The Frosted Faces

Page 8

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.  

Bagel

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: October 10th, 2017
Date of Passing: June 15th, 2020
Family: Melanie Segovia
Fans: Lisa Switzer
Tribute: On June 15th we fulfilled our promise to Bagel.

Bagel’s mom shares,
"On 10/10/17 FFF rescued Bagel from the Bonita Shelter. On 11/11/17 I made a promise to love and care for Bagel as his Forever Family. Bagel was everything to me. He saved me and I saved him both at the same. He was my family and such a sweet boy.

Bagel came with that name provided by FFF and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world because that’s literally just who he was when I met him. Quirky and silly Bagel. My little Bagelton, Bagël, Bagel-bite, my everything Bagel. My friends and family knew him and loved him and accepted him and all that he was for me and who he was. He was gentle and kind and patient.

He was my first dog and I wouldn’t have changed that for the world. I will forever have a soft spot for senior pups and am forever thankful and grateful to FFF for rescuing him and allowing for me to be his forever family."

Ellie

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: October 12th, 2017
Date of Passing: January 11th, 2020
Family: Mike & Miriam Jackson
Fans: Laurie Roberts Fine Art

Tribute: On January 11th we fulfilled our promise to 12 year old Ellie.

Ellie was scooped up from FFF just two days after her rescue and was loved wholly by her parents who went above and beyond for her care. Her mobility was always a a struggle and they invested in acupunture, water therapy, and even two rounds of stem cell therapy. We got Ellie through a vestibular episode, a splenectomy, and just did dental surgery on her this spring.

She got out for slow walks and many wagon rides to experience the fresh air. As you can see she laid on the biggest, softest beds in the center of her family's world. We are so grateful that she left this world loved.

"After her 'walk/ saunter,' her back legs went 'dead' from one minute to the next. At San Diego Bay Animal Hospital yesterday morning she had no deep pain reflexes and so I fulfilled my promise to her of 'no bad days/ no suffering.'

Oh how I will miss this fur ball of love. She embedded deep into our hearts and we are so sad to not have our Ellie Bellie with us anymore. We loved every minute of the 2 1/4 years we had with her... She truly was the best most loving dog. While there is a hole in our hearts and an emptiness in our home, I rest knowing she did not suffer pain at the end."
 

Paisley

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control: Downey
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: October 16th, 2017
Date of Passing: January 25th, 2021
Family: Bradley Strout
Fans: Mona Ueda
Tribute: On January 25th, Bradley fulfilled his promise to Frosted Face Paisley.

We have done multiple surgeries on her from a dental, a few to remove pesky hemangiosarcomas, but this last one we removed a big firm scary mass. It was not a matter of "if," but rather "when" it would come back. A few weeks ago Paisley went to the vet for x-rays because her breathing had changed and she had mets all over her chest. It was nearly unthinkable that this girl was sick after knowing her all of these years full of life.

Paisley lived the dream life for a shelter pittie. Walks everyday, she slept in bed with her dad, she wore a raincoat on wet days, she went to work with her dad, and participated in holiday photoshoots. Paisley had all the toys, all the treats, and a buddy to wrestle with which was her trademark- wrestle mania! Knowing this girl is still not somewhere out in this big world being loved on is heartbreaking, but knowing she lived the best life until the very last day as a valued member of a family is everything.

Her dad shares,

"Paisley and I had one last time at the beach yesterday. She declined rapidly, so I just said good bye.

My sweet lil ole lady, thanks for three great years. You have made me a better person, and I will always love you! I will never forget you, and your smile... how it always brightened my day.

It was my first time having to make the decision to put her to sleep, the emotions are overwhelming. Thanks to College Animal Hospital for letting me be there for her last moments.

Thanks Frosted Faces and Family for giving me the opportunity to care for her and all of the support over the years.

Love you, Paisley."
 

Patsy Cline

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: October 10th, 2017
Date of Passing: December 21st, 2020
Family: Shawn Soutiere & Holly Hoff
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein, Nancy Veach
Tribute: On December 21st, Shawn and Holly fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Patsy.

“I am saddened to let the community know that we let Patsy Cline go on ahead of us on winter solstice. She was a wonderful addition to our family and was loved beyond measure. Patsy never met a stranger; she considered everyone her friend. And she loved her people deeply and fully as a dog does. One of her favorites was, Ryan shares,

'I was pretty new to volunteering at Frosted Faces and I decided to stick to Patsy till she found a home. A true trail dog, she always wanting to lead and hustled to get by me when I took point, we went far for adventure and found Mount Laguna to be the favorite trail, sometimes getting back after curfew. Thank you to Kelly and Andy for trusting me with her outings. I remember after several hikes, how I would miss Pats when she eventually found family and am forever grateful to Holly and Shawn for allowing me to stay in her life. How can you love a rescued dog so much? How can you not? I miss her tons.'

Patsy was happiest when we were adventuring. She was a great sidekick on our travel over the last two and a half years. She frequently camped on San Onofre beach, hiked in Cleveland National Forest, and kept us company on a work from home trip in Idyllwild.

Her excitement was palpable when we went to hook up the Airstream. Last thanksgiving, we drove overnight to northern California. I fell asleep, but Patsy kept her dad company throughout the night, sitting up in her bed and looking at all the sights. During this trip, she was in her element, and was chomping at the bit to explore and she hiked in the redwoods and strolled along the purple beach.

Patsy’s relationship differed between her dad and I. With her dad, she melted into his touch, especially when he was rubbing her head, and would purr with delight. She loved paying him back with a Patsy facial and would make sure that he was clean and ready for his day. With me, our relationship was focused on movement and food. She oversaw my workouts and then we would play tug. She loved our walks together and Balboa Park was one of her favorites. Whenever I was snacking, she was at my side and we would share whatever I was munching but Pirates Booty and dried mango would cause puddles of drool.

We loved that girl so deeply, it is unfathomable that she is no longer with us. I continue to expect to see her sweet face around the house. She isn’t sitting outside of the kitchen when I am cooking dinner, nor snoring at my feet when I’m watching television. She has left a void in our home and hearts. We love you, sweetness, and we will see you later. "
 

Arnie

Acquired from: East Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: October 21st, 2017
Date of Passing: October 27th, 2017
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein
Tribute: Just six days ago. He was in very bad shape and an unidentified source was causing his belly to fill with fluid. On Monday we were able to relieve him of 5 liters of fluid, but yet could not identify the cause or develop a treatment plan because he still had so much fluid in his belly. We just kept loving on him, letting him rule the FFF lobby.

If it weren't for his shocking appearance as a result of illness and neglect, you would think he was a happy, laid back grandpa. He loved chewing on bones, and we adequately understood we may not have Arnie in our lives for very long, so we gave him a bone morning and night. He wagged his tail eagerly watching us scoop food, and he always got up and made the effort to be part of the hustle in the lobby. We acknowledged his interest with exuberance thankful he seemed to be embracing his new life. He got a lot of treats and sunshine, and I clearly remember the morning of his passing, squishing his face and pressing his mouth to mine. As gross as that sounds, I absolutely could not get enough of Arnie. I could never hold him tightly enough to make up for all that he had been denied.

Arnie passed between 2:00-2:30pm on his velvet blanketed dog bed naturally on his own. I feel regret for not being able to say "I love you" one more time or holding him as he endured the dying process in just one room over, but I have made peace with the fact that he died on a soft bed, indoors, after just having licked out a peanut butter Kong.

Thank you to all the volunteers who loved on Arnie with us, especially those who helped us grieve yesterday and get his remains to the vet. Arnie was a big boy!

Arnie, we love you.

Redford

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Central
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: October 21st, 2017
Date of Passing: September 2, 2021
Family: Tyler & Laura Bothel
Fans: Carey Nagoda
Tribute: On September 2nd, Tyler and Laura fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Redford.

"We are heartbroken to share we said goodbye to our Redford on Thursday. He is missed so much, and our hearts and home feel so empty without him 💔
Redford was such a special boy. We were pleasantly surprised when we brought him home that he was quite a “young” senior. He loved to run and zoom around the house. We had some challenges in the beginning; however, adoption (especially senior adoption) is never easy, but it is ALWAYS worth it. And Redford was more than worth it.

He brought us the most joy with his weird old man quirks and his love for all things edible. I will forever be thankful for his companionship during Tyler’s deployment. Together we became so attached, and he was definitely a momma’s boy. He still got most excited when Dad came home though (of course).

Redford loved people so much, but he hated crowds. The familiar faces of our friends brought him much comfort though. Redford felt nothing short of unconditional love from all our friends and family. He saw everyone as just another lap to lay his head on.

His number one love was food — he perked up from the deepest sleep any time we stepped into the kitchen. Towards the end, as his eyesight waned, he often mistook fingers for food, which we found so endearing. He was incredibly gentle, and along with his tough spirit, he had the sweetest soul.

Last December, Redford had a seizure for the first time since coming into our care. It was determined he most likely had a brain tumor. At that time, we feared we only had a short amount of time with him left. How we underestimated our boy. Even when his mind and his body gave up, Redford didn’t. He was determined to keep living life the best he could. In return, we did everything possible to make sure he did so in the most comfortable way. Our Redford stayed so strong for far longer than we expected, and we are endlessly grateful for that time.

Last weekend, Redford started showing some devastating signs of decline, and we knew he was letting us know that he was tired. He wanted us to let him rest, because we knew he didn’t want to give up himself. On Thursday, Lap of Love came to our home to set Redford free in best way — calm and peaceful.
Even though we feel overwhelming heartache, we know Redford has finally found true comfort. We will miss him every single second of every day, but we know he is forever with us.

Thank you to everyone in the FFF community who has shown so much care and love for our beautiful boy. He was so, so loved, and that is exactly what he deserved."

Jilly

Acquired from: West Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: October 21st, 2017
Date of Passing: November 24th, 2018
Family: Tim & Tammy Larson
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein, Heidi Ostlund
Tribute: On Saturday, November 24th, we fulfilled our promise to 16 year old Jilly. We rescued Jilly on October 21st, 2017 from West LA Shelter.

