THE FROSTED FACES

Page 18

Enjoy scrolling through all of our Frosted Face senior animals who have benefit from our mission at Frosted Faces Foundation.  They are listed in order of date of rescue, including those that have passed. If you have been following a certain Frosted Face's story and would like to know how he/she is doing, please email us at friends@frostedfacesfoundation.org.

Please make note of animals still looking for families as their "Family" is listed as "Frosted Faces Foundation."  View their biographies and more photos at Available Frosted Faces, learn more about becoming a family and the different programs we offer. You can also help fund their care by registering as their monthly sponsoring Fan.  

midge

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: December 18th, 2018
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fan: RZ
Tribute: We rescued 8 year old Midge along with 5 other dogs from Downey Shelter last week on Monday, December 9th. She had entered the shelter as a stray on December 3rd. She had grade 4/4 dental disease, ulcerated mammary masses, and was still intact.

As we walked the kennels of Downey a significant number of dogs had boogery noses and were coughing. 5 out of the 6 dogs we exited that day were also ill. We started them on the "big guns" right away because seniors are so susceptible to pneumonia and have a hard time fighting it.

Midge had bloodwork and x-rays performed at College Animal Hospital that looked clear and she was still eating so we administered her antibiotics at FFF with intermittent steam sessions.

Over the weekend Midge stopped eating so we hospitalized her at High Valley Veterinary Hospital to receive fluids and injections. On Tuesday she was discharged at close of business, but when she returned to FFF she looked pale, was coughing short breaths, and felt cold. Her temperature was 96.0. We rushed her to Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego where she was in respiratory distress and her temp had dropped to 94.0. They got her on oxygen and shot quick x-rays to show that she had very little lung capacity to breathe. While the vet was describing the x-rays and we were authorizing hospitalization, Midge let out a scared little bark, collapsed, and passed away. Based on the pink tinged fluid that was expelled upon death the vet concluded that she likely died from congestive heart failure. She tried to explain to us that when a dog is sick with pneumonia it makes the heart hard to hear so we may not have known it was an underlying condition. None of the vets Midge saw noted that she had a heart murmur previously.

Midge was itty bitty and sweet. She had a nub tail! When she felt better in her first days with us she let out little chirps from her isolation kennel to be held and leapt into our arms. She rode on my lap during the entire ride home from the shelter and she pawed at and nosed my hand for pets! We all thought the promise of a new bright future waited ahead. We rescue so many senior dogs who battle nasty shelter bugs and rally. We are hopeful and we spare no time or expense to get these guys well. The volunteers sat with Midge while steaming her and cooked her yummy food to entice her appetite. The vets and techs are aggressive with care and give the dogs extra loving while hospitalized knowing the reality is that some don't make it.

I blame the family. I blame the family who didn't keep Midge safe in a secure area at home, who didn't put tags on her or microchip her, not to mention didn't spay her! Because of them, she ended up in the shelter alone to become sick, suffer, and die in the arms of people she did not know without her known name being whispered at the end. You want to know the worst of the worst of not supervising your dog outside or simply not having tags on them? This is it, aside from drowning from pneumonia in the shelter kennel.

Teeny weeny Midge, we loved you.

ivy

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: July 19, 2021
Family: Ashley Blanton
Fan: House of Pete, Mary, Kirsten Rutherford and Fozzie, Susan Chittum, The Rueja Pack, Clare Thomas, Kelly, Tanya de Mandel and Chris Body, Michelle Dellino, Renee Feldman, Elizabeth Gahles, Kelly Wilner
Tribute: On July 19th, Ashley fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Ivy.
”1 year, 6 months, 19 days ago I rescued your precious 1 eyed, blind, deaf, slow as molasses self. But I adored you, and I know you adored me.

13 years on this Earth feels so very short, but I was proud I gave you a life in that short period of time that someone else hadn't been able to. My little Ivy, AKA Little & Helen Boop, give Almskies lots of kisses for me.

Thank you @frostedfaces for giving seniors an opportunity to live their best last years of their life.”

Winter

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: February 28th, 2023
Family: Luann & Steve Pollett
Fan: Wendy, Mike and Debbie Coulter, Feisty Frasier Gifts

Tribute: On February 28th, Luann and Steve fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Winter.

They shared,

"Our sweet FF Winter went to the rainbow bridge tonight 💔 Many thanks to Dr Russell & Frosted Faces for the gentle & gracious care. ♥️ She was 16 years old & we had the pleasure of caring for her for 3 years."

Donner

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: January 15th, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fan: Anthony Hopkins
Tribute: Today we fulfilled our promise to Donner.

You have not met Donner yet. I kept thinking I would introduce him to you when we knew what was wrong with him, had a game plan, and got him all cleaned up.

Donner had been surrendered by his family in terrible condition. We rescued 7 year old Donner, formerly Fred, from Downey Shelter on December 9th along with five other dogs.
All of them had boogers, coughs, and immediately got started on big time antibiotics. We did bloodwork and x-rays right off the bat, and x-rays showed a little something in Donner's chest and his labwork was absolutely normal with the exception of a high WBC count. We don't mess around with shelter viruses and our seniors because they are so fragile. Donner was one of few who was still eating in spite of the boogs, so we kept giving him meds orally. A handful of days after rescue he stopped eating so we hospitalized him to get injections and supportive care. He always had a suspiciously low temperature around 96 degrees, so we kept him on heat support all day and night.

When he seemed brighter and maintained a normal temperature we discharged him hoping that he would again thrive in a home environment. We soaked him daily hoping the steam would help with his congestion and the ketoseb would help his skin- his skin, oh his skin! His feet and tail were tightly matted with black fungally course grossness. He could've been a platypus under all that fur on his tail. As days went on we worked on clipping off the mats and soaking off the debris.

We have been advised in the past that pneumonia can take a long time to beat, and we were in it for the long haul for Don. It wasn't until after about 3 weeks of treatment it was suggested, "What if these shelter viruses are masking a more serious problem?" We did new bloodwork that showed multiple organ failure. We did an ultrasound at San Diego Bay Animal Hospital that showed Donner's kidneys looked okay even though his labs reflected otherwise. He had a prostate as gigantic as his bladder, that could have been not allowing Donner to urinate fully, although he had a strong stream still, and perhaps toxins were building up. The ultrasound also showed a gall bladder mucocele that was nearly causing a blockage.

We learned that a gall bladder surgery is a much bigger deal for a dog than a person, and there was no way we could anesthetize Donner with the way his kidney values were and his hematocrit of 22%. We continued to hospitalize him to flush out his kidneys and today his values looked even worse and he, himself, looked terrible.

If you can't tell, we are still replaying all of this in our heads. We built up so much hope around an innocent diagnosis meanwhile spending a lot of time caring for Donner certain with faith that he would improve. We sure have gotten into the habit of "fixing" Frosted Faces, and yet we had to let Donner go without a clear diagnosis and heartbreakingly, no solution. Suffering, I guess that was the diagnosis.

...Not knowing his norm, hunting for answers to give him every last chance, and having far too much hope that outweighed the compassion we should have had to let him go sooner when it seemed something was very wrong.

And then there's love. How we loved him. He had multiple outfit changes, a constant booger-wiper volunteer at his service, and his last days where we assumed he was not contagious and still waiting for results of all his tests, he looked the best oddly. He did a winery, a stroller ride, some sleepovers, and even wagged his tail. We got to love him like a family dog- the way he should have been loved throughout his life until the bitter end by one family.

Have a bubble bath for Donner this week. Those were our best bonding moments where we could say, "You matter," "I am trying to help you," and "Doesn't this feel good?"

buble

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: March 2nd, 2022
Family: Chad & Becca Campbell
Fan: Marissa Horn, Cynthia Dean, Lisa Scimemi, The Chotiners, Eve Stylianides  

Tribute: On March 2nd, The Campbell family fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Buble.

They shared,

“Thank you to everybody at Frosted Faces who has helped Buble through his journey. It really means a lot knowing how cared for he was, no matter what.

Buble was the strongest dog I’ve ever met. He was also so brave and let nothing stop him from doing what he wanted to do. He gave me so many smiles and gave the best cuddles. I remember the first day I saw him, he bumped into my leg in the littles yard and he lifted his head up and the first thing I noticed was his missing eyes, I thought he was so cute and he just had the sweetest face. I started taking him on outings and eventually it got to the point where I would bring him back to Frosted Faces after a great day of bonding with him and I would get so sad leaving him because he would stand out in the yard and bark while trying to sniff around for me. That’s when I convinced my mom and dad that he had to be a part of our family. We knew he had some issues, such as ear infections and he would bark quite often because he couldn’t see or hear anything but that wasn’t going to stop me from making him a great addition to the family. I knew that the extra work and attention he needed would be worth every second.

His first night I was expecting him to have a hard time adjusting but he didn’t, he didn’t bark once and he slept the whole way through the night in his new bed, which was in between me and my sister, Grace’s beds. Watching him find his way around the house by bumping into one thing after another was so interesting because then two weeks later he would have the whole house memorized. He knew where both the water and doggie door was. He was so so smart.

