the entire day in oxygen and received multiple lasix injections. By afternoon, Dr. Traversi alerted us that it was very unlikely she was going to pull through and that we should prepare for euthanasia.

We recruited Myrtle's FFF family of volunteers to be in attendance, and while trying to give her as much time for a turnaround as possible, we fielded the call at 5:30pm that she had passed away after having a heart attack.

We rescued Myrtle from Moreno Valley Shelter on August 8th, 2017. She only had a mild heart murmur and was guessed to be about 10 years old, so being a chihuahua who could potentially go on to live 10 more years, we spayed her, removed her mammary masses and all of her rotten teeth.

Myrtle roomed with Ozzie & Harriet, who were always so welcoming to her, and even bossy Paige let her in her circle. If you sat down in the yard or in the play yard with all the "littles," Myrtle would be number one or two to crawl into your lap and dart her tongue right into your mouth or nose cavities.

We let Myrtle sleep with us on occasion because she slept so still under the covers. She went to the winery with us, and just this Sunday she went on a big hike. Unfortunately, this is probably what threw her into heart failure and all of the "what ifs" are circling in our heads.

The biggest "what if" is what if Myrtle had found a family? I can tell you I am deeply disappointed that no one volunteered to be this very deserving little girl's family. It truly breaks my heart and was not fair for her to miss that experience and love. She was easy, she aimed to please, she was quiet, she had fantastic recall, she was house trained, and she waited!

I can't eloquently write about all of the wonderful senior dogs we have at Frosted Faces Foundation to yank your heart strings hard enough to get you here. I hope Myrtle is a testament to put love into action. Standing over her remains yesterday, no one could have sold me one "reason" that justified why Myrtle had to die without a family and why he/she couldn't be the one.

Paige

Acquired from: Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: August 8th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 1st, 2020
Family: Kerry & Vikki Coughlin
Fans: Jennifer Carroll
Tribute: On July 1st we fulfilled our promise to Paige.

Paige was admitted to Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Sorrento Valley when she appeared ill and they discovered she had a ruptured gall bladder. Her family did not one, but two different surgeries on her and she seemed to be hanging in there and looking bright. Two days after the second surgery she passed away around midnight.

Her mom shares,
"Paige came into our lives like a burst of happy sunshine. She quickly decided that she was boss of all household inhabitants and all the toys were hers. She was bossy, sassy, and we absolutely loved her for it!

She made friends with all the neighbor dogs and loved greeting all her dog friends on our daily evening walks. She loved walking as a member of our little pack and I loved seeing her always getting more and more confident.

She loved snuggling and one of our neighbors used to visit just so he could snuggle with Paige. She was very popular in our neighborhood!

We lost Paige on June 30, after a valiant attempt by Veterinary Specialty Hospital to save her.

What a blessing that we could spend her last 3 years of her life with her. She was the sweetest little girl ever and we all miss her so much."

Paige lived at FFF for quite awhile waiting for the right family to come along. She was well known and loved by volunteers, and I know we were all grateful when volunteer Vikki saw the need and fulfilled it by offering to be Paige's mommy. Such a tough loss for all of us.

Dudley

Acquired from: Orange County Animal Care
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: August 14th, 2017
Date of Passing: Sepetember 2nd, 2017
Family: Bert & Kris Wood
Fans: Amanda Jiminez
Tribute: 

Last night Mom stated in correspondence, "God I hope I'm making the right decision."

The truth was we could have euthanized Dudley on the day of rescue knowing what we knew and it would not have been wrong. It was August 14th, 2017 and 11 year old Dudley was fresh out OC Shelter. He had a large foreign body in his stomach, he was in the late stages of kidney failure, and he was increasingly more anemic.

Instead, we saw a curious little beagle who liked to follow scents, mark, and kindly lick the faces of all his friends. We didn't know his potential to thrive with care and we offered him that opportunity knowing that no amount of love would stop the progression of his disease. Unfortunately we saw evidence in Duds' day to day behavior, as the "newly rescued adrenaline" wore out, that euthanasia was kinder than one more day on Earth on September 1st, 2017.