"I never prepared myself to write a post about Jilly not being here. We loved her so much. She has been declining but when we got up today she told us it was time. She could not get up and when we helped her she could not walk. Jilly was a failed Frosted Fling 1 year ago almost to the date. She had our pack wrapped around her sweet paws almost immediately. She was up for anything and would tolerate anything with smiles. Having Jilly in our lives has taught us so much and we will be forever thankful to Kelly and Frosted Faces for their mission to these sweet seniors. Run free silly Jilly. Mama and daddy love you forever. Lucy, Rena and Tinley miss you my sweet girl."

Thank you to Tim and Tammy Larson for falling hard for fragile Jilly and pampering her in her last, most wonderful year. Thank you to Caryn & Michael Rosenstein and Heidi Ostlund for being Jilly's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Duncan

Acquired from: Hope for Paws
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: October 26th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 7, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein, Heidi Ostlund, Sandra Morales, Jodie Reyes Tribute: On Sunday, October 7th, we fulfilled our promise to 12 year old Duncan. Duncan was rescued by Hope For Paws after wandering into an auto body shop. The entire rescue was filmed and it is heartwrenching (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRGg8QqIZGM&feature=share).

Duncan was transferred into our care on October 26th, 2017. Andy and I have both taken the time to write a reflection of our time with Duncan.

Andy shares, "Duncan has been a lobby ambassador at FFF for nearly a year. He was always there to greet visitors and accept loving butt scratches from anyone who walked in the door. Unlike the other 'lobby dogs' we've had, Duncan had dementia. Dementia can be one of the most challenging conditions to deal with because it can be so difficult to keep a dog with dementia happy and in peace. At the beginning, Duncan was no exception. He barked out of confusion and suffered from sundowner's, where he'd be agitated through the night. But, we quickly started learning more about his needs and how to keep him happy.

I always wonder what dogs with dementia were like before they developed dementia. I imagine them being fully engaged with people and running and playing with other dogs. It makes me sad to think that the dementia leaves them incapable of these things, that they have lost some part of themselves. But, if Duncan lost any part of his former personality, he more than made up for it despite his condition. Duncan knew his way around, loved being held, and loved snuggling with other dogs. It was very clear that he was happy, and happy most of the day, most days. This is not usually the case with dementia dogs. Being able to see his transition was beautiful and rewarding.

Duncan's story makes the purpose of what we do more clear. Dementia may have left his mind more simple, but that made his needs more obvious. He could be comforted with anyone's touch and sleep peacefully in anyone's embrace. His basic needs of comfort and love are metaphorical for the needs of all dogs, and humans too. Sometimes it takes a blindingly obvious example like Duncan to remind us of this. I am so proud to be able to have given him a peaceful and happy home for so long."

We learned Duncan was in renal failure about two months ago and began palliative care. We fed him whatever he would eat and when it came down to just cheeseburger patties, we owe thanks to Rick Fishslayer for faithfully grilling them for him. A seizure that Duncan never gained consciousness afterward determined his fate.

Isn't euthanasia the most beautiful, and at the same time, unreal experience? Here we are spending all of our days protecting these innocent trusting animals. From diapering Duncan to making sure he didn't bump into his friends. We helped him finish his meals and pills, and laid with him until he stopped yelping and wandering and fell asleep (where he eventually just earned a spot in our bed on a piddle pad). There we were choosing to extinguish this special light that we worked to hard to keep shining. Leaving him. Leaving him alone on that table with no one to protect him anymore...

We didn't have a choice so at the very least I get the satisfaction of knowing we gave him every last good day. And ironically, the day before his last, I had foolishly exclaimed that he was going to make it to his first Frostiversary just three weeks away because he was so bright and happy.

Duncan, our sweet punkin. Mommy and Daddy love you and we will miss you always. Thank you to all of the volunteers at Frosted Faces Foundation for loving Duncan as your own during your shifts. Thank you to my patient partner, Andy Smíšek. Thank you Caryn & Michael Rosenstein, Heidi Ostlund, Sandra Morales, and Kerry Killeen for being Duncan's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Sophia

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Central
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: October 26th, 2017
Date of Passing: November 14th, 2022
Family: Tamara Bailey
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein

Tribute: On November 14th, Tamara fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Sophia.

Tamara shared,

"We've lost dogs before but they all passed in their sleep. After almost 3 years and spending at least the last year changing diapers, picking up poop wherever, moving furniture around and having her cry every night lost as to where she was I can't believe I miss climbing over baby gates, scrubbing carpets, wiping her butt and getting up in the night to remind her she was ok. Holding her and making that decision was one of the hardest things I've ever done. After the 2nd shot, I just about wanted to scream 'no' to the last shot, but how selfish that would have been of me to keep her suffering just to save me from feeling responsible. I have no doubt it was the right decision and I saw it coming, but neither of these make losing her any easier.

We adopted 2 littles after my oldest son was killed by a drunk driver in 2015. I've never been a huge dog lover but they were so cute. We lost one not too long before adopting Sophia and I thought the world just dropped out from under me. I had not realized how they had both become emotional supports dogs for me. So when we lost the one, we found FFF & Sophia, and she found a place in my heart.

I told my other 2 sons that these littles do more for me than we do for them."

Mona

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Central
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: October 30th, 2017
Date of Passing: February 12th, 2021
Family: Andy & Kelly Smíšek
Fans: Mona Ueda, Martine Moran, Donor in Memory of Ruby
Tribute: On February 12th, we fulfilled our promise to Frosted Face Mona.

I mostly just want to show you all of the photos, she was uniquely beautiful and we did so many fun things together. I still can't believe she could truck ALL of the way around Fiesta Island only seeking help up the two short steep hills. We biked, we went to the beach, we went to Fiesta Island a lot, she shared our suppers, she flew home with me to Wisconsin to meet her grandparents, we had a Packer play-off party, and she wore so many outfits.

Her behavior made her a little tough to place, and for three years she lived with two genuinely nice foster homes. Upon her return this fall she had to be ours. Toothless with a heart condition and renal failure, we pressed forward on heart meds and Just Food for Dogs kidney care food. Mona was a our little treasure.

Everything was... "but can Mona come?"

Even on Mona's last days, we begged for her to "come along." After hospitalizing her one more time in a desperate attempt to make her feel better, she was just too sick and she had to painstakingly stay behind. I hope her spirit followed. The one that softened us to speak gently, squeeze tightly, and live in the moment.

We love you, Mona. Mommy & Daddy's hearts are broken.

Audrey

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control-Baldwin
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: November 4th, 2017
Date of Passing: February 3rd, 2018
Family: Bill & Susan Groux
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein
Tribute: On Saturday, February 3rd, sweet Audrey passed away.

We rescued Audrey, formerly Leslie, on November 4th, 2017 from Baldwin Park Shelter after she was surrendered by her owners. We picked her up from an LA County adoption event hosted by Susie's Senior Dogs and Shelter Me. Upon arrival, we were questioning whether rescue is really what she needed rather than euthanasia. She was lateral and very vocal that she was in pain. We learned that she was a vocal dog anyways which dramatized her reaction to unpleasant movements. She was so painful in her hind quarters that she dragged herself and we explored our treatment options with euthanasia at the back of our minds.

We tried NSAIDS, but they were not effective. While many doctors reach for NSAIDS, our vets work closely with orthopedic specialists who tend to recommend steroids for painful backs. Once we switched Audrey to steroids it was as if witnessing a miracle! She pulled on leash and could push herself from a sit to stand smoothly. To think she wasn't even in a position where we were sure life over euthanasia was fair, Audrey suddenly became adoptable!

Adopted she became when a lovely family applied for Audrey alone. They had nursed a struggling shepherd once before and opened their hearts and home to our Audrey. They gave her every last good day from diapers to booties, until her body said it was all done.

Audrey only had eyes for her humans. She would walk directly to you and nudge your hand or elbow for pets. She was persistent and she deserved all the warmth this world has to offer dear dogs like her.

Her mom shared,
"Thank you for for rescuing Audrey and all of the other frosted faces out there. We took Audrey to the vet this morning and were relieved to be able to ease her out of her misery. Her passing was very peaceful."

Thank you to Bill and Susan Groux for choosing this special girl and making her incredibly happy. Thank you to Caryn & Michael Rosenstein for being Audrey's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Burt

Acquired from: Los Angeles Animal Care & Control-Downey
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: November 4th, 2017
Date of Passing: February 16th, 2021
Family: Leah Finley
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein, Mike & Ana Miller
Tribute: On February 16th, David and Leah fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Burt.

"Burty Boy came to me after I had lost my big dog of 11 years. I didn't even know Frosted Faces existed and just happen to be passing by, when I stopped in during an Open House to actually check out another dog. That dog was already adopted. Kelly took me to the play yard and said, "Oh! That's Burt. He's our love who just hangs out like a sloth and loves to eat treats." He stole my heart right away.

There was slight concern because he had been returned twice due to separation anxiety issues. He dealt with that here for about two weeks, but I came home from work three times per day and then he calmed down. When he realized I wasn't going anywhere, he relaxed and really settled in with his non FF sister Junebug the pug.

Burty Boy, as I called him, was my shadow. So much so, he would follow me into the shower if I would let him. All he wanted to do was be with me. My husband, Dave, would do if I wasn't home, but he was a momma's boy. He could be sound asleep and I would get up to go to another room and he would get up and follow me. He hardly barked and loved his belly rubs and sunset walks, at Burty Boy speed.

He was the biggest love and the kindest dog I have ever had. Burty Boy was with me through a few VERY rough times in my life. They say you rescue a dog, but Burty Boy was there to rescue me through my daughter's near death from sepsis, and my father's illness and passing. Burty boy was there. He was always there. We nicknamed him TH, trip hazard, as he was so quiet and stealth you could easily trip on him if you weren't careful.

A little over a week ago his cough and breathing took a turn for the worse. He just had one of those darned lung diseases that creeps up on you and you can only fight it so long. We snacked on french fries and I whispered in his ear the secret things I wanted him to know the afternoon of his passing.

My heart is completely broken in two. I have never been so sad losing a dog EVER, but I could not let him suffer anymore. He could not get his oxygen and his spunk and life was already gone. He looked at me and was telling me, "Momma, I need to go. You will be ok."

Thank you FF for allowing me to have Burt and THANK YOU Burty Boy for showing me how to live and for touching my life. Momma and Dadda will love you forever and ever. See you on the other side TH."
 