Throughout his two years with us he definitely didn’t hesitate to tell us if he needed attention, food, a walk or a midnight snack. He would throw his paws around on the ground and have this small tantrum if he didn’t get what he wanted. I loved that about him. I loved the way he lit up and his tail started wagging when he would smell that Grace and I came home. I loved the way his bangs fell over his eyes. I would still clear them out of his face, even though he couldn’t see anyways. And I loved how he was so positive about all the challenges he had in his life.

Buble taught me so much in the time he spent with us. He taught me to have patience and that no matter how hard life gets, never give up. I’ll always be thankful for the joy he brought to my world and I’ll always hold on to what he taught me. Buble was beyond special and I’m so lucky I was able to call him mine.

I love you Bubs, rest easy sweet boy, you deserve it "

Jevada

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: December 9th, 2019
Date of Passing: November 20th, 2020
Family: Terri Garber
Fan: Donor in honor of Rocky, Gail Shirley, Yael Meyer
Tribute: On November 20th, Terri and Josh fulfilled their promise to Jevada.

Terri shares,

"This is always the hardest post to write about our Frosted Faces. My sweet Jevada joined my other Angel Frosted Faces Jane and Jewel at the Rainbow Bridge. Miss you so much Jevada.

Jevada came to FF with a huge mass on her chest. She had surgery to remove it, but her skin was so thin that her staples opened up and it took a long time to heal from within to close that wound. Unfortunately part of the tumor grew back under her armpit. She had another surgery to remove it. This cancer was aggressive and would not leave my sweet girl alone and it grew again. I have more pictures of her in a cone and bandages than without. This week it got the best of her.

Jevada choose my son Josh as her person. He put steps in his room so she could climb up on his bed. She had a bed by his desk so she could join him in the garage office. She wanted him at the vet today.

buddy

Acquired from: Humane Society of Marathon County
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: December 13th, 2019
Date of Passing: September 2nd, 2023
Family: Mike & Lindsey Mallard
Fan: WPF

Tribute: On September 2nd, Mike and Lindsey fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Buddy.

They shared,

"On September 2nd, we sent our Buddy (aka Budders) over the Rainbow Bridge. He came to us at a time that was healing for us as we had just lost our 14 year old Australian Cattle Dog Bleu that we had since she was a puppy. We didn't know if we were ready, but then entered Buddy onto the scene and into our hearts. He had been at a shelter in Wisconsin - being taken care of over a year with the amazing Lisa Leitermann. He was cage aggressive and nobody was really interested. He just needed the right love and some freedom. Then he was spotted by and flown out here to California by Frosted Faces owner Kelly - who we will be forever grateful for giving us our Budders. He came to us ready and raring with a few hiccups along the way. Did he hate being in a cage? Yup Not a problem - we left him roaming and he was just fine Did you try to dominate the members of the household? Sure, but then he quickly realized he was part of the team. He found the treat door on day 3 and whenever we couldn't find him, we knew he was standing right in front of it. My goodness did he know how to break our hearts! In the beginning, he really enjoyed walks and activity but as the years went by the age started to show, but what never ended was his extreme love for us and for food...oh and the car. My goodness!! THE CAR. He had surgery for his first cancer which was the right decision and he bounced back so very quickly. It came back about 6 months later and we opted for one more time to get that out of here. It worked, thank heavens. About a few months later the dementia started to kick in and the pup cups went to wanting ice water instead. He was such a health conscious mister hahaha..He started having a cough - which we thought was bronchitis - but we found out was a second type of cancer right between his lungs. We tried an injection to see if he would possibly respond to chemotherapy again, but it was not a win. So, we decided to let him go with dignity with a cheeseburger and some donut holes. There will not be a bigger hole in our hearts because of this sweet Eeyore-type soul. What a good good and weirdo boy he was! But he was nothing but pure joy, kindness. endless licks and kisses, and tons of cuddles. Things he loved: FOOD, the car, night time walks, blankies, sunbathing in the grass, the tightest snuggles, farting right in my face, treats on treats, greek yogurt, treat puzzle, his fake tortilla chip treat bag, Starbucks ice water, and mama and daddy. Things he hated: any dog in his business, and whatever expensive canned food we bought him that week hahhaah. There will never be a goodest boy and the sweetest heart. We love you so much, Budders. Fly high and fly free! We love you so much. - Mama and Dadders"

beverly

Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 16th, 2019
Date of Passing: November 6th, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fan: Kelly, Rita Sakr, Cyn of Wolf Feathers
Tribute: On November 6th we fulfilled our promise to Beverly.

Beverly was placed in a loving home, but was sadly returned to us when her mom said she was moving and did not plan on taking her along. She did have another dog and we asked if she needed help rehoming him too, but she said that he was going with her.

Andy and I picked up Beverly one very dark evening in October. The exchange was quiet, but the air was thick with confusion disappointment.

As we helped Beverly settle in at FFF again we noticed she was much weaker than we had known her to be and she postured sharply to the right. We adjusted her medication to help her stand and she benefited from acupuncture weekly.

I had to dig myself out of a very deep hole of resentment to write this and have struggled to drape this relinquishment with compassion. Beverly's mom regularly attended our Open Houses and offered consistent constructive criticisms ranging from our cleaning solution smelling too strong and our beds not being soft enough. It's one thing to belittle the efforts of the men in the arena, it's another to do that and also surrender responsibility of your senior pet in her last days to those same men. I can't handle the irony, it breaks my heart. When even "our people," don't end up being "our people"... who is going to help all the Beverlys?

The FFF volunteers came together and saw Beverly wasn't doing well and we whispered about quality. Wagon rides, outings, and so many good treats; she had the biggest bestest family known to dogs. Beverly loved to eat and she was an observer. Always watching and waiting. If you held her, her sized begged to be held like an infant! She knew many dog friends at FFF and let them snuggle into her soft forgiving body.

But wait. There is a twist. Did I mention that Beverly's mom cooked her home made meals? She bathed her on mornings she leaked urine during her sleep, and when Beverly was returned her fur was thicker and softer than we had ever seen. Did she surrender her because Beverly was declining? Did she even know she was declining, but realized her capacity for care, was exhausted and needed help? I keep going back to band-aid raw open wounds caused by Beverly's relinquishment, when it was MY job to find her a committed family.

Maybe Beverly's last chapter was imperfectly perfect. Maybe it was a team effort to give Bev her last beautiful days, and her mom didn't even know she was on our team. Or us, hers.

One thing is certain. Beverly was loved.

Kygo

Acquired from: Moreno Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 17th, 2019
Date of Passing: January 30th, 2022
Family: Jeff & Kim Dollins
Fan: David Clark
Tribute: On January 30th, Kim and Jeff fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Kygo.

They shared,

"All the time I get asked when talking about our senior dogs “How do you do it?” “Isn’t it sad?” “Isn’t it hard?” Damn right it’s hard and it’s sad, but I do it because if not us then who? More importantly it’s so damn rewarding to be the final stop for dog(s) so deserving. Today was the day we had to say goodbye to Kygo, 2 years ago when we brought him home I thought we had days/weeks which turned into wonderful years filled with love, appreciation, and adventure! A hospice cancer dog who doesn’t eat I was told, ok we got this, 2 years of hand feeding homemade food, sometimes resulting in an upset tummy we had to balance out. A dog losing weight gained and thrived. All we needed was to know and figure out what he loved and wanted. Let me tell you it was 4x4 drives in our truck and roasted chicken from Barons… and for sure cows! Kygo loved loved the “country” we called it, where the cows roam is where he was his happiest. We took him there and beyond, the sweetest soul ever, he loved everything and everyone (except if you jump on his back then you got the ‘what for’ bark). He greeted each day with a “woof woof” and we responded since we were convinced we knew his human voice and could talk for him. Such a special dog we took to a bar on an outing and couldn’t get him out of our minds. A skinny un-neutered Doberman(x) made me have to abandon my introverted self to educate people about senior dogs and I hope I spread the message. While sad, hard, and the fact my eyes are puffy and my heart aches I would do it ten times over because he was worth it and Im so thankful he was rescued and we said ‘yes’ we will take him. I hope he was greeted by Richard Hoffman who loved his big head too."

dreidel

Acquired from: West Valley Shelter- LA
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: December 18th, 2019
Date of Passing: January 3rd, 2020
Family: Elizabeth Schmidt
Fan: Dana Paradise
Tribute: During the early morning hours of January 3rd, we fulfilled our promise to 16 year old Dreidel. We rushed him to Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego because he was crying, and an ultrasound showed that his bladder mass had grown to block his urethra and he could no longer go potty.

"Dreidel was the sweetest little man you could ask for. Initially he seemed most comfortable outdoors and would wander the yard for hours and sit and stare out there the rest of the time as if he wasn't used to being indoors.

Little by little he gained confidence and strength and wanted to be inside playing my shadow more than wandering the yard. He still loved his morning walks and could be quite the speed demon when he got going. Dreidel had no fear of animals, including horses, or people and felt he needed to greet every person and creature who crossed his path regardless of size, and of course he quickly won them all over. The neighbor horses seemed to come to the fence each morning to check him over as he trotted by, just a few of the many members of the Dreidel fan club.