"We said good bye to Mr. Dudley today and even though he was only here for two weeks my heart breaks for him. I barely got to know him...my husband didn't even get to meet him, but he's in my heart forever.

What I do know is he absolutely loved the pond and his morning swims, he was a persnickity eater but seemed to love steak the most, didn't know much about snuggling and lovin until the end. Wish I could have known him longer...he was a special guy!❤😢 RIP my sweet little Nudder Budder."

Thank you to Bert and Kris Wood for sacrificing your hearts.

Harper

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Downey
Age upon Rescue: 17
Date of Rescue: August 14th, 2017
Date of Passing: November 29th, 2017
Family: Les & Kathleen Odom
Fans: Jennifer Sain, Alexis J Mann
Tribute: 

We rescued Harper from Downey Shelter on August 14th, 2017 after she had been surrendered by her owners at the age of 17 years old.

Let that sink in.

Surely what they saw was her health declining and labs proved she had renal disease, but she loved to eat! Harper was lucky enough to be hand fed, held, and loved upon by volunteers at Frosted Faces Foundation for a couple of months, until her angels descended upon us. Les and Kathi Odom knew exactly what they were signing up for, but on the same note, were prepared to help her thrive. Yesterday at College Animal Hospital Dr. Rose relayed that Harper had lived every last good day, the whole office was emotional, and it was time.

Kathi shares,

"It is with heavy heart and tears we’re letting you know Harper crossed the Rainbow Bridge. She can now see, hear, and run and play. We sure are going to miss the little girl. Even though she came to us in the winter of the winter of her life, we took pleasure in the little things she did. Like finding steps up to patio, finding Nina’s bed in the bedroom, finding the only 2 rooms with carpet to potty on, eating like a champ until last night. That little corner of the yard will forever be known as Harper’s Desert. Until we meet again sweet girl."

Thank you to Les and Kathi Odom for lending your hearts, time and home. Thank you to Jennifer Sain and Alexis J Mann for being Harper's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Journey

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Baldwin
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: August 16th, 2017
Date of Passing: December 23rd, 2019
Family: Jim Ito & Melanie Granfors
Fans: Shannon Needoba, Sharisse Wright
Tribute: On December 23rd we fulfilled our promise to Journey.

Journey was a "must have" for us being overlooked at Baldwin Park Shelter. She was adopted, but ultimately returned after a year when the family had new priorities and realized they may not be equipped with the patience for having a senior dog. Jim and Melanie tend to be the landing spot for returned Frosted Faces and the motto is that they can handle anything. They have managed fear aggression, incontinence, particular appetites, palliative management of terminal cancers, and now anxiety which was likely the onset of canine cognitive dysfunction. We never euthanize a dog for convenience, only with compassion, when all avenues have been exhausted and our trusted relationship with this family is that they share this philosophy.

Journey's family shares,
'You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” C.S. Lewis

"This is the essence of Journey’s story.

Whatever sad things happened in the beginning definitely took their toll throughout her life.

But Kelly & Andy’s commitment and love allowed us to start where she was... and boy, did we change the ending. To happily-ever-after.

Journey’s gentle, fragile spirit made caring for her a delight — and yet there were disappointing times, when we just couldn’t ease her anxiety or figure out what was worrying her. She took us places we’ve never been with all our years of experience with senior dogs.

We’re honored that she became as comfy and peaceful with us as she could.

She knew she could rely on us & trust us to never, ever give up on her or to send her away.

But the time came when we couldn’t ease her emotional & physical pain. We wrote her ending —with compassion, peace, and confidence that there were no other options.

Journey’s tale is THE epitome of Frosted Faces Foundation’s commitment. The ultimate example of “to love is to act”.

And Journey will always be the never ending story of our devotion to that incredible organization."

Leo

Acquired from: North Central Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: August 19th, 2017
Date of Passing: April 21st. 2018
Family: Jackie Solano
Fans: Margaret Ruiz, Victoria Minetta
Tribute: On April 21st, 2018 we fulfilled our promise to 8 year old Leo.

We rescued Leo, formerly Abe, on August 19th, 2017 from North Central Shelter Los Angeles. He had been overlooked for weeks and was losing hope with a large ruptured mass on his abdomen. Freedom as a Frosted Face got him the veterinary attention he had required for so long. We removed his mass and he went on without worry!