Sparrow

Acquired from: Orange County Animal Care
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: November 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 1st, 2019
Family: Richard Hoffman
Fans: D & S Honeyfund
Tribute: On July 1st we fulfilled our promise to Sparrow.

Sparrow looked like such a sweet little guy at the shelter and was scheduled for euthanasia. We rescued him and as soon as he arrived at FFF he proved to be a handful. He was fear aggressive and not easy to handle. We sent him to a board & train with Lorenzo's Dog Training Team for to weeks where he and us learned things that would make him manageable.

After months at FFF, Sparrow's angel was sent who would be patient and forgiving- a foster. She had him for nearly a year and returned him to FFF when she was going through life changes which coincided with some behavioral challenges with Sparrow.

We learned that he was in kidney failure soonafter and truthfully felt despair that he would likely pass at FFF without a family because it would take a very special person to commit to him again...

It was long time FFF volunteer, and one of the few handlers that had made friends with Sparrow, that witnessed the sad situation and decided to be the solution. Rick offered to be Sparrow's dad until the end of his days.

Rick kept Sparrow clean when he was incontinent, empathized with him when he took a tumble, and cooked for him. Rick loved cooking for Sparrow and as Sparrow became picky, he was up for the challenge.

In the end, Sparrow declined too many meals and we hospitalized him for a reboot, but he never thrived again. Rick was with him in the end and he commented on how nice it was to finally be able to hold him and stroke his beautiful coat like he could never do before.

Rick let us know, "Sparrow was a special little guy.
It's never easy but the decision to let him go was the right one. I just wish I had been able to do more for him.

I am SO grateful to the people at College Hospital for going above & beyond to let me get there for him."

So many things could have gone differently for Sparrow. Specifically, they could have been way worse right from the beginning with his behavior to not having a family in the end. I love that FFF recruited and supported the extraordinary people who made the seemingly impossible turn into one more love story for the books.

Yogi

Acquired from: Orange County Animal Care
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue:November 15th, 2017
Date of Passing: June 26, 2022
Family: Chris & Belisa Grefe
Fans: Kellie Nelson, Laurie Brewer

Tribute: On June 26th, Chris and Belisa fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Yogi.

They shared,

"There is so much to say about our sweet boy, Yogi, but we will try to keep this short. He came to us during a time our hearts were completely broken from the loss of our Rottie of 12 years. We wanted to honor him and allow ourselves time to heal before adopting another dog, so decided that fostering senior dogs would be a great way to do that. We signed up to foster at FFF and after our first Frosted Face (Hobbes) was adopted, Kelly called us and said they had rescued a Rottie and asked if we would want to foster him. “YES!” was our immediate response so we headed up to Frosted Faces to meet him. When we saw him, we just melted – he wasn’t just a Rottie - he was Shar-Pei too - and that gave him the biggest wrinkly, squishy face and a round, fat dimply nose! He was simply adorable!

Yogi was found on the streets in Orange County and taken to the shelter. All of his shelter notes state that he was growling in his kennel and medical staff had to use a ketch pole to examine him. Perhaps for that reason, he was scheduled to be euthanized, but fortunately, just hours before it would happen, the shelter sent a video showing Yogi playing with another dog. The funny thing is, Yogi must have been in a very particular mood when the video was taken because despite the fact that he got along great with other dogs, playing with them was not really his thing. We don’t know if that was divine intervention, but we were just so grateful for how things transpired and for all the people involved in his rescue.

When we brought him home, we gave him plenty of time and space to get acclimated. We never once heard him growl or show any kind of aggression – well, except for growling at the pool vacuum – he really didn’t like the sound of that. However, it was clear to us that he had been neglected and abused in his previous life. He would throw himself on his back if we moved something over his head, was terrified of the hose (even when turned off), would cringe if you reached for him too fast, and had no idea what a dog bed was for. He also showered us with affection, as if he was looking for our approval. It broke our hearts to see him react this way, so we decided that the best way to cure this was to give him a life full of love, affection, treats, and adventure. We immediately told Kelly we wanted to keep him. Mind you, we fostered many dogs throughout our lives and never “foster failed”, but we simply could not imagine our lives without Yogi. He is the best “failure” anyone could possibly hope for!

Yogi was with us for 1,646 days and every one of those days he filled our hearts with an abundance of love, happiness, and gratitude. He immediately attached himself to Belisa and became a complete mama’s boy. He was her shadow and always needed to know where she was in the house. If she didn’t return to him quickly, he would be sure to go find her. Even in the middle of the night, Yogi would often get up from his bed and nuzzle Belisa, almost as if he was checking that she was still there with him. In turn, Belisa poured her heart and soul into making sure Yogi would have an amazing second half of his life. In addition to getting lots of love, affection, toys, and treats, Yogi always had mom by his side and got to go on several adventures including Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Idyllwild, Lake Tahoe, Joshua Tree, Bryce Canyon and numerous other trips around SoCal. He was truly the perfect companion!

Yogi was also an amazing foster brother to 7 Frosted Faces and got along with all of them - from tiny Regina/Goji to the big potato himself, Dewey! He even let Shelby, Magnolia, and Mavis share his bed, which was a big deal as his beds were among his favorite things, along with his stuffies.

Let’s talk about the stuffies – Yogi’s ultimate obsession! He earned the nickname “The Stuffie King” because he acquired several dozen stuffies throughout his time with us and was rarely seen without one. In a very short period, he learned that grabbing a stuffie (or two or three) and prancing around looking cute led mom and dad to give him his favorite chicken treats. I mean, who could resist that big squishy fat face?! So prancing with stuffies quickly became his hourly (yes, hourly!) ritual that we had to carefully manage in order to keep him at a healthy weight.

During the past year Yogi started slowing down and began having some medical issues. He ended up in the ER several times, but it took months, multiple departments, and various tests and biopsies to figure out what was going on with him. They first suspected Shar-pei Fever, but then he was diagnosed with Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia, which later turned into Evan’s Syndrome – no root cause was given. We tried every possible treatment that was recommended, but unfortunately, Yogi was not tolerating or responding to the medications. We later learned that about 30% of dogs simply don’t respond to treatment, and sadly, Yogi was one of them. Since his quality of life had greatly diminished and we had run out of options, we made the soul-crushing decision to let him go peacefully in our home, surrounded by his favorite stuffies. As you can imagine, we are working through an inconceivable amount of pain, but we are also tremendously grateful for FFF and all the people involved in his rescue and who continue to do this important, life-saving work.

As the wise Anatole France once wrote – “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” Having Yogi in our lives was such a beautiful and fulfilling experience that we will cherish forever. We know our souls are much more enriched because of him. Run free, sweet Yogi. We love you!

Shadow

Acquired from: Devore Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue:November 18th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Bob & Sue King
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein

Petit Reynard

Acquired from: Devore Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: November 18th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Jim & Lindy Sebastian
Fans: Caryn & Michael Rosenstein

Dharma

Acquired from: Harbor Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: November 20th, 2017
Date of Passing: January 10th, 2021
Family: Sandra Zwaal
Fans: Christina Spalla, Helena McArron, Amberly Morgan, Dana Cyccone
Tribute: On January 10th, Sandra fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Dharma.

Dharma was one of our first Molly & Me Project dogs because she was poorly socialized with animals. Seeing that program full circle today for the Dharma's benefit gives me the chills.

The FFF Family Support Team, who was in frequent communication with Dharma's mom, wanted to mention and honor how much thought went into giving Dharma's every last good day. Sandra was incredible to accommodate Dharma through dog reactivity to hind end paralysis. She was a class act and we were so lucky to have placed a Frosted Face in her good care.

Sandra shares,

"What made Dharma special? I was pondering this question as I flipped through all my Dharma pictures I had taken over the short two and a half years she was with me (there were a lot of pictures)!

There one thing about Dharma that still stands out. Dharma was just a funny dog and had this uncanny way of making me chuckle and smile. One day soon after I brought her home, she was laying on her dog bed in front of the TV. There were a bunch of cows on TV (maybe Animal Planet was on) and the next thing I know, she got up and started barking at the cows - I laughed so hard! During my first visit with Dharma, a volunteer warned me that Dharma didn’t like horses and I think I responded by telling him that wouldn’t be a problem because I live in the suburbs where there are no horses. Who knew cows on TV would trigger her to wake up and bark LOL.

With my last update, she and I were still struggling with the best way to use her different slings to help her walk as she progresses with her degenerative myelopathy. At that time, her first reaction to the slings were to just lay down and she refused to use her front legs to walk. We finally figured it out!! Use of puppy pads on her dog bed, as seen in the pictures, were so helpful with poopy accidents. She seemed to know why they are there because when she walked back to her bed, she laid her behind directly on it.

Another memorable moment happened when I moved and left a large mirror leaning against the wall in the new place. When I brought Dharma to our new home, she casually walked towards the mirror, got really close to look at herself, then shifted her eyes to look at my reflection through the mirror. She stood there long enough for me to grab my phone and take a picture. That memory still makes me chuckle. These are just tidbits of what life was like with Dharma. So, what made Dharma special? Very simply, it was all the JOY she brought."

Tink

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: November 24th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Katherine Belden-Hillery
Fans: Loree Cook

Guppy

Acquired from: Coachella Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: November 29th, 2017
Date of Passing: February 21st, 2018
Family: Michael Albini & Rebecca Gonzalez
Fans: Molly Chance, Denise Ashley, Linda Pham
Tribute:  On February 21st, Guppy drew one last tiny breath and left this world.

We rescued Guppy from Coachella Valley Shelter on November 29th, 2017 after he came in as a stray. He weighed 2.3 pounds, was hairless, and had a giant scab on his back. After weeks of poor bloodwork and his tumor growing rapidly causing pain and infection, fluctuating bouts of failing to thrive led us to the path of peace.

His mom shares,
"My dear Guppy. This is how I want to remember you, I want to always remember how you smiled when I rubbed your tummy while you fell asleep, I want you remember you barking asking to be picked up. You made me the happiest human and saying goodbye to you was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Thank you for letting me be your mom, for loving me and cuddling with me night after night. You are the most wonderful, handsome and special doggie in the universe. I'll love you forever my Gupperino."