As he gained strength he grew bolder and tried to climb on/over furniture or any obstacle in his path and he did get strong enough to successfully jump off furniture. The first time he jumped down without becoming a boneless pile on the floor he froze and looked back with the biggest doggie grin. He wasn't big cuddler but he loved to snuggle his blanket and be near me and my non FF dog Sweet Pea while he napped.
He developed the cutest habit of chattering his teeth when he was excited or was ready for another meal.

Sadly his end came fast and unexpectedly though that blessed him with limited time in discomfort and confusion. Dreidel seemed to have forgotten what it meant to be a house pet when he first came home but by the end he was happily adjusting to being spoiled and pampered."

opal

Acquired from: South LA Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 24th, 2019
Date of Passing:
Family: Jo Ann Sudul
Fan: Wagner Consulting

Jones

Acquired from: Riverside Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: December 26th, 2019
Date of Passing: January 31st, 2021
Family: Hannah Allen & Kenneth Ciuchta
Fan: Delores McNair
Tribute: On January 31st, Kenneth & Hannah fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Jones.

Jones came to us with ehrlichia and anaplasma of which we treated aggressively with transfusions through recovery. She had ringworm too and her new parents managed that with diligent care!

What started as a vet visit for vomiting and loose stool, Jones was diagnosed with a protein losing neuropathy. She was hospitalized for days, and we did a whole host of tests trying to diagnose the cause. In the end, it seemed that it was very likely cancer in the GI tract and her family took her home for palliative care until the end. Jones was lucky to have been loved so greatly for all of her last days by two people who fought valiantly for her as if they had cared for her since puppyhood.

Jones' mom shares,

"Sweet Jones became a member of our family instantly. She was full of surprises, from ringworm to endless amounts of energy, she always kept us on our toes. Affectionately referred to as 'the hyena,' our friends and family loved our little wild child. Jones was with me 24/7 and was quick to win over everyone we met. She was sharp witted and lively and made a major positive impact on my mental health. She left us too soon, but she’s forever a part of our little family. She turned out to be nothing like the dog we thought we forever fostered and turned out to be exactly the dog we needed. She was my best bud, sidekick and co-pilot and will be forever missed and always loved."

Ellen

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 27th, 2019
Date of Passing:
Family: Aimee & LeonardArotin
Fan: Carrie Hoff

Portia

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: December 27th, 2019
Date of Passing: N0vember 24th, 2020
Family: Tiffany Allen
Fan: Celeste Leander, Laura Heath
Tribute: On November 24th, Tiffany fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Portia.

" Today, my Portia Francine crossed the Rainbow Bridge with her mama whispering as she let go, that I love her so so very much.

Our first introduction was her trying to bite me in the littles yard...& then when I tried to pick her up...& then when Kelly asked me to give her a bath. I considered it my personal challenge to get this little snarky, grumpy, sassy, fearful, confused, quirky girl to love me. Turns out, I was the one who fell in love.

P and I had 8 months together from when I brought her home; and the current state of the world made it possible that we spent every day together.

She, her sisters-Rosie Louise and Sally Joy- and I, were a unit. We did everything together and I experienced so much joy because of it.

P never grew out of her attitude and I was so happy for it. Ironically, the day that she stopped trying to bite my nose after her nighttime bath because she was mad at me for doing so, was the day I realized that her body was becoming tired. Though I had enough for both of us, P didn’t have anymore fight left in her- and today I honored that.

It was an amazingly valiant effort between Kelly, the Drs and staff at SDBH and College, and myself, to give her as much quality of life as we possibly could- and I will be forever grateful for their commitment and dedication. It takes a village with our kids.

To my Portia Francine, I became a better version of myself because you showed up in my life. Thanks for making me work for your love and trust - I was honored to earn them and honored to forever be your mama. ( You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...) "

midnight

Acquired from: Carlsbad Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: December 29th, 2019
Date of Passing: August 19th, 2020
Family: Anne Case
Fan: The Holliday Family
Tribute: On August 19th we fulfilled our promise to Midnight.

When we first rescued Midnight she seemed to be mentally dull. Being faced with assessing the quality of life of a dog we hardly know in a brand new setting is such an unfair, terrible charge. We were elated when Anne offered to be her foster mom so that she could be in a more comfortable home environment.

Anne could have just been her "hospice family" and agreed it was time. But no. Anne was Midnight's mom. She put her heart into making her comfortable, keeping her engaged, and appreciating the little things. When Midnight first went home, we explained that we understood she did not look well and would support euthanasia when she thought she was ready. A month later, Anne said she felt that Midnight was feeling more comfortable and her personality was starting to shine. She wanted to wait and love on her. A month turned into seven.

Hospice fosters make incredible sacrifices. We have always wanted to elevate this role where our families aren't just a place for our Frosted Faces go to die, but where they go to live. Where decisions are made on their behalves as if they have been a lifelong family pet- a love story that one can not bear to end.

Where Anne took literally hundreds of photos of Midnight, I wanted to share just one. One where you can see Midnight smiling and you just know she was loved beyond measure by Anne as part of her family.

Anne shares,
“No one wants to let go, nobody wants the end, but people have to realize when they see their pets getting to the point where the quality of life is gone and they’re no longer that pet that they knew, that the one beautiful thing we can do is do the right thing and let them go out the right way.” ~Life in the Doghouse

"To Midnight, Mid, Middle, my little B. Button: I hope doggie heaven has a room full of king size beds for you to choose between, even though you’ll still somehow manage to have your head hanging off the edge ❤️, and all the rotisserie chicken, tripe, steak, peanut butter, and freeze-dried liver treats you could ever want. You didn’t have to try hard at all to get an extra treat (or two...maybe even three or four) from me. From day one, I knew my time with you would be limited, but that doesn’t make it any easier. No matter how much time I got with you, it would never be enough. But I got 7 more months than I thought I would with you, and for that, I will always be grateful.

One of the best decisions I’ve made was making you mine and being your family until the end. You are truly a dog who deserved nothing but the best. I tried to check as many things off your bucket list as I could, but I think you were happiest to just nap in your comfy bed tucked in with blankets and work on a chew or snuggle up and binge-watch Netflix. You didn’t like change or new people and were always sure to give any visitors your signature side-eye. You loved your freeze-dried liver treats more than anything. After a walk, you would slowly make your way back to your bed then do the quickest 180 degree spin in anticipation of your favorite treats. You’d stare at me with those sweet eyes until you got a couple extra.

You got your DNA tested and we found out that you weren’t a cattle dog after all. 45% American Staffordshire Terrier, 16% Chow Chow, 12% Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and 8 other breeds is what made you as perfect and as adorable as you were. You helped three fellow senior dogs find their forever families and found a permanent sister along the way. Dayse brought out the youth in you and you became a little like Benjamin Button. The two of you were the sweetest old grandma duo. I tried to make your final days as good as I could, but I hope that they weren’t your best. I hope your previous people loved you and spoiled you until the day they left you. I hope we were able to show you nothing but dignity and love in your final days. I tried to fit in as many kisses and hugs as I could. Enough to make up for a lifetime. You were perfect in every way. Dayse and I miss you. Heaven gained the sweetest and gentlest soul. Rest easy bud. ❤️🌈

Thank you to Frosted Faces Foundation for bringing this sweet girl into my life and to San Diego Bay Animal Hospital for letting me be with her until the end. ❤️"

dagny

Acquired from: Carlsbad Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: December 29th, 2019
Date of Passing: April 26th, 2020
Family: Richard Hoffman
Fan: David Roberts
Tribute: On Sunday, April 26th, we fulfilled our promise to Dagny.

When we rescued Dagny we learned that she had heartworm and began treatment. Knowing that she would need to stay close to home and well rested with a responsible family, long time volunteer, Rick, offered to foster her. She underwent her final heartworm treatment and days after she declined. This Sunday she went to the vet because she could not stand and presented with a temperature of 105, she was not oxygenating well, her blood glucose was over 700, her hematocrit was 19 and dropping, and her bloodwork reflected adrenal insufficiency She had far too many comorbities to press on so we had to let her go.

Rick shares,

"Dagny was one of the sweetest, most loving dogs I have ever known. It broke my heart to say goodbye. I knew going in that with heartworm treatment this was a possible outcome but it didn't make it hurt any less.

She adored attention and when she figured I was on the computer too long she would come up behind me, slide her snout under my right arm and give it a rather forceful

flip as if to say 'HEY!'

I was SO hoping that she would come through this but I guess it wasn't meant to be. Thanks so much to the wonderful staff at SDBAH. They brought her out so I could rest her head in my lap

and stroke her fur as she passed. I loved Dagny SO much. She will always be missed. She was the bestest girl.

Thank you for letting me be her hooman."

Rye

Acquired from: Harbor Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: December 27th, 2019
Date of Passing: September 9th, 2023
Family: Ellen & Brad Soultz
Fan: Debbie Dunivan

Tribute: On September 9th, Ellen and Brad fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Rye.