He was scooped up by FFF volunteer, Jackie, so you know he was one of the "goodies" to have been chosen by someone who knows and loves everyone on site. He dressed up for every occasion, SnuggyWraps even made him and his sister, Chula, matching outfits! He loved bones and deep naps.

Last week his mom noticed changes and blood in his stool which prompted a vet visit to find a mass on his liver. Even with palliative care, by Saturday morning his abdomen was full of fluid and he has so much discomfort we had to let him go. His mom says, "I loved Leo the moment I met him while volunteering at Frosted Faces. I was hesitant about bringing home another fur kid because I was caring for a terminally ill kitty and a pup with behavioral issues. But I couldn’t let him get away, so I brought him home with me anyway. Six days after he came to live with us, we lost Kitty Kiki, who lived with us for 22 years. I was devastated, but having Leo to care for shifted my focus, and he helped me grieve.

He wasn’t affectionate in the beginning. I don’t think he was ever shown love or kindness until he became a frosted face. But we never stopped trying to cuddle with him and he eventually let his guard down. Things were going great, until he suddenly got sick around his six-month anniversary with us. His diagnosis knocked the wind out of me. As I fought back tears at the vet’s office that day, I realized that I needed to be remain positive and strong for him.

I did my best to keep him comfortable and happy in his remaining days. I know he tried his hardest to hang on for us, but his poor little body was just so tired. People tell me that he was lucky to have us as his family, but we are the lucky ones. We wish that we could have had more time with him, but we are so grateful for the time that we did have. He was the best boy; such a gentle and beautiful soul. We loved him dearly and miss him.

Thank you to Jackie Solano for being Leo's mom. You could tell even here at FFF that all he wanted was to be someone's dog. He was obedient to a fault, his eyes longed for connection, and he was always gentle. You offered him that security and we are so grateful you chose him. Thank you to Margaret Ruiz and Victoria Minetta for being Leo's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Pepper

Acquired from: Apple Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: September 1st, 2017
Date of Passing: October 10th, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Kelly Wilner
Tribute: We rescued Pepper from Apple Valley Shelter on September 1st, 2017. About three weeks ago he was bleeding internally and after extensive diagnostics and an exploratory surgery we learned that he had a mass inside his abdominal wall and an enlarged liver that was inoperable. After 6 days of hospitalization and not eating, we were faced with the decision to euthanize him. We waited one more day in light of the heartache of Frosted Face Patton's death, and sure enough, day 7 he ate!

We discharged him and never looked back! He was back to performing tricks, climbing into laps, and following everyone everywhere. Knowing he had a terminal prognosis, we opted for him to stay at FFF which is occupied 24/7 by people who show up JUST to enjoy dogs- dogs like Pepper! Pepper had about 20 different Mommies and Daddies and he played his "I'm dying card" at all opportunities, although I know not one volunteer would say he appeared to be suffering and may have even guessed he was fooling all of us.

Everyone was so happy to see him eating that he got unlimited treats, he ate rotisserie chicken for every meal for fear he would decline a meal if we tried anything else. Pepper ruled the FFF lobby and climbed into open laps. He didn't just sit in your lap, but even as he occupied it, he pawed at your arm. I interpret this as his way of begging us to live in the moment because there were so few left. He went to wineries, out for Mexican, on lots of walks, we took him home at night where he watched movies while sneaking scraps, and he slept in bed with us beside our dog selective pittie, Sawyer, who welcomed him to the club of few.

Most notably, Pepper went to the Pumpkin Patch on Sunday with volunteers, the day before he declined. And there it is...

Isn't it so special that Pepper allowed so many people the opportunity to go through the really enjoyable and truly the hardest part of what we do? I think he reminded the volunteers of the value of their work on site at FFF. They offered hope, they gave him undivided special attention, and most importantly, they showed up for him when he could have had no one. These are good people who as promised, helped us to host happiness.