Thank you to Michael Albini & Rebecca Gonzalez for making Guppy your baby and going to great lengths to make him comfortable. Your courage is admirable. Thank you to Molly Chance, Denise Ashley, and Linda Pham for being Guppy's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Spruce

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: December 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: January 20th, 2021
Family: Darby Boudreaux
Fans: Tim Gerrard, Marnie Collier
Tribute: On January 20th, Darby fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Spruce.

Spruce lived with managed heart disease for quite some time, but he suffered from a terrible bout of gastroenteritis last week and passed away while hospitalized at the vet. We are all so heartbroken.

Spruce lived with good care and adventure far longer than any of us suspected. His mom is a Flight Attendant and if Spruce was going to live, he sure LIVED! There are far too many sweet photos to choose from, but we did our best to include many of their time together.

Darby shared with us, "I write this through tears this evening. I lost Spruce today quickly and unexpectedly. I am a mess and have no idea what to do at this point. My three year anniversary of bringing him home just passed a few days ago. I will miss my little bear so, so much."

Jake

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Catherine Lynn
Fans: Karin Levi

Archie

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: December 26th, 2022
Family: Aubrey Peacock
Fans: Stephanie Stolzenberg

Tribute: On December 26th, Aubrey fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Archie.

She shared,

"It’s been a week and still feels like a piece of my heart has been ripped out. Not sure if it will ever go away but thankful for the time I had with Archie. I know every dog mom says it but he truly was the best dog. I adopted him to give him the best 'rest of his life' but think the real blessing was what he gave me.

He was there for me through breakups, old jobs and new jobs, stressful work weeks, a major car accident and more. Over the last (nearly) 5 years we have gone from the CA mountains to North Carolina Mountains, CA beaches to the Florida beaches, driven cross country, become a delta loyal, car rides to get pup cups, movie nights at his aunt Jill and aunt Lo’s house and many park days (although he preferred the human parks over dog parks). He was my spoiled only child who showed me more love than I could have ever asked for. He will be greatly missed."

Noble

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: December 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: April 25th, 2019
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Amber Tkach
Tribute: This morning we fulfilled our promise to Noble.

We did our absolute best for Noble after he pulled several short straws. Not all cases are as easy as rescue, rehabilitate, rehome. We cannot believe he fell through the cracks after the advocacy Frosted Faces Foundation offered him.

We rescued Noble in December of 2017 from Bonita Shelter. He entered the shelter as a stray with a skin condition. He looked great when we rescued him, he celebrated Christmas with us, and was adopted quickly due to his breed and balanced temperament. As a "skin dog" it was to be managed lifelong and our adoption program covers $500/year. Bills became overwhelming for his family with the threat of surrender so we changed their contract to be Forever Fosters to use our vets and FFF would foot entire bills. Whether it was the number of vet appointments or life demands as a whole, Noble ultimately got surrendered back to FFF because he was not acting right and more vet trips sounded daunting.

An exam upon relinquishment discovered that Noble had heartworm, which we treated and cleared. Noble lived many months at FFF as one of the most loved "designer" dogs. He became increasingly difficult to place as we wanted to be sure that new Forever Fosters understood the amount of care he would require for his skin.

We ceremoniously found a woman who only worked part time, would give Noble all the attention he required, and didn't mind sticking to his prescription diet. She sent us more than two photos each month, per the contract, where Noble was always dressed in cute outfits lounging on the couch.

It wasn't until one day two months ago she asked if she could bring him to the vet for declining a couple meals. Our veterinary partners reached out and said Noble looked BAD bad at the appointment. He had lost 5 pounds and had absolutely no fur on his body, which we hadn't noticed because he had outfits on in the photos. Do we need to start doing strip searches on our monthly check ins? When we asked why his Forever Foster did not notify the organization about the need for a vet visit, she replied that she thought the sweaters caused the hair loss. We mandated that Noble be returned to FFF. I will be the first one to tell you that Noble's second mom really loved him, but suffering as a result of naivety is still suffering, and there is no excuse for withholding veterinary care that is 100% covered and any "normal" person would have been sincerely concerned about the change in Noble's appearance.

For the last two months we have been hospitalizing Noble on and off for renal insufficiency, done skin cultures, allergy testing, and even a blood transfusion last week when he became severely anemic. What was confusing was that Noble's eyes remained bright, he was eating, and his energy seemed okay. About a week ago we started noticing ulcers develop on his lips and tummy. We went to an Internist at VSH where he was diagnosed with cutaneous lymphoma a few days ago, and almost as if Noble was waiting for us to have the peace of mind that we could not cure him, he declined quickly over the last 48 hours.

To tie up some loose ends-
We have pursued the appropriate consequences based on our adoption contract against Noble's former owner for neglecting to notify FFF that he needed care. Had we known months in advance that his skin condition was worsening, we could have treated his infection and perhaps reached a diagnosis earlier to buy him some time or comfort.

We are not ones who need a diagnosis in order to perform the gift of euthanasia. For so long Noble was bright in spite of his physical appearance that we thought we were dealing with a treatable skin condition or allergy or bug that we hadn't yet discovered. His eyes said, "Get me out of this skin so I can play!"

We learned that cutaneous lymphoma is not very common and is often diagnosed late in the game because it presents itself in confusing ways. We learned that because it was the skin organ being invaded first, the rest of his body was still functioning like he was seemingly feeling well. We learned that the cancer entered the bone marrow, which is why he was becoming anemic, and the renal changes were secondary.

Noble lived most of his year and a half since rescue at Frosted Faces Foundation. He has spent holidays with us, was on the news, gone on hikes, out to dinner, been groomed, and met a lot of new friends. He loved to hump and play bow! You will see a lot of selfies of volunteers getting kisses from Noble, and that is because he did not have a mean bone in his body and loved everyone. He patiently waited for someone to make him their own. Volunteers have been giving Noble medicated baths, transporting him to veterinary appointments, dressing him in breathable clothes, and administering subQ fluids for a good part of his residency.

Yesterday volunteer Eden gave him his last bath and held him in a warm blanket in the rocking chair on the patio. Holly, Janice, and Holly brought him some treats to try because his appetite had changed. Kris, Kim, and Traci took him on outings throughout this week to either get ice cream and walk by the stream, lounge on their couches at home for a few hours, and took him on a picnic in the sunshine. Last night Noble slept between Andy and I as he did often since his return. Early this morning he woke up with respiratory changes, and it was clear we needed to offer him peace.

There is so much on my mind and in my heart for sweet Noble. "Fulfilled our promise" doesn't seem like the right term here because that includes dignity and family. In two years he never found family, and in fact we placed him poorly, it feels that we prolonged his suffering not recognizing the condition or our options. These are things we have come to assume and swallow. In spite of our best efforts, humans will disappoint us and the most innocent animals will be stricken with unfair illnesses.

If there is one thing we did right- we stuck by him. We adjusted contracts, we always took him back, we vetted him to the best of our knowledge based on recommendations, and we loved on him big time with the help of other genuine lovers who also felt like Noble was their own. We have built relationships with more veterinarians and learned a lot of lessons about the disease process in caring for Noble.

Noble wouldn't care about any of this, right or wrong. He would lick us on the faces and thank us for releasing him from his body. Dogs live in the moment and he had so many good moments.

Noble is fluffy and full again, humping a whole lot of clouds up there!

lincoln

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: December 2nd, 2017
Date of Passing: February 23, 2022
Family: Cathi & Lee Grzeskowiak
Fans: Maatje D Scherpenisse

Tribute: On February 23rd, Cathi fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Lincoln after battling kidney disease.

"We were hit hard this week having to say good bye to 2 of our beloved pups, FF Lincoln and non FF Roxy. Monday Dr. Russell gave us the sad news that Lincoln’s time with us had come to an end. In December we found out he was in late stage kidney failure. Time nor awareness does not prepare you for the loss that is for sure!

We adopted Lincoln a little over 4 years ago.

Lincoln was always a gentle sweet soul. He was quiet and loved treats, ALL the treats! He enjoyed a good walk and to sunbath on the patio. He was my lover boy and would look into my eyes telling how much he loved me back. I know someone loved him before he was ours. I hope that we did a good job as his replacement family.

Thank you Frosted Faces for rescuing Lincoln back in December 2017. He was one of the 5 named after pine trees - you called him 'Scotch,' but when I first learned of him he was 'Lincoln' and featured on the afternoon news (maybe KUSI). And a few days later I searched for him… I knew he was supposed to be mine. He left an imprint on our hearts and we will miss our Linky always. He had the perfect Frosted Face

Good byes are so hard and 2 good byes just wasn’t fair. "

Rogan

Acquired from: Moreno Valley Animal Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2017
Date of Passing: February 11th, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Trisha Bednarczk, Holly and Bailey Snead
Tribute: On Sunday, February 11th, Rogan left us no doubt that his body was all done and we had to let him go.

We rescued Rogan on December 9th, 2017 from Moreno Valley Shelter after he came in as a stray. Upon rescue he was diagnosed with lung cancer, had a cancerous looking mass on his bum and toe, and stumbled occasionally when he walked. It was guessed that his cancer may have been metastasizing to his brain.

Andy and I loved Rogan as our own, diapering, home cooking chicken and quinoa, hand feeding him EVERY meal, and watching late night Netflix together after chores. We are so happy that just a few weeks ago we all made time to take Rogan to the beach too! Rogan loved bones so his days often ended with one, right after tricking him into taking a plethora of pills and supplements that truly kept him bright and comfortable until his last day.

We playfully called Rogan and his best friend, Frosted Face Duncan, the RoDunc Club, and we made these silly requirements:

🐾toe tumor
🐾lung cancer
🐾wander aimlessly & bump into your friends unexpectedly so they won't want to join the club
🐾wear a grandpa sweater
🐾pretend the only thing you will eat is chicken
🐾bark all night (from Sundowner's Syndrome) so Mom or Dad will sleep with you

Just in the last two weeks we noticed Rogan losing function of his legs. He became so weak he could not hold his head up on his last day, and the vet let us know his lungs sounded progressively worse and his color was poor.