They shared,

"It’s with a broken heart that I must tell you we had to let our sweet boy go yesterday. Rye was diagnosed with a hemangiosarcoma that had metastasized to his lungs. Our hearts are broken but we are immensely grateful to have been able to be his family for the last three years. It was a long journey to earn his trust; he came with some pretty heavy emotional baggage. We took it on together and learned to trust each other. We’ll relish the memories of him doing his favorite things: lying in the sun, eating his dinner, and taking Jeep rides. He was a wonderful ambassador to the many foster dogs we’ve had in our home; always being gentle and kind to even the smallest and sickest dogs we’ve cared for. Rye will always hold a special place in our family and we grateful to Frosted Faces for bringing him into our lives."

Nala

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: January 2nd, 2020
Date of Passing: December 3rd, 2020
Family: Karen Ames
Fan: Donation in honor of Allen & Barbara Blumer
Tribute: On December 3rd, Karen fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Nala.

Upon rescue Nala had a both mammary chains removed due to mammary masses, she was spayed, and we did dental surgery. Recent x-rays showed that we likely got to her too late, as metastatic cancer was popping up in her chest. Karen held her darling girl tightly, monitoring her for signs of diminished quality, and sadly last week that day arrived.

Karen shares,

"I have had many dogs, but Nala was special to me. She made the lockdown much easier for the two of us. I will miss her. She is an absolute delight in my life and my family's.

I will be up to see you in January to see about helping another one have a happy place in my heart."

Nala and Karen were part of our Seniors for Seniors program. We owe thanks to Anna Turner for being their liaison through their happy and sad moments.

Noodle

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 2nd, 2020
Date of Passing: April 7th, 2021
Family: Allison Haase & Marlon Massie
Fan: Alison Breidenstein, Cindy Lewellen, Danielle and Todd Robbins, Jennifer Brooks
Tribute: On April 7th Allison and Marlon fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Noodle.

Ali shared,

"This is news I didn’t think I would have to be sharing so soon. Noodle made her way over the rainbow today.

This was probably the worst week of my life. We knew she was slowly declining but it happened so quick in the end. We spent the last week at the vets or talking to the vets everyday about options but the cancer had spread and there wasn't much more we could do. Ultimately we wanted her to be at peace and not suffer anymore so we made the hardest decision of our lives to put her to sleep. We were with her the whole time to tell her she was the best sweetest girl there ever was. We loved her sooo much.

It was almost a year to date that we picked up our little nugget thinking it would be a two week Fling. Never did I think we would be adopting a senior dog, let alone falling this much in love with her. She was the best dog we could have asked for. Just the sweetest, mellowest, cuddliest pup I’ve ever met! She saved me during a very difficult year. We spent almost every waking second with her the last year, brought her along on most of our activities, hiking, kayaking, boating, beaching, sledding in the snow, she even became a local Del Mar restaurant celeb.

I have a hole in my heart I am not sure how I’m going to fill. I hope we gave her as much happiness as she gave us. I’m happy she’s no longer suffering and in a better place. Thanks so much to this community for loving her and being so kind to her and all the pups. We’re going to miss her so much "

Paprika

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: January 2nd, 2020
Date of Passing: August 1st, 2023
Family: Lynda Donato
Fan: Katie Patane

Tribute: On August 1st, Lynda fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Paprika.

She shared,

"I had been involved with FF foster program before I met Paprika but when I saw her I fussed over her and kept coming back to see if she was okay. She was blind, skinny, pigeon-toed and adorable . I decided that I was making too many excuses to come to the littles yard and I needed to take her home. (Well maybe someone else brought it to my attention) One of my dear Poms was in the last stages of kidney disease and I didn’t think I should bring another dog home but Paprika stole my heart. I guess I needed her because my Pommy died the following month.

Paprika’s love and funny personality continued to keep me going thru the last 3 1/2 years of ups and downs and traumatic losses of my beloved other fosters and adopted pups. Somehow I felt that this little 4lb opinionated, spicy girl would be with me forever. I know it sounds silly but she was just that way, even with an enlarged, diseased heart.

She was so independent. If I put her down she would explore and take (long) hikes if I turned my back. She was fearless and when she wasn’t contentedly asleep on my lap, she was in a constant state of motion or demanding something.

She was also a great traveler. We travel 4-5 mos a year and she was always up for it. However she had to mark EVERYTHING and everywhere. Sometimes

she did little handstands so she could really get at things. A diaper was her daily “uniform”’until it was time to sleep and then she settled between my legs and slept thru the night.

She left us in Colorado but her ashes and, of course, her place in my heart will continue with us on all of our future journeys."

Duchess

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: January 8th, 2020
Date of Passing: April 10th, 2020
Family: Julie Millen
Fan: In Honor of Mac
Tribute: On April 10th we fulfilled our promise to Duchess.

Duchess seemed to have cognitive impairment and in the end suffered a seizure from which she did not recover well.

Her mom shares, "Those of you with teenagers will understand this. Duchess hated getting up in the morning. The first thing I would do upon waking was get her to open her eyes. I would then do some things, come back, and she's right back asleep. I would wake her again, finish getting ready, and come back to her asleep. The only thing that really got her going was the smell of a good breakfast. Duchess loved breakfast.

When I got home, she would see me walk in and come to say hi. We would go out to the front yard where Duchess would walk around in the sunshine sniffing and doing dog stuff.

In the evening, she walked around the house. She had a circuit: kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, start again. Every time she walked through the living room, she would pause to get head scratchies.

Then, dinner. Her eyes would light up and she would get eat with abandon. Duchess loved dinner.

She was a quiet dog. She never barked unless she got herself stuck behind a door, or under a chair, or under the bed. She was content here. We both were lonely and I think we both enjoyed our time together - although it was too brief."

mia

Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 8th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 26th, 2020
Family: Nicole Edgell
Fan: Jan Dally in memory of Reno
Tribute: On Wednesday, February 26th, we fulfilled our promise to Mia.

We just rescued Mia, formerly Florence/Sissy, from Animal Friends of the Valleys last month. She was thin and it was difficult to know if she would thrive. Although medical testing was pretty unremarkable, she could have had underlying disease, but we placed her in a home to see if she would brighten.

Her mom wrote these very sweet updates about her. "I have been feeding her small meals 2-3 times per day. I added pumpkin and puppy milk to boiled chicken and rice and she has finally be able to keep food down as of Monday. I leave kibble down near her water but she's not interested. I think she's been starved for so long that she forgot that food is a good thing. She will take hand fed chicken though so as long as that is a choice for her, chicken it is.

She seems to have had kids in her prior life because she perked up when mine came home from their dad's. She is also determined to find a way to fit on a twin sized bed with my son all night, regardless of whether she takes up all the room or not.

She is beginning to trust me now so she quietly follows me around for as long as she can until she gets tired of standing, then she wanders back to my son's bed that she has been quite comfortable to claim as her own. She does very well when I leave the house so that's nice. She is still nervous when touched but she does have a few tickle spots that I focus on so she can remember how good it feels to be scratched and loved on.

I will keep you posted on her progress as she gets more weight on her and starts to feel better. It can't be fun to be emaciated like she is so I'm sure she will perk up more and more as she gains weight."

When Mia's mom got home from work on Wednesday she noticed that she seemed not like herself. As she coordinated getting her kids ready to get to the vet, Mia took a few final breaths and passed in her mom's arms. Mia was buried under the oak tree in the back yard next to a couple birds who had run into their windows.

Sven

Acquired from: South LA Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 8th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 25th, 2020
Family: Derek McCarthy & Heather Madsen
Fan: Hope, Chelly Bolger Wathen, Prospero Family
Tribute: On August 25th we fulfilled our promise to Sven.

Sven was a special case. He was probably the most ancient arthritic husky any of us had ever seen. He was vocal like a husky, but also like a grandpa. Ohhhh the drama! It was not easy deciding his quality, but he enjoyed eating and sleeping, and we sure loved him, so we held him tightly!

When Heather offered to be his mom we prepared her for the worst. Previous fosters reported that he cried during the night and we had been trying to medically manage his sleeping schedule. He sometimes had a turd under his tail in the morning, and he didn't like help. He was an independent man! His kidney values were poor and he was on a slew of pain medication for quality over quantity of remaining days.

Heather proved she was cut out for the mission of "mom," she was incredible. She gave Sven the dignity he deserved while still offering him all the comforts of home. We saw Heather and Sven just days before we let Sven go, and her face screamed with the anguish we all feel at the end. Trying so hard, loving him so much, and yet- how could he not live forever with these two things as a foundation? It was Sven's seemingly decreased vision in combination with his progressing dementia and arthritis that made us realize that he was no longer just our peaceful meanderer. He was fearful and weak, and there was no consoling him.

His mom shares,
"I said goodbye to Sven this evening. His old body and mind were tired and he was ready to go. He immediately fell asleep when the sedation was administered. I think this was the first time his mind stopped racing. It’s always so hard to pick the 'right' time and I’ll never know if it was, but he was getting weaker. His mind was often racing with the dementia causing crying and pacing. It was nice to see him at peace. Just as an aside, the vet thought he was closer to 14-15 years old. I’m glad I got to love him."