"Pepper was my 1st freedom bath...dreads and all! But those beautiful big smart eyes! I fell in love with this little man instantly! He was my little shadow everytime I came to help. Little snuggles and soft kisses! So glad I got to squeeze him one last time. Pepper you were a strong brave doggie and I will love you always!"
~Mama Tammy Larson, Volunteer

"I was doing laundry at HQ and turned around and there was Pepper looking for attention. I sat down on the floor for a few minutes to scratch his ears and talk to him. He laid down on the floor near me while I folded laundry, getting a few more ear scratches before I left. He was such a sweet loving boy.

Don't we wish he had more time to know love..."
~Mama Sue King, Volunteer

"I didn’t get to meet Pepper, but I was invested from the start, like so many of us - rooting him on to eat just one more bite. I’m so happy he had some time to experience the good life. It was a tough decision from day one, whether to give him a chance or let him go out of compassion. I’m so happy you chose to give him the chance. Even though his time was short, it mattered."
~Mama Celeste Leander, Application Screener

"😭 I'm going to miss this guy so much! He spent the weekend with me and helped watch over Maverick as he recovered from surgery. Such a good little dude with the cutest little face. Rest in piece my little buddy, may there be unlimited chicken and hot dogs in heaven ❤️❤️"
~Papa Neil Jarvey, Volunteer

"My heart breaks..."
~Mama Kris Valverde, Volunteer

" I think about when I was sitting in Pepper's kennel the first day I met him trying to get him to eat something, anything. Fast forward to last Friday where he was tootling around with his dog friends, tail wagging, eyes bright, practically grabbing chicken out another volunteers hand. Endless supplies of it in heaven for you, Pepper. 💜"
~Mama Angela Gunnett, Volunteer

Pepper, from your whole FFF Family, we love you and we will miss you dearly. Thank you for coming into our lives and fighting oh so hard to hang on for us to enjoy you.

Puppers

Acquired from: Apple Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: September 1st, 2017
Date of Passing: January 23rd, 2021
Family: Aurelle and Carl Garner
Fans: Kimberly Blazina
Tribute: On January 23rd, Carl and Aurelle fulfilled their promise to Puppers.

Puppers was treated for heart failure and kidney failure, the impossible combination. His parents tried very hard to treat him until quality dimmed and Puppers was ready to be freed from his failing body.

His mom writes,

"I don’t know what to say because he was so amazing. So smart, so loving, so understanding of everything. He was an old soul. We’re having a very hard time going for on without him."
 

Dapper

Acquired from: Long Beach Animal Services
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: September 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: January 27, 2022
Family: Cliff Wright
Fans: Michael Hurley, Leslie Harris, Dellino Law Group

Tribute: On January 27th, Cliff fufilled his promise to Frosted Face Dapper.

He shared,

"My beautiful little guy is no longer with us. I absolutely cherish the time we shared together over the past 4+ years. Words can’t express how much I’m going to miss this very special boy. Thank you so much for the support and thank you so much to everyone that loved my little guy "
 

Luke

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: September 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: January 26th, 2021
Family: Ryan & Kris Valverde
Fans: Jennifer Murray, Teri Hummel
Tribute: On January 26th, Ryan and Kris fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Luke.

Poor Luke started seizing over the last couple of days, and after checking his bloodwork and x-rays, he was started on an anti-convulsant. His little body just kept on seizing.

Kris shared,

"Last night, I said goodbye to my little man, Luke. His body just couldn’t hold on any longer after having seizure after seizure over the weekend. At around 11:30, I could hear Luke’s tiny whimper that was a signal of a seizure so I pulled him in close in bed to hold him through it. This one was different though and his breathing shifted completely. His body was shutting down and I held him long after his tiny heart stopped beating. The boys and I were around him as he went.

Death isn’t pretty and when it happens it leaves us grasping for the little things to help us cope. One of my little things is that Luke was home. He absolutely hated going places. He would prefer I didn’t take him on those outings I thought he would enjoy. He wanted to be home, in his donut bed or wrapped in a blanket next to me on the couch. So when he left, he had just that. A blanket and wrapped next to me.

I’m going to miss so much about him. How he always knew when the oven was being preheated, his little zoomies to his treats after a bath, our morning routine of snuggling on the couch while I drank my coffee, afternoon naps, and him barking at piles of laundry because he thinks it’s us.