When you wake up on a Sunday with a full volunteer schedule, adoptions, and other dogs counting on you, there is little forgiveness on the watch for grieving. Together we cried over Rogan at FFF Sunday morning, snot, heaving, and all, before Andy peeled him out from under me to take to the vet for peace accompanied by volunteer, Rick Hoffman. Such a complicated dynamic we have chosen to endure personally and professionally, but I know that deciding to miss the euthanasia of one of my beloved dogs was not the right decision and regret still stings. At the same time, I am satisfied that we were able to relieve Rogan of suffering quickly and that we are blessed with each other as a team.

This is one of my favorite videos of Rogan, "Rogan Wants Two": https://www.facebook.com/frostedfacesfoundation/videos/g.285357275203633/1812297925499416/?type=2&theater&ifg=1

Thank you to Trisha Bednarczk, Holly and Bailey Snead, and Traci Shelton for being Rogan's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Mommy, Daddy, and Dunc miss you, Rogan. <3

Melody

Acquired from: East Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2017
Date of Passing: November 1st, 2018
Family: Jesse Hanwit
Fans: Elizabeth Cate, Leslie Harris
Tribute: We fulfilled our promise to 12 year old Melly, Melody, on November 1st, 2018.

We rescued Melly from Easy Valley Shelter-LA on December 13th, 2017. Her mom shared, 
"Her decline was quick and so difficult to watch. We had been at my son's house staying with my grandson for four days. Each day she seemed to be tripping and falling more and having a harder and harder time getting up.

We returned home on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning she went out through the pet door and didn't come back. I looked outside and she was sitting at the base of the the porch steps. She could not stand and certainly couldn't get up the steps. On went the sling and her harness that has a handle so I could help her.

I consulted with our vet and adjusted her meds a bit but over the next 48 hours things got progressively worse. She could not get up, stand or walk without my pulling up on both the harness and the sling. By yesterday morning she gave up trying to get up and just lay there. She was exhausted and I didn't see any signs that things would get better. I told her what an exceptionally wonderful girl she was and we celebrated her time with us by sharing a Frosty Paws with her nonFF sister Gracie.

I am thankful that I had almost 11 months to love and care for this beautiful, gentle girl. I hope that I gave her the hugs, kisses and experiences that she had not had in her pre FF days. And who could measure what she gave me. Last night I cried because she wasn't there to come over to the couch every hour or so to say hello and get a big hug and some kisses. This morning I cried because she wasn't there at my bed first thing in the morning with her big furry head and big smile to say good morning.

Although I always know that time with a senior could be short it is always so, so sad to say goodbye. Melly was beyond special and I thank Frosted Faces for the opportunity to be her family. She is very missed."

Thank you, Jesse Hanwit, for trying all of the extra little things to keep your girl going and also recognizing when she lost her sparkle. Thank you to Elizabeth Cate and Leslie Harris for being Melly's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Drake

Acquired from: East Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 17th, 2018
Family: John & Mary Velardi
Fans: Traci Shelton
Tribute: Yesterday Drake was lovingly put to sleep, freed from his tired body.

We rescued Drake on December 13th, 2017 from East Valley Shelter-LA. When Drake's parents came to FFF they knew they wanted a senior on the younger side who would enjoy walks. Drake was aged at 8 years old, his bloodwork was normal and his x-rays looked normal aside from a mildly plump liver. He was such a good-natured boy, he was an easy choice.

Most will remember Drake because he ran out his spring-loaded front door that closed just a hair too slowly behind his parents' exit one morning. An army of volunteers from FFF united along with Drake's heartsick parents to look for Drake, and for three long sleepless days we hung flyers and strategized. While the incident was a nightmare not knowing where one of our dogs was, it was a rewarding and memorable experience being part of a large group of really good people working so hard for the benefit of one family and one special dog. With careful instructions from the great Babs Fry, Drake was found in a canyon down the road and came out to see his Frosted Friend, Redford, and eat some rotisserie chicken scraps where we were able to leash him to safety.

As soon as life got back to normal sleeping on dog beds and going on walks, Drake's health began to decline and they began supportive care for a failing liver. He lost weight rapidly and strength. An earlier update from his family stated, 
"He had a fasting liver panel done this morning. I won’t have the results until Tuesday most likely. I’m not sure he’s going to make it that long. For now, I’m just helping him get up and when that fails, we carry him outside to do his business. He’s on pain meds, just in case, and we are sitting with him and loving on him. He continues to be one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known."

Yesterday they shared, "This is so hard. He was the sweetest boy. We feel fortunate to have been able to share our hearts with him for the last six months of his life."

We know this is not what John and Mary Velardi signed up for, but they were fighters through it all, all for Drake. Thank you. Thank you to Traci Shelton for being Drake's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fan.

Janna

Acquired from: East Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2017
Date of Passing:
Family: Terri Garber
Fans: Traci Shelton

Morrie

Acquired from: East Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2017
Date of Passing: July 19th, 2023
Family: Jonathan Dunn & Katrina Doy
Fans: Jennifer Carroll

Tribute: On July 19th, Katrina and Jonathan fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Morrie.

They shared,

"I'm heartbroken to report that we let Morrie go on July 19th. It's been over a month and I still don't feel able to write this for him. There just aren't enough words to express how much Morrie meant to us.

That said, I wanted to share how we came to be with our boy and how he spent his final years.

I found Morrie by complete accident - we happened to be at the mall one day when FF had a stand set up, and I immediately fell in love with the idea of fostering seniors.

Morrie was one of several little dogs I met, and I remembered him so clearly as he was wearing a grey t-shirt that barely fit his weird little figure! His chubby neck poking out one end, little chicken legs the other. We then applied to be a foster family, had a home visit, and I soon after had to leave for an extended work trip. The entire time I was worried Morrie wouldn't be available when I was back, and I followed on Facebook as all the other dogs I met that day were adopted.

The day we got there, I was so happy and shocked my guy was still available! He was so perfect, and I laughed as I watched him dive head first into a grocery bag of snacks kelly placed on the floor - little chicken drumsticks poking out the top. The entire ride home, he barked and screamed at people, dogs, motor bikes and skate boards. He ate treats and rotisserie chicken in record time, and went potty in all the places he shouldn't.

That first day gave us a glimpse of all the quirks that made up Morrie, and all the little things that we loved most about him. His unimpressed face, indifference to everything inedible, disregard for potty rules and table manners, and his unwillingness to be the lap dog I thought I was getting! Yet he was immediately perfect for us, we fell in love heavily with that little old man.

In the years that followed, Morrie was a foster-fling brother to 8 other frosted faces, and he melted hearts within the FF community by pulling the most unimpressed face in every fling photo. He looked more annoyed with each passing fling. Despite that, he warmed up to them and his antics helped them all find their homes. He also begrudgingly shared his snacks with his 18 year old cat-cousin Milo (who we sadly lost in April) and his brother Gary. Gary was one of the 4000 rescued envigo beagles who came to us terrified of everyone and everything, and Morrie, for the first time ever, shared his bed and space with Gary repeatedly and (almost!) willingly.

Morrie had 4 years with us eating eveything and going everywhere with us. He'd shake with excitement around food and at the mention of food! He had nothing but the very best and we loved him very deeply. For his 5th year with us, he was a very different Morrie. But we adored him just the same, and did eveything under the sun to keep him happy and healthy. Fluids, specialists, custom ordered diets, and a heavy regime of meds kept him ticking along and eating for far longer that we could have hoped. We did a genetic age test that placed him at 16 and not 12, and although unconfirmed and questionable, it would explain his rapid decline in the last year with us. Once we got his kidney disease under control, he then got gastric issues. Once we got those under control, he then got hypertension which led to suspected strokes. He also went completely blind, showed clear signs of dementia and suffered from seizures. The combination of all these meant he was with us 24/7, never alone and always kept safe. He was happy just tagging along, eating prime ostrich meat and the finest snacks.

Once all that was controlled, his seizures then became uncontrolled. On July 18th, he had a prolonged seizure that needed medical intervention to stop, and it knocked him out more than we'd ever seen. The morning we collected him from the emergency vet, he had another seizure in my arms. His weight was less than ever, and we decided to give him a mega send off while he was still able to enjoy it. As awful as it was for us, he had his best day ever! We went to all his favorite places, napped in the sunshine, and he ate all his favorite things. Morrie passed peacefully in my arms while chewing on sausage Pattie's, rotisserie chicken, with his little beard still covered in the biggest puppucinno Starbucks had ever offered! We knew the time was right and as devastated as we are, we're at peace with his final days.

We'll never have another soul like Morrie in our lives, but the heartbreak of him being gone is so worth the memories of our boy. Thank you to everyone at frosted faces for the support, care, and most of all, for finding our boy."

Lacey

Acquired from: West Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 14th, 2017
Date of Passing: May 20th, 2023
Family: Leslie Davies
Fans: Jackie B.

Tribute: On May 20th, Leslie fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Lacey.

She shared,

"Recently, I had to say goodbye to my beloved Lacey. She passed peacefully surrounded by people she loved, and who loved her.

My heart is broken, but I am so grateful to Frosted Faces for giving me the opportunity to have Lacey in my life for the last 5 1/2 years. She was the ideal addition to our pack of another dog (Alex), four cats, a bird and an iguana. She made our family complete.

Her favorite thing in the world to do was going for walks and smelling every single blade of grass she passed. She could be cranky with other dogs, but she loved her brother Alex.

She was perfect from the day I brought her home until I said my final goodbye. She will be greatly missed, but her memories are a blessing. Once again, thank you so much for saving her, and allowing her to be part of my life."

Boltan

Acquired from: West Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: December 14th, 2017
Date of Passing: August 24, 2019
Family: Nathaniel & Faith Crary
Fans: Tasha, Morgan Kleiderlein
Tribute: "On Saturday, August 24, 2019, we said goodbye to our beloved Boltan. My heart is heavy and we have shed many tears this week. It was a gut-wrenching decision to say goodbye, but he still smiled in the end when I talked to him about the good times we had and as we shared a last meal of his favorite cheese.

Boltan bonded with our family and followed me everywhere he could from the first day we brought him home. He had a loving heart, compassionate spirit, and was happy to go on adventures and spend time at home with his family.

Boltan was uniquely expressive. He groaned and gave us a look when he was ready for bed. Or rather, he signaled to us when he wanted us to tuck him in to bed and pet his belly. He slept next to us and gave us a very sweet and dorky grin that told us he felt safe and happy.