Monkey girl

Acquired from: Palmdale Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 23rd, 2020
Family: Diane Barham
Fan: Donna Frye
Tribute: On September 23rd, we fulfilled our promise to MonkeyGirl.

Her mom shares,

"I'm writing with the sad news that Birch, aka Monkey Girl, passed away yesterday in her sleep. She had ongoing heart issues and had lately developed more cognitive issues. She thankfully passed peacefully.

Thank you for rescuing her and giving her the chance at a new home. She will be missed and I was happy to have provided her with comfort and love these past 7 months."

Cosette

Acquired from: Lancaster Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 18th, 2021
Family: Mika Read & Lanelle Padilla
Fan: Cindy Tate
Tribute: On August 18th, Mika and her mom, Lanelle, fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Cosette.

We began treating her for congestive heart failure while keeping and eye on kidney values, and we just could not find a balance that would sustain quality life.

Mika shared,

"It has been a bit surreal and sad. Cozy was such a fun and crazy addition to our family. She will be greatly missed but I knew it was the right thing to do instead of keeping her around just for our benefit. She had a great year and a half with us and there was no need to prolong her life for us. No more pain for the little girl.

Thank you for all you do for these animals. Cozy meant a lot to us and it was so great to have her for the time we did. She was a blessing to my mom."

Ray

Acquired from: Lancaster Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: July 2nd, 2021
Family: Gin & Jason Butler
Fans: Karen Fuller, Susan Mohr, Dave & Tracey Arvelo, Carol Diaz-Zubieta Diaz, Marti O'Hara, Emily Kazmierski, Hypnotic Dog Co 
Tribute: On July 2nd, Gin and Jason fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Garth after battling kidney disease.

They shared, "Ray really took a downward slide and was no longer mobile, eating very little and in signs of obvious pain. He had been trudging along like this for the past few months. We were advised by the vet that he had no quality of life and this would be the best decision. Very sadly, Ray was put to sleep.

His last day involved hanging in the park on a blanket eating pup cakes and getting lots of pats and cuddle from us and the kids. He had a wonderful year and a bit with us and we are very grateful we got the time we did with him.

RIP Ray."

maris

Acquired from: Palmdale Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 19, 2022
Family: Loree Cook
Fan: Patricia & Pups

Tribute: On February 19th, Loree fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Maris.

"I said goodbye to Maris "Pig Gremlin" on Saturday February 19th. I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to write this. I just haven't been ready; this feels so final, so 'now it's official'..

I adopted Maris two years ago yesterday- what turned out to be the day before a year-long quarantine for us. As difficult and isolating as that year was, how lucky I feel to have spent literally every minute with Pig Gremlin and her non-FF sister Daisy. I strongly believe that people and pets are given to us, to our lives purposefully- when we need them, when they need us, when we are ready, and for only as long as it is meant. Maris was a gift to both myself and Daisy.

Having two dogs was never part of the plan. But her posts on Frosted Faces drew me in, and once I found out she was sick the decision was made- she was my dog. Integrating her into my home was surprisingly easy. She and Daisy had some moments of confusion, but once they figured each other out they were inseparable. Maris carefully followed Daisy around the backyard, to the kitchen, to their beds, back to the kitchen. Always to the kitchen. More than anything, Pig Gremlin loved food. A carboholic at heart. She food-bloated multiple times - pizza, loaves of bread, a bag of english muffins, more bread. (Yes, owner error was to blame for most of those incidents.) If food was in sight, she was begging with her crazy Pig Gremlin noises.

As far as the meaning of her nickname, Pig Gremlin? I don't know. That's just what she was - a Pig Gremlin!!

Maris came with cancer and was considered hospice. I brought home a somewhat frail, tired, inappetent dog and was determined to give her a few more good weeks of life. But weeks turned to months, and months turned to almost two years. That dog was strength, and courage, and resilience, and all the things we wish to possess in times of hardship. I've now owned three little white bichon/poodle dogs, all of them exceptionally tough. But Maris was the toughest of all. And she enjoyed every day as it was given to her, enthusiastically.

In the beginning of January, we said goodbye to her Daisy. Maris started to decline almost immediately thereafter. The little old couple that needed to be together. She was a lesson in palliative care for me, that sometimes inaction is the best action. We kept her comfortable, treated her stomach issues, stopped the bleeding, kept her clean, fed her well. And I loved, loved, loved her. And when all that eventually wasn't enough, goodbye became the most loving action that could be made.

I am still so sad. But I am so very grateful. It's a gift, all of it, even the grief...

I am me, in large part, because of my dogs and the lessons and love they provided me.

Thank you to Frosted Faces for rescuing and taking care of my dog until I adopted her. And thank you for all the others you have and will do the same for.

Love you, Maris. Until next time..."

Reese

Acquired from: Palmdale Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Lori Woodward & Joe Palomina
Fan: Alyssa S.

stetson

Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 18th, 2023
Family: Ute & Tom Keim
Fan: Tim Shannon

Tribute: On January 18th, Tom and Ute fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Stetson.

Stetson's dad works at a grocery store we frequent. Every time we run into him, as recently as last month, he tells us how much he loves Stetson and what a good boy he is. <3

His family shared,

"With heavy heart we want to let you know Stetson has left us, he died today from kidney failure. He is missed we loved him he was a great dog lovable and cute."

Abigail

Acquired from: Lancaster Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 26th, 2020
Family: Sara Healy
Fan: Shannon Needoba
Tribute: On August 26th we fulfilled our promise to Abigail.

Her mom shares,
"Today was one of the hardest days of my life. I said goodbye to my sweet girl, Abigail (fka Tabby). I woke up this morning to find her unresponsive and immediately rushed her to the hospital. The vets discovered a large mass on her adrenal gland and it ruptured overnight. I’m forever grateful the opportunity to be this beautiful soul’s mom for the last six months. She truly changed my life and I miss her dearly. 💔"

Vienna

Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: January 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: March 9th, 2024
Family: Dannessa Taylor
Fan: Jeri O'Donnell

Tribute: On March 9th, Dannessa fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Vienna.

She shared,

"Our beautiful but sassy Vienna crossed the rainbow Bridge yesterday March 9, 2024. It was very unexpected and happened very fast which is leaving us all with an empty feeling. We were so blessed to have 4 years and 2 months with her but wish it could have been a lot longer.

I think my boys and I can take from this horrible situation that we know in our hearts that she knew she was so loved and very spoiled. She always got her treats, belly rubs, kisses, upsies, bootie scratches, and snuggles no matter who she was lying on. We are going to miss her silly smile with her tongue hanging out, her excitement when it was time to eat or get a cookie, and most of all her wanting to be on our lap when we were sitting in the restroom (no privacy from that silly girl at all) lol.

We cannot thank Frosted Faces Foundation as well as all of the flingers and Freedom Riders enough for what you do on a daily process. Without you all we would not have been so lucky to have been adopted by Vienna "Tonkas" Taylor. She was a very special girl and is missed greatly not only by her hoomans but her non-FF sister.

We know she is running in the clouds with all of her FF friends and getting all the treats she deserves. Thank you so much Kelly Smíšek for trusting us and allowing us to love Vienna as much as you all do.

We aren't ready yet but once we all have processed and healed from this I know we will want to add another FF baby to our family but until then we will continue to read your stories and love on your fur babies through this page.

We LOVE and MISS you Vienna."

Ben

Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: January 10th, 2020
Date of Passing: December 24th, 2021
Family: Sacha McDermott & Kai Sutton
Fan: Coppelia Kuramata-Eder, Marci
Tribute: On December 24th, Sacha McDermott and Kai Sutton fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Ben who was battling congestive heart failure.

"We lost Ben this morning. His body was failing him and we knew it was only a matter of time. This is the hardest part of adopting a senior dog. When I looked into the future I always saw my boy there. We are heartbroken. We loved Ben fiercely and we know he is finally at peace. We are forever grateful for the opportunity to love him. Even if it was only 8 months."

Nelson

Acquired from: Carlsbad Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: January 10th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 27, 2021
Family: Alexandria Mena
Fan: Edith Crowe
Tribute: On August 27th, Lexi fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Nelson.

"586 days. I never expected to get to 100 and we got SO many more. My tiny nelly belly battled till the very end but his little body couldn’t fight off the growing tumor any longer💔

Nelson was hospice from the beginning but he defied all odds and just kept rallying. Part of me believed he really was part parrot and would outlive us all 🦜

It happened so fast, but Chris reassuringly said, “It just means he had a really good last day.” We spent the day at home where he sunbathed in the yard, we took a nap, snuggled on the couch for a movie, and he ate most of my quesadilla- all of his favorite things. I’m grateful his suffering was short, but what I would give to share one more quesadilla, have his tiny paw trying to knock over my plate, have him parrot on my shoulder, hear his screech bark, or fall asleep with his tiny head in the crook of my arm.

Man, the hole 3.18lbs of dog leaves behind. Here’s to the best 586 days with the teeniest, smelliest, cutest, snuggliest little nugget🐣🐾💕"

Mina

Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: January 10th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 11th, 2020
Family: Margaret Mendoza
Fan: Mary Arkwright
Tribute: On Monday, May 11th, we fulfilled our promise to Mina.