I love you Lukey Dukey, always. I’ll catch you on the other side "
 

Pierce

Acquired from: San Jacinto Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: September 5th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Cory & Kristina Poudrier
Fans: Lauretta Johnson
 

Trudy

Acquired from: San Jacinto Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: September 5th, 2017
Date of Passing: April 3rd, 2019
Family: Jeremy & Shirley Davis
Fans: Katharine Ruse, Kathy MacIntyre, Kelly Wilner, Eleanor Seidler
Tribute: On Tuesday, April 3rd, we fulfilled our promise to Trudy.

Recall that upon rescue over a year ago she was emaciated and had six pounds of mammary masses removed! She fattened up and never knew a day without being made a priority.

Trudy's health had been declining as of recently and not any of the significant number of tests her family invested in pointed to true cause. I would love to think she died of old age because the girl lived it all and was loved beyond measure.

"You get used to the everyday routine of having these amazing and sweet Frosteds in your life and then she was just gone. I am definitely missing our mornings of her laying on her bed and waiting for me to get up to go to the bathroom so she can get her morning kisses from me, she always looked up expectantly.

Coming home from work is rough, she'd be at the door waiting for me and when I'd come in she would do circles, whine and then shove her head and shoulders through my legs smile and wag her tail to say "I've missed you so much mom, here I am, love me". These memories I will treasure forever though it hurts right now. It'll take some time, but eventually I'll be ok. After talking to her doctor my suspicion of her blood clot in her lung releasing and causing her to have a stroke is what sounds like happened because it was sudden. We know at least it didn't hurt and she went quietly with her head on my lap and she could be with me.

I would move heaven and earth to make her happy and comfortable. She will always hold a very special place in my heart, I think even my husband was a tad jealous of our connection sometimes in a teasing way.

Take care, though it will be quite awhile you may even see us again to adopt another sweet pup. Thank you Kelly and all of your staff for all they do for these seniors. Hugs to all."
 

Maverick

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services-Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: September 8th, 2017
Date of Passing: May 13th, 2018
Family: Letha Morrison
Fans: Angela Gunnett, Nanette Wood, Jacquelyn Matarazzo, Amberly Morgan
Tribute: On Sunday, May 13th, we had to let Maverick go.

We rescued Maverick on September 8th, 2017 from Bonita Shelter. From the moment we rescued him we provided valiant care. He was so bright, but had cancer all over his belly and penis. He had demodex and his ears were swollen shut with infection. We removed his penis and the masses, taking excellent margins. We treated his ears and culturing became a regular vet visit to control the infection. His skin healed and fur grew in slowly, where only photos were evidence. We take these gradual improvements for granted, but he truly looked like a renewed dog and probably felt like one.

Maverick lived in the FFF lobby for months as the greeter after Patton's passing. We almost kept him, and he even stole the show in our family Christmas photo. It wasn't until we met Letha that we knew we wanted more for him. We wanted him to have a family and we wanted him to have her.

Just a month ago Letha discovered masses in Mav's mouth, and they only accumulated. The morning of his death he appeared to have had a stroke or seizure where he lost his vision and became mentally dull. Once he arrived at the vet for evaluation he had another episode and it became painfully obvious that we had few decisions to make.

Letha shares, "He was loved with all my heart and will be missed with all my heart too." So many contributors knew Maverick and loved him dearly. He would roll over for belly rubs, paw at you for more, you could mold him like putty in your lap, and you he was terrifically smart. He knew his name immediately, he knew, "sit," "shake," and "come" with full cooperation. Mav will be remembered for how gentle he was. So good with all of the Frosted Faces, kids, volunteers, the best pittie advocate at events... knowing he's not out there anymore reaping all the happiness and longevity he deserved is heartbreaking.

Thank you to Letha Morrison for bring so strong for Mav and being so easy to share him with. <3 Thank you to Angela Gunnett, Nanette Wood, Jacquelyn Matarazzo, and Amberly Morgan for being his dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Elvis

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control- Carson
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: September 12th, 2017
Date of Passing: January 13th, 2020
Family: Natalie Gibbins
Fans: Lisa Saffian
Tribute: On Monday, January 13th we fulfilled our promise to 18 year old Elvis.