While the strength in his back legs progressively declined, he never turned down the opportunity for a walk, even if it was just down the street and back. We took breaks to let him sit for a while before continuing. He then trotted along without a care.

Boltan was an immense blessing which we now appreciate more than ever in his absence. We learned to enjoy each other’s company even more knowing how valuable and short our time is together. Boltan cared more to be with his family than to eat. If it was between finishing his dinner and hanging out with us, he would choose to fall asleep with his head on our lap.

We will carry Boltan with us for the rest of our lives. He was resilient above all else. He had been through injuries, surgeries, sickness, and abandonment. This did not stop him from enjoying every day. I want to be more like Boltan with an innocence and appreciation for what is good in life.

In his last 2 weeks, Boltan endured multiple visits to the vet, the loss of his mobility, and pain resulting from these things and other co-morbidities that did not allow him to recover. I can only hope that Boltan felt at peace with his family taking care of him and I hope he realized he was loved unconditionally in the end.

I would like to especially thank Frosted Faces for rescuing Boltan and caring for him for 6 months before he became a part of our family. Thank you Kelly and Bethany for being an amazing resource. You were there to help Boltan and our family regardless of the circumstance. Thank you for supplying Boltan with love and even training him to help him acclimate to our family."

I want to add that Faith and Nate went above and beyond multiple times for our Boltan. He fiercely resource guarded and he was difficult to place because he either needed a knowledgeable handler or to be an only dog. Nate and Faith saved the day. Beyond this initial commitment, they struggled with his anxiety and destruction due to fireworks living near Disneyland, so they got medication and came all the way back to FFF to pick up an iron "alcatraz" crate. They trained Boltan to coexist with their cats, which was a long process of conditioning and positive reinforcement. In Boltan's last month they used a sling to help him stand, road tripped to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital to meet with the great Dr. VanMaele who switched Boltan to steroids and offered hope. Boltan's parents were compassionate through the treatment plan, and devastated when they could no longer offer Boltan comfort or mobility. It was our honor to work with two young people who stuck by their family dog until the very end.

Hugo

Acquired from: West Valley Los Angeles Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: December 14th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 21, 2023
Family: Ed & Debbie
Fans: Cathleen Orchard, Leslie Harris

Tribute: On October 21st, Ed and Debbie fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Hugo.

Debbie shared,

“I’m looking at my little Hugo laying next to me in bed after a long day at the doctor. How many breaths do we have left together…I wonder how many minutes/days/weeks do I have left to tell him how much I love him and that he is the best boy I could have ever hoped for and that I love him too much for words. We are soul mates on this earth. He is my joy. I pick him up at least twice a day and I sit him on my lap facing me and he hugs me with his long legs and I say, “my pouchakita..mommy loves you sooo much” and he would lick me as if to say, me too

mommy…up until recently. That must be when the cancer started in his mouth. It hurt to lick me. Now I know. My heart is breaking.” Sept 23, 2023

I lost my boy 21 days after writing this. We wanted our life together to last forever and he braved a mouth full of cancer to try. He was 17 ½. We found Danny and Hugo at FF in April 2018. Well Danny found Ed...jumped up into his lap immediately and Hugo…well he just walked away from us and went back to his dog house as if

to say…I won’t get picked…which is exactly what our last dog did before we adopted him. It was a sign. I picked him up and it was love at first sight. We found each other. Hugo loved to be close. He was my emotional support boy in so many ways and I was his. Whenever I was having a bad day, which is a lot lately, he was there with his happy seesaw gallop when he that made everyone smile. When he would see me he would gallop over to me and jump into my arms as if to say “I’ve waited all day for you Mommy” (even if it had been 15 mins) and I’m there telling him “I missed my baby!” He is one of the greatest gifts life has given to me.

How do you say goodbye? How do you say goodbye to a soul that gave you every ounce of their heart. A heart that literally healed from pure love.

How do you say goodbye when every day we woke up to each other and our hearts would fill immediately when we would say good morning. He would look at me as if to say thank you for being here for me and of course I felt the same.

How do you say goodbye when they have given everything into loving you. Every fiber of their being was love. A love so strong it got us through so much together and it healed life’s deep wounds. I’m still having a hard time. But our 5 ½ years together were magic. He and I were one and our hearts will always be entwined. Mommy loves you sweet boy and I will see you in heaven.

You filled the room little guy, Daddy & Danny miss you and love you beyond words too. We are forever grateful to Frosted Faces for saving our beautiful birthday twins."

Graham

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 17th, 2017
Date of Passing: October 18th, 2021
Family: Therrol & Nikki Troxel
Fans: Penny Mcnamara
Tribute: On October 18th, Nikki and Therrol fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Graham.

They shared,

"It is said that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...Three weeks after suddenly losing our Bitsy, we have lost our sweet old man Coco Boy(Graham).

In the early hours of Sunday, Oct.18 at VHS ER. Hours earlier he had finally eaten some hot dog and was happy. Around 11 after his last meds, he had another syncopal seizure which he could not recover from. After calling 4 ERs and being told they were full, we rushed him to VHS ER Sorrento Valley where we had to say goodbye. He fought so hard but his heart and lungs could not do it. We held him and told him what a good boy he was. It just happened so fast.

He had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, stage 2 kidney disease and pulmonary hypertension. For months our routine was 3x a day meds for his conditions and home-cooked food to support him.

In December of 2017, after seeing his intake bath picture, I emailed Kelly and said "I want him!" He was a chocolate tri color chi who had been dropped at the shelter to be pts by owners who said he was too old (12). I drove to FF on New Years Day eve, 2017, and made him our forever boy.

He was so sweet and shy but fit right in with CocoGirl (FF July 2017) Tilly, and our 3 big labs Millie, Dottie and Gus. He learned that big labs are not scary but to watch out for Coco Girl who owned me, the couch and her space all 6 lbs.of her.

He did not play with toys or give kisses but loved small beds with cozy blankets, his harness and stroller for walks, and wearing sweaters. He danced when he saw them.

He came to me for a lap, and comfort, but it was his dad who he followed to the garage or to the office.

He would join the crew on the front porch for barkfest but his bark was more like a gargle. His tail was wagging the whole time.

He was our anchor for almost 4 years and I will miss celebrating his. Frostiversary and his turning 16 in November. He will be in my heart forever, and hopefully our other sweet Frosties are playing with him at the bridge...Bitsy, Maisie, and Coco Girl.

I love you sweet Coco. Rest in peace."

Manfry

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: December 24th, 2017
Date of Passing: September 12th, 2022
Family: Ken & Linh Vandermar
Fans: RZ

Tribute: On September 12th, Ken and Linh fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Manfry Diggles.

They shared,

"We very unexpectedly had to say goodbye to our sweet boy Diggles yesterday. We learned he had really advanced cancer in his lungs which spread to his tongue. He showed no signs until yesterday morning when a mass on his tongue ruptured.

Already a senior when we scooped him up from Frosted Faces, we were lucky to have him in our family for 4+ years. He was our puppy/toddler dog and acted like a youngin' - we thought he'd be with us forever.

Diggles loved food, toys, lounging, and belly rubs. He was the best cuddler/snuggler, and it was his life's mission to be within two feet of mama at all times. He was a goofy guy that brought us lots of laughter and joy.

Our hearts hurt and we miss him terribly."

Nemo

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: December 24th, 2017
Date of Passing: March 17th, 2023
Family: Doug & Penny McNamara
Fans: Judith Johnson

Tribute: On March 17th, Doug and Penny fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Nemo.

They shared,

"Thank you for letting us give Nemo the home he needed.

Nemo was truly a gift to our family as well as our pack. He showed us how to keep going through trials, and his sweet curiosity (finding Nemo) in our back yard. He will always be my metaphor for living. Now Nemo can run free with the wind in his face and sun shining on him every day."

Laura

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: December 28th, 2017
Date of Passing: September 30th, 2018
Family: Scott & Tracy Klauder
Fans: Jennifer King, Mary Runno
Tribute: On Sunday, September 30th, we fulfilled our promise to 9 year old Laura.

We rescued Laura from Coachella Valley Shelter on December 28th, 2017. She was diagnosed with heart failure, a collapsing trachea, and heartworm upon rescue. She endured and survived two heartworm treatments, we managed her other conditions with medications. Every time she needed to go to the vet for horrendous coughing episodes, we thought Laura was telling us she was all done-but no! With the help of Dr. Innes at The Village Veterinary Hospital, we were able to adjust her medication and send her home comfortable time and time again. It's unbelievable that Laura lived so many good days, and like I told her mom, I am sure it is because Laura did not want to ever have to leave her perfect family.

"Today was the day I should have been preparing for, the day we knew was coming but didn’t want it to. Today Laura’s sweet, loving heart was too tired to keep going. The medication wouldn’t clear the fluid from her lungs. Last night she laid curled up in my arms on the couch for extra comfort.

This girl amazed me with her gentle soul, her incredible resiliency to whatever life was like before, her ailments didn’t stop her. She wanted to be best friends with all the cats; Sugar trusted her completely. I am so humbled by Laura’s trust in me, and that is not something I took lightly. I love you and miss you Sweet-sweets!"

Thank you to Scott and Tracy Klauder for giving Laura every last good day and bringing so much happiness into her life. Thank you to Jennifer King and Mary Runno for being Laura's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Doogie

Acquired from: Redlands Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 3rd, 2018
Date of Passing: April 3rd, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Leta Hunt

Tribute:  Yesterday afternoon, on April 3rd, 2018, we fulfilled our promise to Doogie.

We rescued Doogie, formerly Durango and Doogle, from Redlands Shelter on January 3rd, 2018. He left with Claire Jenkins almost immediately as a Fling, which ultimately became his final home. He trotted around her yard and found comfort in the sun or on a pile of blankets nearest to his friends.

His mom reflects, "I said goodbye to Doogie this evening. His dementia had become so severe with hours of barking, crying and pacing the house during the night. Even with recommended medications it only made him worse. Goodbye little buddy!

Run free with no pain, no more confusion or being scared. Thank you for letting me spoil you for the last three months. It was an honor to be your foster mom in the last months of your life. Always in my heart."