Mina entered the shelter system with a gigantic inguinal hernia and dental disease. We repaired both the hernia and her mouth, and placed her with a family through our Seniors for Seniors program.

She was a constant companion to Margaret and Margaret's grandson, Scotty, checked in often providing sweet updates of the happy duo! Mina always had kisses to offer and trotted happily beside you. Last week Mina was struggling to breathe so the family rushed her to the vet where she was diagnosed with end stage heart failure. After a valiant effort to bring her back with oxygen, injections, and CPR, Mina passed away.

Her daughter reflects that, "It was a very hard day for us and my 89 year old mom who was so in love with that dog. I'm hopeful that she will, with a little time, want to have another one."

We owe thanks to Ashley LaMontagne for being Margaret and Mina's Seniors for Seniors volunteer liaison.

Milton

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 16
Date of Rescue: January 10th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 30th, 2020
Family: Julie Stockton
Fan: Karla Holmberg
Tribute: On October 30th we fulfilled our promise to Milton.

His mom shares,

"Milton left this earth for his next great adventure on October 30th at 4:45pm. He went quickly and peacefully with my hands and tears on him.

Milty was a 16(ish) year old blind & deaf stray that somehow incredibly survived life on the streets. He was only at FFF for one day before I showed up and laid eyes on him. He started out as just a foster fling, but it soon turned into a forever thing.

He mastered being blind. He could map out any environment that he was in within a day. My house soon turned into his most favorite place. He wasn’t an adventurous dog—he liked the quiet and safety that my home provided to him. He thrived by living on a routine and was as easygoing as they come. There was not one single aggressive bone in his body. There may have been some significantly arthritic ones, but that was it. He was just the kindest old man.

He was previously potty trained and knew that the outdoors was where he should do his business. So I quickly fenced off part of the back patio for him so that he wouldn’t get lost when he went out to potty. Worked like a charm. He even learned to use, much less find(!), the doggie dog. Truly impressive. I’m telling you, he was so intelligent and knew that different textures under his feet would lead him to different areas of the house.

Unfortunately, dementia took over his sweet body and he couldn’t live safely and in comfort any longer. His poor arthritic hips were no match for the brutal nights of incessant pacing. And his mind refused to let him rest without worry and anxiety. I promised him dignity and at the end, it was the greatest gift that I could give to him.

I miss you deeply, my Milty boy. I hope you get to see the stars on your way to wherever you’re going. You deserve to see only beauty and light after living in the darkness for so long. Wherever you are, I hope that you can feel my grief. You were wanted, my boy. No matter what happened to you previously in your life, you were wanted. I wanted, and loved, you so very much."

Cookie

Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: January 11th, 2020
Date of Passing: March 20th, 2024
Family: Mark & Julie Gay
Fan: Megann & Andrew Kane

Tribute: On March 20th, Julie and Mark fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Cookie.

They shared,

"Today fulfilled our promise to Cookie

#adventuresofcooksno will continue at the Rainbow Bridge as Cookie crossed today to join her friend Oreo. We adopted Cookie July 2020 along with her bonded friend Oreo from Frosted Faces Foundation, a senior dog rescue based in Ramona within the foothills of San Diego County, CA.

Cookie was always sweet with a little sassy and at 18 years of age had us wrapped around her little paw. Her bark projected that of a much larger dog, having everyone look around and smile when they saw how small she actually was. From the first time she sat on my lap, she was glued to me… I was her chosen person. Mark volunteered as her food purveyor and carried her out each evening for potty time and pushed her around in her chariot (dog stroller). She was a lucky pup to have two devoted humans, she traveled to beautiful places with us; Mexico Caribbean, Sedona, Florida waterside exploration and many more.

She had medical needs with pulmonary hypertension when we adopted her and diagnosed with renal issues within the first year with us. We started over two years ago with monthly subQ fluids and most recently went from weekly at the vet to every 3 days at home. We feel fortunate to help give her a quality life. Last weekend she enjoyed time at a Jeep event and staying at the Four Points Sheraton in Punta Gorda.

The best and most difficult final act for your fur baby is releasing them from their failing body before pain becomes too much. We kept our promise to our little Cooks and stayed at her side as she passed on. Run free my dear girl, till we meet again 🐾❤️.

Posted are happy memories of Cookie in our life. A special thank you to all the wonderful vet techs at Veterinary Medical Center at LWR who took care of her weekly. Cookie was well loved by many."

Oreo

Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: January 11th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 5th, 2022
Family: Mark & Julie Gay
Fan: Lisa Saffian

Tribute: On September 5th, Julie and Mark fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Oreo.

They shared,

"… and then there was one

We are still in shock after releasing Oreo from his body this evening and hugging Cookie tight now that we’re home.

Oreo was getting used to the new routine in our Florida apartment. I thought he was simply experiencing another bout with collapsing trachea issue and increased lower back pain; but, unfortunately it was heart failure.

We celebrated two wonderful years with Oreo in July, he has been an integral part of our lives; along with his sister Cookie. His journey with us included sunning himself seaside on the Mexican Riviera Maya, taking in the red rocks of Sedona, Jeeping adventures, stroller rides to the neighborhood restaurants, snuggles and flipping in one of his many beds, barking at the birds on his lawn, and most recently traveling by air in business class and visiting the Centurion lounge.

We agreed to go on this journey with this little spicy 17 year old and feel thankful we experienced many tail wags from Oreo… aka Flipper and the Spicy One.

Tonight we held our commitment to this beautiful old man, stroking his velvety ears and scratching his neck, while telling him it’s ok and we will see him again. Rest easy Oreo 💔🐾🐾😭

Nina

Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 17th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 3rd, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fan: Gail Rose
Tribute: In the very early morning hours today we fulfilled our promise to 9 year old Nina.

We rescued Nina knowing she had a mammary mass with probable mets in her chest. She was so full of life that it either wasn't true or she still deserved a chance at more good days at the very least! On Saturday morning she seemed weak so we snuck her down to High Valley Veterinary Hospital where they shot new x-rays and noted a dab of white in her lungs that could possibly be pneumonia, not the same as the splotches of metastasis. She did have a runny nose and her temperature was elevated, so we started her on antibiotics.

Kennel Manager, Alicia, offered to foster Nina until we got an application for her so that she could sleep in a warm bed. Little did she know that all she would get was one day. By Sunday Nina seemed extra tired, but not too tired to bite us when administering fluids, or trying to hold her for long periods of time. She was an independent lady!

On Sunday evening she took a couple last deep breaths and passed away in her sleep in Alicia's arms. After talking to the vet this morning, it seemed like perhaps the weakness we witnessed was moreso from neurological symptoms and not fatigue from feeling sick, as the cancer may have metastasized to her brain.

For the week we had Nina she went on a hike and PULLED! She loved it! She went to the winery with volunteers, and was passed from one set of loving arms to the next in the play yards.

Alicia reflects, "I fell asleep holding her last night. She woke up and wiggled like she wanted to get down, so I put her in her bed and then I went to bed since she looked ok and was asleep. Her cry about an hour later woke me up and then she passed away so fast (within minutes).

I feel like she got cheated. She was so spunky and sweet. Just last Sunday she was at the Vet Fair event with us and eating up all the attention. She declined so incredibly fast 😢 And I feel horrible for the family who met her at Open House yesterday - they held her for quite a while and I talked to them about her. They filled out an application as soon as they got home."

Eloise

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: January 18th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 17th, 2022
Family: Taylor & Sean Callaghan
Fan: Cori Higley
Tribute: On January 17th, Taylor and Sean fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Eloise.

"For such a tiny dog, Eloise sure had a giant personality and left an even bigger impact on us.

When we drove up to FFF almost two years ago, we really had no idea how much Eloise would change our lives. We just saw this tiny dog that looked like a teddy bear who had been thrown in the wash too many times and we wanted to meet her. She had just had all of her teeth taken out, her jaw wired, mammary masses removed, and needed a safe place to rest and recover. We wanted to give her that, so we took her home.

Since then we tackled multiple medication regimes, a collapsing trachea, explosive/ angry diarrhea, heart failure, hernias, panic (mine), and unfortunately kidney failure. We always joked that Eloise was a vampire, because with all of her random ailments she still acted like she would out live all of us.

Eloise was a funny little thing who knew exactly what she wanted and when she wanted it. If she wanted food she would start trying to climb the kitchen gate. If she wanted cuddles she would find a human (dad first as he was her favorite, then me), and start swatting at our feet or try to climb the couch. If she was done cuddling or was slightly irritated she screeched at us. If we were offending her (think bath time, nail clipping time, or some meds, etc.), she let us know by chomping our hands with her gummy little mouth.

Some of our favorite memories with Eloise were watching her enjoy things. She loved standing in the sun and sniffing the air the outside. She loved laundry day because she could snuggle in each clean and warm blanket. She loved when her dad made everyone pancakes each weekend because she knew she would get teeny tiny little pancakes to her self.