"I was first introduced to Elvis saw a photo and video on Facebook one night in October 2017. June Bruns Watterson, a loving volunteer at Frosted Faces, was appealing to people to give him a home in an OB forum (against the rules 😂).

His cute little face and his little shuffling walk made me cry. I could not fathom how this poor baby could have been dropped off at a shelter - abandoned at the ripe old age of 16. I decided rather than sit and mope about it, I would take some action and fill out the Frosted Faces application, so that if no one stepped up to adopt him I could be his back up plan.
Well, I ended up his being back up plan pretty quickly lol as apparently the reason June had posted the pics was because he had been at FFF a little while and she was trying so hard to get him a forever home!

He had such a BIG personality for such a little
dog. I brought him to my gym with me along with my other dog Manny and all my clients fell in love with him too. He was such a little beggar - I keep a box of treats by the coat rack and he would run up to whoever came in for a treat! He’d also hit them up for another one the way out!

Talking of treats, I live half a block from the Tiki Port, a drive-through coffee shop, and every morning when I took Elvis out for his morning potty, he would waddle down there to get a treat from the girls. They loved him, he had quite an impact wherever he went!

He responded so well to the love and care from all of us - he looked like a different dog very quickly. I feel so blessed to have brought a smile to his face! We did so much together - walks to Robb Field, Fiesta Island, Kate sessions park... I tried to get him outside every day.

The last few months he had started to slow down, so I carried him around OB in a bag on my shoulder and I would carry him uphill and then he could walk back down on his own - the slight grade downhill was enough to give him a little momentum. But eventually it got harder for him to even stand, let alone walk, so I took him out in a doggie stroller.

This last Sunday he seemed a little better; he’d slept through the night for the first time in a few weeks, he walked a little outside and he even seemed to really enjoy soaking in his epsom salt bath before bed.

But Monday night he wasn’t so good, his breathing was raspy and uneven and he was very listless. He still ate though! Oh my goodness he always had an appetite like a Great Dane!

I took him to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital Tuesday morning to get his scheduled antibiotic shot, but they agreed he was struggling and that he shouldn’t suffer anymore, so I said my goodbyes and let him go.

I miss him so much! He was so bold and brave - his tough attitude was an inspiration to me and my clients and friends who aspire to be more like him!

I brought him home from Frosted Faces on October 14, 2017, and he left this earth January 14th, 2020.
Two years and two months of love that I’ll never forget.
Rest In Peace my little angel.
Thank you for the opportunity to be your 'person.'"

Demi

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services-Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: Septmber 20th, 2017
Date of Passing: December 21st, 2017
Family: Danusia Arnott
Fans: Terry Schacht, Stephanie Stolzenberg, Dana Vines
Tribute: We rescued Demi from Bonita Shelter on September 20th, 2017 after she was surrendered by the sister of her deceased owner at the age of 14 years old. Demi displayed facial paralysis, had a mass in her mouth, and her back end was wobbly. Suddenly this week she declined so significantly that her mom did not feel she could hang onto her through Christmas as she desired. She offered her the gift of peace through an in home euthanasia with Dr. Rose of College Animal Hospital.

Danusia reflects, "I thank you for letting me have the opportunity to take care of her for those two months and a half. She is the sweetest girl that liked dogs, people, and my home. She was very clever and I got to love her very much. I just wish it would have been longer."

Cooper

Acquired from: Final Wish Program
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: September 21st, 2017
Date of Passing: December 15th, 2018
Family: Jen Payne
Fans: Melissa Burrows
Tribute: On Saturday, December 15th, we fulfilled our promise to 14 year old Cooper. Cooper came to us through the Final Wish program on September 21st, 2017 when his mom was admitted into an assisted living facility.

He survived bloat with torsion in his first days of being a Frosted Face, but a couple months ago he was diagnosed with a splenic mass. With his lingering degenerative myelopathy worsening, surgery did not seem like a sensible option.