We appreciate that there are varying philosophies about the end of life for animals and the timing of euthanasia. While dementia does not necessarily mean the end of life or even quality, we do believe that when a Frosted Face is distraught and inconsolable with medications on board that are ineffective, euthanasia is not wrong. When Claire first reached out to us as a tired, but compassionate caregiver to let us know she was struggling, she immediately accepted solutions over surrender. The end is always hard, but endings with this disease are even harder. You want to unselfishly make the decision of treatment versus euthanasia for the animal while at the same time experiencing personal exhaustion.

Claire, we know how special and innocent Doogie was. Thank you for persevering with him, and having the strength to let him go in the end. You tried! Thank you to Leta Hunt for being Doogie's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fan.

Brewer

Acquired from: Orange County Animal Care & Control
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 2nd, 2018
Date of Passing: September 12th, 2018
Family: Vickie Armitage
Fans: Priscillia Seelan, Tammy Ringeisen, Kristy Marie Walsh
Tribute: On Wednesday, September 12th, we fulfilled our promise to 10 year old Brewer.We rescued Brewer, formerly Howie, on February 3rd, 2018 from OC Shelter after the finder made several calls to rescues looking for help.

Brewer had a mass in his chest upon rescue, was very thin, and we struggled to get him to eat. Vickie changed all of that! She is an experienced hospice caregiver for humans too, and she was patient and kind to Brewer. She cooked foods he liked which plumped up his figure and made sure he was always clean and comfortable. Most notably, she wrote thoughtful, detailed updates about him appreciating his minor improvements and character. Brewer had a seizure last month and from then on his appetite decreased and weakness set in.

"Our bond deepened each day. I could read his eyes and body language. He knew how to communicate with me beyond our hand signals.

He enjoyed petting and sitting in my lap more and more. He slept in the walk in closet, which he loved as is his safe place.

I switched to human grade food for my dogs. Who knows, it may have given him even more time.

He got weaker in his rear legs. Yet, his pride took over and he was determined to stand all the way up.

I am so grateful he came into my life. He has also touched my grandsons. They were very protective of him as well and learned how to respect animals."

Thank you for Vickie Armitage for giving Brewer a chance to have happiness, and allowing him to gracefully decline. Thank you also for your courage to let him go. Thank you to Priscillia Seelan, Tammy Ringeisen, and Kristy Marie Walsh for being Brewer's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Dudley

Acquired from: Baldwin Park Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: January 6th, 2018
Date of Passing: September 28th, 2024
Family: Robert & Vivien Frankland
Fans: DS

Tribute: On September 28th, Robert and Vivian fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Dudley.

They shared,

"We adopted Dudley (AKA Burke) in March 2018, a little over two months after he had undergone surgery to remove a large, benign tumor, apparently the size of a grapefruit, from his right side. Frosted Faces Foundation had rescued him from an L.A. shelter and covered the cost of the procedure and cared for him till he was ready for adoption.

Right from the start, he settled in, selecting a chair or two that suited him. The patio chairs were ideally situated for sunbathing and the other two indoor chairs were good for lounging on as was the pet bed. He was quite versatile when it came to positions in which to sit and they became a constant source of amusement for us.

Dudley loved to join in the family celebrations and even tolerated being dressed up. He delighted in his daily walks, which he insisted upon, come rain or shine, and he soon became a firm favorite with the neighbors, especially the children.

He also became a well-seasoned Pet Assisted Therapy dog, with residents often waiting eagerly to greet him on our visits to the two senior living facilities each month. Being a large Pit Bull, Dudley excelled as an ambassador for the breed since he was always so gentle and well behaved. He was also very accepting of other dogs, even when our short-stay foster dog, remained for almost six months!

He was a very special dog who just seemed so content to share each day with us and go with the flow. Even towards the end when suffering a variety of complaints, he was patient and undemanding. He was loved, and is now missed dearly, not only by his family, but by so many others who knew him but we consider ourselves so fortunate to have been able to share almost seven years with such a wonderful canine companion."

Ru

Acquired from: Baldwin Park Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 6th, 2018
Date of Passing: June 19th, 2019
Family: Jeff & Kim Dollins
Fans: Galia Beitner, Debra Sakata, ZuZu, Jennifer Glatz, Holly Ann Hoff, Stephanie Silberstang & Colin Barth
Tribute: On June 19th, we fulfilled our promise to Ru.

Ru, formerly Bea, was loved by many people at FFF. She had a loving family for about a year before their work visas took them back to France. She then lived many months at FF, went on two Frosted Flings, and finally landed forever- but not for long enough.

"Our baby rhino is gone, we are so so sad. 💔

I knew when I saw her at Frosted Faces she was special. She had such a sweet and gentle demeanor and her facial expression looking like she was saying "huh" just drew me in.

After our FF Beans passed away Jeff and I went to look for "fling" dog, I knew Bea had to be a long term commitment and we weren't sure we were ready to add a 5th, but we came home with her as a foster. We knew deep down she was ours that very first night. We promised to show her the world and make sure she knew she was loved. She went to the beach, camping in the mountains, to Zion and Bryce National Park, Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, to Palm Springs for a dog birthday party, she had grandpa's grilled steak, and we got a king mattress just so she could fit in the bed too.

After our trip to Utah we made it official to being her family. We named her Ru, short for Faru although she was still Bea to those that loved her. We had no idea our time would be so short. Just over three months with our girl.

Last week she started falling a lot, her neurological symptoms worsening each day. We are in shock in how fast it seemed to decline. We had more adventures planned so we will get a canvas picture of her to add with the others so she's always with us. Our hearts are broken but I know she was loved and as someone told me when they found out 'All dogs go to heaven.'"

Hoagie

Acquired from: Baldwin Park Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 8th, 2018
Date of Passing:
Family: Eduardo Ledesma
Fans: Tim Gerrard, Nancy Veach

DAISY MAE

Acquired from: Baldwin Park Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: January 8th, 2018
Date of Passing:
Family: Gary & Irene Heselton
Fans: Tim Gerrard

Jimmi

Acquired from: OC Animal Care
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2018
Date of Passing: January 12th, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Tim Gerrard, Lynn Norman in memory of Mo, Mandi
Tribute: Yesterday evening we discovered that Jimmi had passed away. He looked as if he had passed in his sleep curled up under our bed.

We rescued Jimmi just three days ago on January 9th, 2018. OC Animal Care euth-listed him for medical reasons, but he only proved to seem social and content with us. He ate each meal, meowed for attention, slept on our bed nudging and kneading to be consoled, and ventured out of the catio to sit in the bathroom and watch us brush our teeth at the sound of our morning alarm.

Bloodwork showed that he was very anemic, but also regenerating red blood cells. We had started his treatment regimen of antibiotics and deworming. Poor Jimmi was probably bleeding internally and we just didn't know.

While natural animal deaths don't offend me because I can appreciate that humans pass naturally everyday, it bothers me that he passed alone. We don't rescue our Frosted Faces to endure the dying process without us, much less, unexpectedly and without a diagnosis or valiant effort.

Flabberghasted, Andy and I reflected how Jimmi came running at the sound of his food can opening the morning of his passing. He even hissed at our other cat, Lena, as she approached hoping to access her bowl too! We sincerely thought Jimmi was finally going to become our family cat that would stick around for awhile because he was easygoing and well.

We took his body to High Valley Veterinary Hospital to be cremated this morning. We, personally, never have a private cremation because we feel that expense is better used for a living animal, but we always get a paw print for one day when we have a spark of creativity, we can do something meaningful with oh so many paw prints of our loved and lost.

Thank you to Tim Gerrard, Lynn Norman in memory of Mo, and Mandi for being Fans of our Jimmi. We know the value of our Frosted Feline opening and will rescue again soon.

Waverly

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 11th, 2018
Date of Passing: October 8th, 2018
Family: Cindy Kisling
Fans: Sofia Merida, James Chen, Morgan Kleiderlein, Dave & Kim Steele
Tribute: On Monday, October 8th, we fulfilled our promise to 10 year old Waverly.

We rescued Waverly, formerly Elizabeth, from Downey Shelter on January 11th, 2018 when she was scheduled to be euthanized for pneumonia. She had a giant ulcerated mammary mass which we removed, including a mass on her leg.

"I have been going over my tribute to Waverly ever since her diagnosis of cancer in June but could never bring myself to do it because it would make it real. Well today it is real.

I adopted her the middle of May. The dog I actually chose from FF turned out to be cat reactive but my sister and I chose to make the trip anyway. I decided on Waverly because she had been adopted and returned already. She was labeled as barrier/leash aggressive and was on Prozac. I never even heard her bark. She didn't want to get on the couch to take her adoption picture. I was determined to break through her tough exterior.

She is true to the chow breed aloof, loyal and independent. She enjoyed walks, car rides and green tennis balls. The first thing we did was take her off the Prozac and put her on cbd oil. Her first vet visit was for a previously treated wound that had opened up. Then her back legs swelled up. While waiting for the results of that x-ray, Waverly's purpose in my life became crystal clear. The decision for palliative care was made.

She got to enjoy a camping trip, a trip to the beach and most recently a puppaccino from Starbucks on the way home from her last vet trip. We never made the burger run but she was treated with some chicken that we brought home Saturday. Waverly truly just loved being at home most of all. She was never one that wanted to sleep on the bed or snuggle on the couch but I knew if I stepped one foot outside she would be up on either one looking out the window for me.

She started to decline over the last few days and we tried a couple medications. I never wanted her last days to involve trying to get pills down so we focused on treating pain. On Saturday night, my sister and I placed her on the bed between us and Sunday morning she wagged her tail. I made sure to tell her that it was okay for her to go. I told her she got a really bad deal and I was so sorry. I told her not to worry, I would know right where to find her because she would be right there at the gates of heaven looking for me. I promised her freedom from the cancer that stole her life too soon. I promised her there would be someone there to throw her green tennis ball as much as she wanted. By Sunday night it became clear she was having more bad days than good and she was ready to go.

When I left for work today I told her that I know you lived life on your terms so if you need to go before I get home, it's okay. She made that choice. I let her know she was the best girl ever and I was so proud and honored to be her mom. I had hoped to make the next anniversary party. That changed to hoping to make her Frostiversary. Then we wished for one more hour, one more day. Our time together was far too short but I have to hope and believe I made a difference in her life and that she knew she was loved.