We wanted Eloise and her brother, FF Gus, to be in each part of our lives and they were! If the dogs couldn’t come with us, then we weren’t gone for long. They even walked down the isle of our wedding as our Best Dog and Dog of Honor (also as our “something old” lol).

When we took Eloise to get checked out, we didn’t know that we were not going to be taking her back home. While that was devastating, we also feel extremely lucky for how it happened. We had the opportunity to give her some final kindness and peace that she so desperately deserved and needed. And, we got to spend some final quality moments together. My husband and I held her and talked about when we brought her home and her early days with us, we reminisced on all of our favorite memories, we gave her little belly rubs, ear scritches, and rubbed her feet like she enjoys. We miss her so much, and love her even more.

Thank you Kelly and Frosted Faces fam, for trusting us with Eloise and for letting us be her family."

Wyatt

Acquired from: Coachella Valley Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 18th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Jo Ann Ellen
Fan: Anthony Hopkins

Buck

Acquired from: South LA
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: January 19th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 13th, 2023
Family: Matt & Kelly Runyan
Fan: Devan Lane

Tribute: On January 13th, Kelly and Matt fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Bucky.

They shared,

"We wanted to let you know that we let Bucky go yesterday with Paws Into Grace He seemed to be declining since our other dog passed in October, and the past few weeks his decline accelerated. We realized he'd been losing weight and was whining in pain even when at rest. He was unable to get up on his own and walking seemed painful. Despite carpet runners, booties, the help em' up harness, his pain meds, and the adequan and cosequin, we felt all of these factors left him with a greatly diminished quality of life.

We appreciate all of the support that the foundation and Dr Russell provided since we adopted Bucky. We feel incredibly fortunate to have been his second (or third) family and that we were given nearly three years with him. He really was a dream and we loved him fiercely.

He was wonderful with every dog and human he encountered, and was always the most gentle. We never had to worry about him - he always knew the right thing to do. He asked for so little, and we did our best to give him all the love that he deserved. Today we remembered when we were renovating our backyard in 2020 and we learned that Buck loved laying on the blue tarps and in the garden bed over the nice raised dog cots - it really was the simple things for him.

My heart hurts thinking about how I will miss it when he comes up to you and gently leans into you like a hug, and how he will no longer be at the end of my mat when I work out waiting for mid-work out pets and scratches. We already miss so many things about him and know we will notice more things we miss about him as time goes on.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know and love him. "

Brawny

Acquired from: South LA
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: January 19th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 28th, 2021
Family: Shannon Swanson
Fan: Dara Allen, Cheryl Blankenship, Marj and Donna
Tribute: On May 28th, Shannon fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Biggie.

Shannon shared,

"When you adopt a senior dog, you do it out of pure love. You simply do not know how much time you have, but you make certain it is the absolute best time. It all started during Covid. Naturally, the dog lover in me began looking for a new friend. I'm a rescuer so I started clicking away. I found myself drawn to the Frosted Faces rescue page. I began looking through the dogs. The very first one I was drawn to was a big guy named Brawny. I clicked on his photo, read his story, & saw he had an Instagram page. I then spent the next few months watching him everyday from afar & fell in love. I had to do it, I filled out the application & was approved! We had to make sure Coconut approved. It was instant & we left without Biggie boy that day!!!

The next 8 months of our lives were filled with joy & love. It didn't take him long to get into a complete routine. I was fortunate to work from home so he was never really alone which is everything to me. His walks were short but long. All the neighbors would laugh as they drove by my Biggie in between breaks, to get back home. The neighbor kids adored him. He made friends with everyone & they all knew how special he was. He had a bed in every room downstairs. He hated the trash truck, and anything healthy to eat lol.

The most priceless thing was the bond he had with his boy over the last 8 months. His boy would come lay on the floor EVERYDAY & tell him about his game or school etc.. He would lay down, show him his fist & say Biggie pound it. Biggie would nudge him with his nose. He loved belly scratching time & would roll over & suck up every minute of it. If you stopped, he'd nudge you with his paw, or raise his head as if to say "Hey don't stop".

I came downstairs on a Tuesday morning & I knew he had a brutal night based on the mess. I let him out to watch him continue to battle with something. He went to go hide & that's when it confirmed what I already knew was going to be a rough week. He began to decline quickly. I spent the next 4 days doing everything I could to make sure he absolutely knew how loved he was. We did lots of belly scratching, read books, we watched Secret Life of Pets 3x, we sang Over the Rainbow, we learned college Stats (he was sooo smart) & we talked. He told me the best thing that ever happened to him was finding Frosted Faces because it led him to me. He looked at me with his big beautiful eyes & said "Mom, I know it's hard, but when the time is right can you promise me you will do it again."

Thursday he became completely immobile. I knew I had to make the call. He had been through so much I would never take him anywhere for such. He deserved only the best. I picked my son up from school on that Friday & said we have to go get Biggie some cheeseburgers. The neighbors (his fan club) came down with Steak & Frosty paws. The entire day we just loved our guy & cried & cried. Once the Vet arrived for the sake of my children I requested an exam. Upon examination it was found that our Biggie boy had multiple huge stomach tumors. If we waited any longer we'd be doing him serious injustice. We surrounded him with love & wept as he took his final breath. Although the hardest decision to ever make, I know in my heart it was right. Coconut spent 3 days looking for him. His last few days she kissed him & slept next to him. She never did that. I still look for him everytime I come downstairs, go to turn on his night light, & cannot wash his blankets yet.

We are so Thankful to Frosted Faces for the opportunity to love Brawny. Our lives have been so touched by his presence. When the time is right, another Frosted Faces dog will become a Swanson, I promised my Biggie Boy."

Sonny

Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: January 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: June 3rd, 2020
Family: Rachel Segal
Fan: Erin Garibaldi
Tribute: On Wednesday, June 3rd, we fulfilled our promise to Sonny.

Sonny was surrendered to the shelter for nipping at a child who was eye-level where food was involved. We rescued him on the day he was scheduled for euthanasia at the shelter.

He proved to be an excellent boy, but as we got to know him something was not quite right where his eyes leaked and he seized occasionally. We did an MRI that showed he had a brain tumor swelling into his sinus cavity. We started him on recommended medications and the search began for family. Volunteer and mom to the late Frosted Face Flynn, Kim Urbanek, took him on a two week Frosted Fling to help showcase him in a home environment. We introduced him at multiple adoption appointments where it felt like everyone was declining to commit to him for one reason or another.

Time was ticking. Sonny was in our care at Frosted Faces for three months and bonded with many volunteers and especially Andy. Andy reflects, "Sonny was full of life. Aside from being one of the most energetic seniors at Frosted Faces, he clearly thrived on attention and pleasing his humans. He was a family dog and he was smart. But, Sonny did not understand that he had a brain tumor or why he had seizures. He did not understand why we couldn't go for a walk every time we passed his kennel. He did not understand why we couldn't just play all day long and snuggle all night.

I was the one who snuck into the kennels at 10:00pm to give him his final doses of Keppra and it made my heart hurt. I was the one who carried his lifeless body to the ER after it had dulled from his first long seizure and held him through a handful of others. I was scared for him, but he always recovered.

At a time when you're cautioned about NOT living too large because a dog is 'delicate and hospice,' it was also the PERFECT time to live large. I took him on several 4-5 mile runs, he loved whipping his toys around in the yard, and going on Frosted Fakers hikes. We watched many sunsets together. Sonny did not understand why he did not have a family. After three months of us whispering the promise of family in his ear, that promise was finally fulfilled.

I had the honor of hosting this introduction and sending Sonny off with his final family. The nearly six weeks Sonny had with Rachel seemed short. But for him, it was long enough to understand that he finally had all the walks, plays, and snuggles he ever wanted; long enough to know he belonged to a family and finally had everything he deserved. Thank you, Rachel, for stepping up when Sonny needed you the most."

His mom Rachel shares, "Sonny came to me during a time when I needed him most. The transition to school has been hard in ways that I didn’t imagine, but Sonny made every day of the 6 weeks that we spent together feel special. When I walked into Frosted Faces, I never imagined to walk out with a dog like Sonny.

He was calm yet playful and endlessly enjoyed our walks around the neighborhood (which he saw purely as lizard chasing excursions). He brought so much joy to my life and made me look forward to every part of every day. We shared a number of treats from pupcakes to watermelon and I always knew that I had to leave extra pieces of my meal or a plate to lick clean for him. No matter how stressful my day was, it was all solved what I got to crawl into bed with Sonny or give him a big bear hug.

I remember being stressed out of my mind while studying for an exam and turning around to see Sonny lying on his back with his feet in the air, suspended partially off the bed. He made me smile when I was felt like doing it least and he kept me laughing as he rearranged my bed every night, sometimes with his butt landing on my pillows. The spot where he used to lay while I was studying feels so empty now and I missing having a shadow following me to the bathroom or into the shower. I miss him with all my heart I hope he knows that for all I gave to him, he gave more to me.”

Rachel graciously welcomed Sonny's Frosted Fling Foster, Kim, to be part of his life too for occasional babysitting opportunities! How wonderful that Sonny had so many people who finally loved him?!