This last week he seemed uncomfortable from the mass's growth and was struggling to walk. He had become completely incontinent as a result (it's a neurological disease where they lose sensation) and his new mom, Jen, felt like he was suffering more days than not.

The veterinarian agreed that Cooper's quality of life was poor and he was put to sleep on Saturday. I spoke to Jen and the vet that morning and Cooper's mom was sobbing, but trying to stay level-headed to make the decision.

This week they checked in,
"Me and Coop’s pack are doing ok, or as well as can be expected. His absence is palpable, and Logan (the greyhound) seems more depressed than the others. He was such a great dog, I wish his body was as able as his mind and he could have stayed with us longer.

The procedure went well. He enjoyed a nice bowl of yummy food and some treats, he lounged on a big soft blanket, and i stayed with him and held him the whole time. He passed quickly and peacefully with lots of scratches, rubs and kisses.

Thank you both for letting me love Coop."

Thank you to Jen Payne for all of the adventures and love you showed Coop. Thank you to Melissa Burrows for being Cooper's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fan.
 

Jax

Acquired from: Devore Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: September 21st, 2017
Date of Passing: October 21st, 2022
Family: Steven & Tammee Dephilippis
Fans: Tanya Nielsen

Tribute: On October 21st, Tammee and Steven fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Jax as a result of metastic lung cancer.

They shared,

"Both Steven and myself feel a void with Jax's passing. He was the most amazing, smart, loyal and loveable boy. He had his quirks, he did not like getting wet or the roar of thunder, and we would just hold him until his shaking stopped. I miss him running to our gate to greet me when I come home, I miss him laying next to me whenever I am working in the yard, I miss our long walks to the mountain, I miss our handsome Jax, my guy forever."

Manny

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Carlsbad
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: October 3rd, 2017
Date of Passing: February 25th, 2018
Family: Les & Kathi Odom
Fans: Jane Bellomy, Raymond Heller
Tribute: He passed away on the corner of Main and 10th. The light couldn't have been any longer.

We are boarding sweet Mary and Manny while their mom has surgery this week. Manny had a seizure the evening right before the couple was dropped off. He seemed bright and recovered quickly. A couple seizures the last few days followed so we took Manny to College Animal Hospital where we started him on steroids, an appetite stimulant, and seizure medication.

This morning it was clear that Manny's body was all done and so tired. With his mom's blessing we rushed him to High Valley Veterinary Hospital for a peaceful passing through euthanasia. I was driving with tears and Andy was holding weak Manny across his chest. You would think having the vet only 1.3 miles away was close enough. Manny let out a bark, of which we had never heard, and his body shut down on its own. Time stood still at that red light as Andy and I were frantically whispering and stroking Manny's face "It's okay, it's okay, we love you, your mommy and daddy love you, it's okay" as Manny gasped his last breath. Green light. Everyone moved forward monotonously unchanged, except for us.

We rescued Manny (along with Mary) on October 3rd, 2017 from County of San Diego Department of Animal Services-Carlsbad at the age of 16 years old. Loving a little couple like Manny and Mary brings a sincere smile to your face. The bounce in their steps, how they always found each other, and the way they groomed each other was true love. Manny always followed closely licking our legs and bumping our calves with his nose. He loved to be held, but they were a fast moving, curious couple. Manny was a stray twice in the last 10 years, and we have no doubt how that happened!

To Les and Kathi Odom, thank you for opening your home to both Mary and Manny. We know they were not easy to care for with picky palates, pottying freely, and having to block any open door quickly before the great escape. You are problem solvers. When we saw those little diapers with suspenders, we knew they had stolen your hearts too. You guys should see the frozen "Mary's Muffins" we were provided for their stay. All home cooked meals in perfect portions. Thank you to Jane Bellomy and Raymond Heller for being Manny's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Mary will go home soon with her mom and dad. Manny, we love you so much and we will take good care of your girl.

Mary

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Carlsbad
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: October 3rd, 2017
Date of Passing: July 22nd, 2018
Family: Les & Kathi Odom
Fans: Jennifer Glatz, Raymond Heller
Tribute: On Sunday, July 22nd, we fulfilled our promise to 12 year old Mary.