Goodbye sweet Waverly. I love you to the moon and back, now and forever. I want to thank my sister Carol Schmalbeck for being her biggest fan and helping to choose Waverly, Janice Deen for advocating for this girl, Nancy Klein for making the home check easy and Kelly Smisek for entrusting her to my care. <3"

Thank you Cindy Kisling for making Waverly's last days count. We will not forget your patience and your commitment. Thank you to Sofia Merida, James Chen, Morgan Kleiderlein, and Dave & Kim Steele for being Waverly's dedicated monthly sponsoring Fans.

Carter

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: January 16th, 2018
Date of Passing: January 30th, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Jeremy & Jaime Griffith, Tamara Ringeisen Jennifer Murray, Debra Sakata, Lynn Cannizzaro, 
Tribute: Our Frosted Face Carter passed away on Tuesday, January 30th unexpectedly. Breathlessness is what I feel, so much so that I occasionally let out a whimper as if it will relieve the tension and pain.

We rescued Carter on January 16th, 2018 from County of San Diego Department of Animal Services-Carlsbad. He was blind, a super senior, but vibrant. His bloodwork was normal and his x-rays were evidence of a long life ahead. We did surgery to neuter him and remove an undescended testicle from his abdomen, we even did a dental procedure. He recovered fantastically.

We took him home and tucked him in between us at night. He wagged his tail and could see our shadows to bump his nose into our calves as we walked. We keep replaying how Carter was a happy humper in the play yard who wanted to eat all of the cookies, to being so ill with so few identifiable symptoms.

Just this past Friday he started looking quiet. We took him to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital where he was hospitalized with an oxygen saturation of 84%, but was discharged Monday evening bright, eating, and breathing well. X-rays showed some bronchial changes, but the condition of neither his lungs nor heart were alarming. On Tuesday evening he passed away naturally after resting in blankets most of the day, but still regularly getting up for water and going on a little afternoon walk. In the event that this was a virus we are running a respiratory disease PCR and culture on anyone who even looks glassy-eyed.

There are two moments I want to share with you about Carter's short time with us. Tuesday morning he climbed onto the patio furniture with the sun rising while I scooped breakfast. When I looked out, he had maneuvered into the pile of pillows and had his head raised and eyes closed with his ears extended in the breeze. It was Carter peacefully enjoying the beginning of his last day on Earth with sun shining on his face. It makes my heart hurt so much.

Carter's last hours were spent in the arms of volunteer, Angela Gunnett. She bathed him in a warm shower, wrapped him in a towel and held him like a baby while we bustled around her. Carter was looking good, and we were trying different foods to entice him. Angela held him so focused and lovingly, we even poked fun at her lack of help in the kitchen, "Don't get up, you're busy. I will bring that to you." For two hours she held him and stroked his head. Just one hour after she left for the night, Carter passed away.

No one registered to be his monthly sponsoring Fan (many have sponsored him since, and are listed above) and no one offered to foster him... so many tears. Just a symbol of how he has been unnoticed for so long and how we hardly had him for any time at all to tell him how special he was. We at FFF did invest significantly in his care, a total of $1,430.43 including his surgery and hospitalization and we invested so much of our hearts.

We love you, Carter.

Benny

Acquired from: San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: January 16th, 2018
Date of Passing: July 22nd, 2020
Family: Wendy Anderson
Fans: Lyn Spangler
Tribute: On July 22nd, we fulfilled our promise to Benny.

"I had to put down Benny today. He was diagnosed with prostrate cancer and kidney disease a month ago. It devastated me. One of his vets suggested to try and do whatever I had to to give him more quality time. With the help of people here and more vets, my friends and a lot of reading, I was given another month of my precious little boy. This is my favorite pic of him.

Cathy Stromberg Lower suggested I go to FF to check it out. We sat down in the small dogs area on round sofa. Levi was his name then and he got on the sofa and pretty much picked me. I'm very honored and we connected fast and hard.

A big painful chunk was ripped out of me when I learned he was in bad shape, but I was able to squeeze a month of happiness, laughing every time he wanted a bird, plane or misplaced cloud to get out of the sky, play, car rides, snuggles, wagging nub, his bossiness when it was past treat time and the best kind of love for a month. I'm so grateful for that. I'm also extremely grateful he's not suffering anymore. A friend said you get 5,000 great days out of your dog and few really tough ones. Yup, and to me, it's worth every tear.

Mi bello was such a special and good friend.

Thank you FF for one of the best loves of my life."

Chandler

Acquired from:  San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: January 16th, 2018
Date of Passing: July 20th, 2021
Family: Isaac Marks & Heather Osswald
Fans: Tina Roese, Lyn Spangler
Tribute: Chandler was a sweet happy dog adopted from us about three years ago. His mom let us know that she felt like he was declining and that because she loved him very much she would be returning him to FFF without elaboration. We performed diagnostics which confirmed he was in kidney failure.

Compassionately, we are certain this was a tough decision for Chandler's mom for whatever reason. We are grateful that he was surrendered back to us specifically, so that we were able to help facilitate a new last chapter.

We applaud how absolutely selfless Heather and Isaac were to step up for Chandler in his last days of his one little life. We, secondly, would like to share with you the frustration, anger, and sadness that Heather expressed as a caregiver trying to make compassionate choices for a senior dog surrendered at the end of his life.

Heather shared,

"Your dog died today.

I’d like to think that the 7 weeks we had together was enough for him to feel some comfort in us being there with him but let’s be honest, he probably would have rather been with you. Dogs love too hard and forgive too easy so I’m sure he would have been happy to see you, even after all this time.

I’ve wondered if we waited too long - if we should have done it sooner. You see, I didn’t know his favorite foods he couldn’t ever turn down or if he preferred stuffies over balls. All of the quality of life assessments on the internet tell you to consider if the dog is no longer doing his favorite things; I don’t know what his are. No one tells you what to do when you’re making decisions for a dog you barely know. But this weekend he stopped perking up when he heard my voice and leaning in when I scratched his chin - things he loved in his time with us.

Getting the love of a dog is a privilege and let’s face it, dogs don’t live damn near long enough. If you are lucky enough you get to see their senior years, you cherish them. And when they need you on their very last day, that’s when you earn the privilege of their love. Next time, if there is a next time, I hope you see your commitment through. Getting a dog is for you, but letting a dog go, that’s for a them.

We love you Chandler. "

Cat King Cole

Acquired from:  San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 16th, 2018
Date of Passing: May 12th, 2024
Family: Cortney Putters & Ben Rowe
Fans: Tim Gerrard, Lynn Norman in memory of Mo

Tribute: On May 12th, Cortney and Ben fulfilled their promise to Cat King Cole.

They shared,

"We are absolutely heartbroken that Cat is no longer with us He became such a large part of our lives and our home feels empty without him. We will miss having snuggle time with him and hearing him meow with excitement over his meals and treats. We couldn't be more thankful for the time we got with him as he changed our lives and we can only hope we did the same for him!"

BROWNIE

Acquired from:  San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: January 17th, 2018
Date of Passing: January 31st, 2022
Family: Gianna Ravenscroft
Fans: Lauretta Johnson, Vicki and Bob Conway

Tribute: On January 31st, Gianna fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Brownie.

She shared,

"We had the privilege of bringing Brownie (aka Mister Rogers) into our home and our hearts four years ago. My children and I wanted to give an older dog the family and life it deserved, and it was love at first sight when we saw Brownie (original name Ketch) on the FF website. He looked like a puppy!

He was shy and sweet when we first met him, but it took only a matter of days before we all imprinted on each other. He was the most loving pup. My friends & family joked that Brownie also hit the lottery with us: he slept in our beds, accompanied the kids to school, went with us everywhere, had his own dog walker who adored him, learned how to play with toys, and was my constant companion.

Over the last few months, Brownie started losing weight quickly and declining in energy. After several rounds of tests, our vets confirmed our worst fears that he had cancer which had already spread to his spleen, liver and spine. Surgery was not an option, so we instead focused on making the time left with him as wonderful & comfortable as it could be. Our motto at home became, "He gets whatever he wants!' We were so lucky to give him the life & family he deserved, and only wish we could have had more time with him. We love & miss you so much, my sweet boy.”

Teagan

Acquired from:  San Diego Animal Services- Bonita
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 17th, 2018
Date of Passing: May 5th, 2022
Family: Greg Cronin & Shannon Mandich
Fans: Theresa Goforth

Tribute: On May 5th, Greg and Shannon fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Teagan after battling heart disease.

They shared,

"We had to say goodbye to this little girl on Thursday. We are heartbroken, but so thankful for the memories over the last 4 years. She brought such joy to our lives each and every day. As she got older, her health issues became more challenging, but it was a privilege to provide her with the best care we could.

This first picture was when we had just picked her up from frosted faces and she rode on my lap all the way up to Orange County. What a thrill that was. Our weekend activities mostly revolved around simple activities like getting loaded in the car, picking up a coffee, and going on a walk someplace. Teagan also got to join us on adventures in Lake Tahoe (x3), Mammoth, Santa Barbara, and Cambria (x2). My heart was so full when Luke arrived and we became a foursome.

The house feels so empty and quiet without her. Thank you Teagan for being the most clever, lovable, and beautiful doggy. I will miss you every day. "

LilY

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: January 17th, 2018
Date of Passing: February 13th, 2023
Family: Jeff & Theresa Kemper
Fans: Jennifer Murray

Tribute: On February 13th, Teresa and Jeff fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Lilibet.

They shared,

"We deeply miss our dear Lilibet. We lost her to kidney disease this week on February 13th. She has been such a blessing and joy to us, truly a gift from God. We celebrate her curiosity, strength, and fierce will to live. We will always hold little lady close to our hearts.

Thank you, Frosted Faces Foundation for rescuing her when she was just a sick little old stray. Thank you, Kristina McIlwaine Maroudis for fostering Pearl, who became our Lilibet. Thank you for taking great care of her and helping to bring this sweet girl into our lives.

Our lives have been blessed and enriched by our Frosted Face, Lilibet. She lives on in our hearts.♥️"

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