Kim contributes, "Sonny, have you met your Guardian Angel FF Flynn yet? His bringing sweet Rachel into our lives was a gift from Heaven. You were loved and fussed over 24/7. Spending a day and sometimes a night with me weekly gave you time to be spoiled “Grandma style” and ensured an easy transition when Rachel started her summer internship. The smell of steak, chicken, and salmon being cooked for you, and sending you home with care packages was a favorite routine, as were long walks and lizard hunts. You had no doubt that we were your Forever Family even before hearing us working out the details. How gallant you were in your final hour when, with your brain and body rapidly shutting down, you struggled to find your legs one last time, hoisted yourself off the bed we were about to carry you in, and with Rachel’s support slowly walked to the car for the last time.”

Reuben

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: January 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: May 7th, 2020
Family: Lori Woodward & Joe Palomina
Fan: Terry Phillips
Tribute: On May 7th, we fulfilled our promise to Reuben.

"In February when our lives were still somewhat ‘normal’, my partner and I were planning a weekend getaway. Where should be go? I can’t think of anywhere. Well, except there is this senior dog rescue near San Diego and I’d love to go visit someday. Wanna go? Sure! A few days later I’m showing him a few of my favorites from the Frosted Faces website. When we’re on the way to the airport, he looks at me and says ‘Wait, are we going to adopt a dog? ‘ Oh no, I said, it’s not the right timing and it’s a 9 hour drive back to NorCal. Well, maybe, who knows? Let’s just go with an open mind.

I’ve visited several dog sanctuaries and rescues, and most times I leave feeling sad. All these dogs with no homes. Frosted Faces was different. So many volunteers, so much outdoor space, such personalized attention. I asked about several dogs and Kelly was able to give me detailed medical information just off the top of her head. Every single soul there was loved and cherished. They make sure every dog’s physical and mental needs are met to the very best of their ability. It’s just a magical place. A place you want to be part of. We visited both days of the weekend open house. The first day I don’t even remember meeting Reuben. Maybe he wasn’t in the yard at the time I was there, or maybe he wasn’t feeling well and didn’t interact. But I left that day knowing I wanted to be part of the Frosted Faces Family.

The next day I arrived with a couple of dogs in mind. But Reuben stole my heart as soon as I met him. We connected immediately and I started watching closely how he interacted with people and with other dogs. I loved everything about him. I soon learned that Reuben had a stone lodged in his urethra and he also had a third degree AV block. Hospice. It’s ok. I want my home to be his home. Over the next couple of weeks, we applied to be his forever family and were approved, and we got to bring him home! Reuben loved food and we spoiled him rotten, made him homemade meals, got him his own tacos several times, got him ice cream.

He was perfect. Nothing better. Well except for those pesky medical issues. Hmmmm, I wonder if they’re actually fixable? Let’s find out! A trip to UCDavis and we found out that yes, they’re fixable! Well duh, let’s fix them! He got a pacemaker and they zapped his stone and we were on our way. Recovery was a bit more complicated that we had hoped, but we were so close to done, and we had so many plans together.

This morning within 30 minutes of getting up, Reuben started fainting. He fainted every time he tried to get up and walk more than a few steps. We dropped everything and rushed to UCDavis, only to find out that his pacemaker leads had dislodged and were no longer making his heart beat. They could redo the surgery, with all the same risks and recovery, but it didn’t work well the first time and chances aren’t that good that it would work any better this time. Thankfully we were able to buy him his own tacos and sit with him in the park a little while before we brought him back to our own vet, where we were able to be with him as he passed.

I will never forget the way he would bury his head in my leg, or my stomach, or my chest. It was my very favorite thing about him. I didn’t even have him 3 months, how can it hurt this much to let him go? Because it’s not about the amount of time we had together, it’s about the connection. And knowing that I didn’t get to do all the things I wanted. Zoomie free my sweet boy. Our hearts are broken but yours is whole and well and I hope you are being super naughty and barking at the bridge demanding all the snacks."

Maurice

Acquired from: Downey Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: November 17th, 2020
Family: Meredith Kuchon
Fan: Sarah Todd, Danielle Robbins/American Dog 
Tribute: On November 17th, Meredith fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Maurice.

His mom shares,

"I am sad to report that Morpheus aka Maurice passed away.

He was laying on one of his comfy beds with a blanket on him. I was snuggling with him and petting him and he went peacefully, on his own.

He had been seeming more alert and vibrant than ever for the past 10 days, so this was a real fast turn downhill. Both vets who saw him under my care thought he was at least 12 years old, if not older.

I am glad he didn’t suffer for long and that he was very comfortable and much loved for the past 10 weeks. And that he exited this life so peacefully.

Thank you for rescuing him and giving me the opportunity to love him and be loved by him. He was a real sweetheart. I will miss him.”

Indy

Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: January 24th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 17th, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Nancy Dagdag, Katie Biddle, Lilly McGann, Jamie
Tribute: On Tuesday, February 18th, we fulfilled our promise to 10 year old Indy.

We were not promised time, but we thought we had more. Indy was rescued and through proactive aggressive vetting, diagnosed with pericardial effusion and cardiomyopathy. We tapped his pericardial sac for relief and started him on medications and taurine supplements.

Indy thrived! He immediately gained his strength back and started eating better and playing. He ate chicken and quinoa with his pills hidden in hot dogs. He attached to us hard. When we weren't near him but within eyesight, he scream-hummed under his breath like he was a tea kettle about to explode! It was hilarious!

Indy rotated with the Lobbyists so he had the most home-like experience at FFF. He went to Fiesta Island twice and was the most marvelous off leash partner, enjoying himself, but still checking in. This weekend he went on a Valentine's date with the two guardian angels who also sprung him from the shelter, Shelby and Christina Alkire. He dined in the sunshine at Turtle Rock Ridge Winery, went to Kahoots for a bone, and swung by Starbucks for a pupaccino on the way home.

On Tuesday morning Indy was seizing relentlessly so we rushed him to the vet. He was neurologic and his body temperature was dropping. We had to let him go.

I can still see him looking back at me as he high stepped through the shores of Mission Bay smiling to say, "Isn't this great? Hurry up!"

You go ahead, Indy. I will find you up there. ❤

Fox

Acquired from: Wishing Well Ranch
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: January 31st, 2020
Date of Passing: March 17th, 2021
Family: Temy & Jessica Suciawan
Fan: Bonita Bolyard Foose
Tribute: On March 17th, Temy and Jess fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Mr. Fox.

Jess shared,

"This morning, Mr. Fox fell asleep on my lap and off to the rainbow bridge he went .

Going through this does not get easier, no matter how many times you do it. But it is especially hard for me since it’s been only 4 weeks since I lost Marky mark, and also because of how bonded Mr. Fox is to me. His health suddenly deteriorated in the past few days, and he became restless and uncomfortable, and had a hard time breathing.

Mr. Fox was one of the 22 dogs rescued from the Wishing Well Sanctuary last year. Two days after they all became frosteds, I happened to be volunteering there. I walked 6 bigs and thought of bringing one home for a 2-week fling. I typically pick a hospice or more challenging dogs, but I thought to myself, maybe after losing FF Bindi and FF Heidi, I should take a bit of a break and take home a healthy and fully adoptable dog.

Enter Fox. A quiet, handsome, younger (for a frosted), seemingly healthy doggo with sad eyes and eyebrows to rival Eugene Levy’s. What’s not to love? Fox lived in an outdoor kennel for 9 years of his life. I was planning on loving him and letting him decompress in a home setting for 2 weeks before sending him back to FF to be ready for adoption.

Three days later we found out the devastating news, when the vet found mass on his heart. And just like that he is considered hospice. I immediately made the commitment to be his forever foster, for however long he has left. From then on he transformed into a silly playful dog (with me only, no other human were invited), who loves to eat, enjoys light walks around the neighborhood, and naps on the couch. I must say, I never thought he would make it long given how crappy he looked after the first vet visit. But against all odds, Mr. Fox celebrated his first Frostiversary last month.

For those who knew about Mr. Fox’s history and was sad to hear of his diagnosis right after he was rescued, I promise you this: He found his person. He found a happy quiet life with me. After 9 years of living outside, 9 years of sleeping on hard ground in a dog house, he got one year full of love, homemade food, a soft human bed to sleep in every night. One full year of being next to me every single day. He went to work with me before covid. He sat next to me when I work from home. He immediately bonded with me and never left my side for a whole year. That’s one full year we didn’t know he could have

Mr. Fox was truly the goodest boi. He was such a perfect and proper office dog that my coworker named him Mr. Robert George Fox III, esq.

Mommy loves you, Mr. Fox. May you rest in peace "

Alberto

Acquired from: Wishing Well Ranch
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: January 31st, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Faustine Simorre
Fan: Laurie Roberts Fine Art, Yvonne Ellen

Ripley

Acquired from: Wishing Well Ranch
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: January 31st, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Jennifer & Eric Jones
Fan: Leslie Harris

Merry

Acquired from: Wishing Well Ranch
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: January 31st, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Greg & Laura Magnuson
Fan: Marc Grossman, Joshua Muncie, Yvonne Ellen