We rescued Mary and her brother Manny on October 3rd, 2017 from County of San Diego Department of Animal Services- Carlsbad. Manny passed away in February and Mary continued to thrive. It was not until last month her appetite changed and she was diagnosed with kidney failure. Even with palliative care, Mary left no doubt that it was time to let her go.

"Manny called Mary and said he was lonely. He wanted her to come be with him and said he’ll wait across The Bridge.

This morning Mary crossed The Bridge. No more heads popping up when Dakota and I come out in the morning, no more pitter patter of little paws, no more diaper changing.

Those who knew them know they were 'travelers.' Manny and Mary travel free on the golden streets. No more gates, doors, animal control or shelters. We love you and miss you terribly. You each took a piece of our hearts with you.

Till we meet again, Mom and Dad"

Mary will be remembered for her diapers and suspenders, how she and Manny groomed each other, her leaping and bounding across the play yard, and never missing a cookie. You should see the little chicken, rice and veggie muffin-shaped meals that Kathi made and froze for Mary for each meal. Mary's Muffins <3

Thank you to Les & Kathi Odom for your offering your home to BOTH of our special Frosted Faces. Thank you for your patience through diapering and pacing, getting under your every step! You loved big time for Mary and Manny. We are grateful you saw how special they were to us. Thank you to Jennifer Glatz and Raymond Heller for being Mary's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Lucy

Acquired from: SEACCA
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: October 5th, 2017
Date of Passing: June 7th, 2018
Family: Judy Ipema
Fans: Gina Mann Landers
Tribute: On Thursday, June 7th, we fulfilled our promise to Lucy.

We rescued 13 year old Lucy, formerly Gigi/Tawny, from SEAACA Shelter on October 5th, 2017. She was surrendered by her owners and very emaciated. Upon rescue she battled pneumonia and was unable to pack on the pounds.

We started seeing a whole lot more of Judy when Lucy became a Frosted Face. Judy is a boxer lover, and would sit with Lucy for a long time, nebulizing and cooking for her. When Lucy was well, it was no surprise when Judy said she had to have her. Two very gentle, friendly beings deserved each other.

We ultimately lost Lucy in the final stages of lung cancer that metastasized in a blink. The realization was heartbreaking.

Her mom writes, "My world is a pretty grey place without little Lucy. Just when I start to think ok, I got this, I see something that reminds me of her and I fall apart again. My other dogs must think I’ve gone off the deep end. (They may be right)

I know time will scab over these wounds at some point. I just didn’t realize how hard losing her would hit me."

There was so much love shared between Judy and Lucy. She was the kind of dog you could never have enough time with because she melted in your arms and deserved the world.

Thank you Judy Ipema for being Lucy's mom and advocate from day one! Thank you to Gina Mann Landers for being her dedicated monthly sponsoring Fan.

Seuss

Acquired from: Redlands Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: October 7th, 2017
Date of Passing: September 3rd, 2022
Family: Jim Ito & Melanie Granfors
Fans: Kim Salt, Cuauhtemoc Kish

Tribute: On September 3rd, Jim and Melanie fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Seuss.

They shared,

" How do I sum up five years with the most interesting, complex, devoted, demanding and deeply intelligent dog to ever come into our lives?

It’s impossible. But many of you knew him when he first landed at Frosted Faces. There sure are lots of funny Seuss stories to tell.

Kelly and Andy so aptly named him! That long doxie body and scruffy silver yorkie hair. The best side-eye ever! Seussical indeed. In looks and personality.

Magical and tough. Magnificent and terrier-terroristic at times. This little guy lived the last few years with an extremely enlarged heart. How poignant. He lived and loved LARGE!

I will forever cherish how attached he was to me. He was velcro beyond convenience sometimes. But that big ol’ heart was full of love and I believe, gratitude, for devoting ourselves to him.

Seuss died on his own, at home, right near me… as always. We’re telling ourselves it was sudden cardiac arrest and that it was painless and peaceful.

Seuss represents everything that is right with the work of Frosted Faces Foundation. For five years after being abandoned by a worthless human, Seuss became a treasure, a jewel, a never-to-be-forgotten part of our family, our story and our life."