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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.
bella
Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 15
Date of Rescue: April 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: September 28, 2022
Family: Shelma Soto
Fans: In Memory of Sassy, Scooby & Taco
Finnegan
Acquired from: Oceanside-San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: April 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: January 16th, 2023
Family: Diana Bunch
Fans: Lisa Switzer
Tribute: On January 16th, Diana fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Finn.
She shared,
"My sweet Finnegan Fitzgerald, fka Rollo, crossed the Rainbow Bridge on Monday, January 16. I adopted my sweet boy in late May 2020 thinking that I could add some life to a senior dog during the Covid shut down. Instead, I got a senior dog who gave me a new life.
Finn was my boon companion, best friend and entertainment. Once I got the knack of being a dog mom, - thank you for your patience, FF team - Finn went everywhere possible with me. He was an independent pup who liked his space, but always wanted to know where I was. He would sit beside me on the couch and follow me from room to room. He slept with me and would first start out far away from me, and as the night went on with end up curled with me snoring in my face.
Finn was a chill little dude who loved other animals. He got along fine with the chickens and would sneak their food every once in a while. He met cats, goats, horses, and mules. He even met a rat one time. He never reacted. He would sniff them, and then mosey on about his own business.
When I adopted Finn, I reached out to other Frosted Faces adopters for input and company. We would go to the dog parks during Covid, and then to the wineries, and it was such good company for Finn and I. I learned a lot from them. We had our own little tribe, including parties with Aunt Lynda, until I moved to St. Louis in August 2022.
When I went back to work in the office, he stayed with his Aunt Angela while I worked. She took very good care of him. He was BFFs with her Campbell, RIP, and Kuma, and had his own little second home with them.
I am so grateful to have had this sweet little pup in my life. I never knew how much I needed a dog until Finn came into my life. I miss him every single day.
I am so grateful to Frosted Faces for existing, for providing the opportunity to know how much I loved, and needed a dog, and for supporting me as Finn and I lived our life together.
Farewell, sweet boy. I will meet you at the Rainbow Bridge."
Tobi
Acquired from: Final Wish Program
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: April 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Anita Brandt
Fans: Honoring Molly
Tami
Acquired from: Final Wish Program
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: April 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Anita Brandt
Fans: Honoring Molly
Ember
Acquired from: Oceanside-San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: April 23rd, 2020
Date of Passing: February 13th, 2023
Family: Keri & Rick Busino
Fans: Morgan Kleiderlein
Tribute: On February 13th, Keri and Rick fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Ember after battling liver and mouth cancer.
Her family shared,
"We spent time with her at home beforehand, she got a couple hamburgers for dinner, and even one of the cats came to sit with us while we loved on her. We all three stayed with her through it all at the hospital, so she wasn’t alone.
Thank you for finding her, for saving her, and thank you for allowing us to become her family. We hope we have her a good almost 3 years. She was loved by us and our extended family - my mom and Dad, my brother and his wife and three kids (FF Nikki’s family) - and she will be missed greatly."
Teddy
Acquired from: Escondido-San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: February 14th, 2024
Family: Kyra Knox
Fans: Heather Flores & Ralph
Tribute: On February 14th, Kyra fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Teddy.
She shared,
"I am heartbroken to share my sweet Teddy crossed the rainbow bridge last week🤍 I am so grateful for the four years we shared together and the endless cuddles and adventures we had. Teddy was the sweetest boy and always made sure he gave everyone kisses❣️ He loved wearing pjs, car rides to Starbucks for puppuchinos, and tummy time. Thank you to the team at frosted faces for helping with his monthly shots, you always treated us so well🤍 I am so grateful that Teddy got to pass peacefully in my arms. I miss you Teds❤️❤️❤️"
Mitzi
Acquired from: Humane Society of Imperial County
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Kevin & Alana Knapp
Fans: Paula Schafer
Monti
Acquired from: Animal Friends of the Valleys
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: March 10, 2022
Family: Alicia & Brett Byykkonen
Fans: Rhamona Zielonka
Tribute: On March 10th, Alicia and Brett fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Monti.
Monti was included in a cross country, a new baby, and was treated for chronic ear infections that turned to skin issues. If only all dogs were so lucky to be accommodated like this!
Alicia shared,
"Rest in peace Monti. I wasn't ready to say goodbye. You were ready to rest. Thank you for being part of our lives. We love you always."
Inca
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: April 25, 2020
Date of Passing: February 11, 2022
Family: Judy Cooke
Fans: Nancy Veach, Ryan Dickinson
Tribute: On February 11th, Judy fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Inca.
Inca was discovered in a well that she had fallen into at the San Ysidro water treatment plant. She was rescued by San Diego Humane Society and they asked us to exit her to help with permanent placement.
Inca was so lucky to go on one Fling with Ken Mazzola and then to foster with Martina Penalosa. She was ultimately chosen by mom, Judy Cooke, who gave her the best care. Inca liked to sun in the grassy yard and beg for treats at the table. She was all gums after her second dental surgery, and her little tongue hung out!
We discovered she had a splenic mass a few months ago, but when we went into get it, her heart just couldn't handle it and we woke her up. From there her kidneys began to decline and we had to make the tough decision to send Inca to the heavens when she stopped eating and her mass was looking like it was ready to rupture via ultrasound.
Her mom shared, "We just want to thank you for making the passing of Inca as easy as it could be. Dr. Russell was very gentle and helpful. It was a difficult decision but one that we felt we had to make.
We are both still checking where she is and it will take a while for that habit to pass. She was always so quiet that a visual was the only way we knew what was going on.
Thank you again to everyone at Frosted Faces. We will not forget you and tell everyone what a wonderful and caring place it is. Please keep up the good work."
Migs
Acquired from: Tijuana
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 23rd, 2022
Family: Nina Russell
Fans: Kav
On September 23rd, Nina fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Miguel.
She shared,
"It’s with a heavy heart that I share the news of Miguel’s passing on Friday, September 23.
Miguel was extremely sweet and the bestest boy. I picked him up for a fling in April 2020 and I’m so glad that I got to spend the next 2+ years with him. He welcomed FF Ellie and FF Chad into our pack in 2021 and although he didn’t seem very interested in them, he always let FF Ellie lick his face. I think he secretly loved being smothered with her kisses.
Miguel was very quiet and didn’t demand much - he just wanted something soft to lay on (I even found him napping on my fuzzy slippers) and all the food. Up until a couple of months ago, food was about the only thing that got him really excited. I knew he was starting to decline when his interest in food drastically changed.
I’m so appreciative to Dr Russell, Michelle, Alicia and Miso’s mom (who I had just met while Miso was at FFF for a vet visit) for their support and compassion while I made the difficult decision to say Goodbye.
Thank you to Kelly for picking Miguel to join FF, Jenna for suggesting I take him on a fling, Alicia, Maira, Lexi, Andy and all the FF volunteers who have loved on him while he was onsite. He had a community of people who loved him and I so hope he knew that and felt it.
Rest In Peace sweet Migs. We miss you "
Emmy
Acquired from: Humane Society of Imperial County
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 26th, 2021
Family: Caridad & Cheryl Anne Carolino
Fans: Sara Young
Tribute: On May 26th, Cheryl Anne fulfilled her promise to Emmy.
Cheryl Anne shared,
"Our 'Emmy girl' was spunky, curious, and incredibly sweet and loyal! Emmy was so easy to love. She was gentle with anyone she met. The best part of the day was meal time. Forgetting her old bones, she would hop up and down, like a bunny, ready to eat.
She was always eager for a walk around the neighborhood and would perk up as soon as she heard the jingle of her leash. She also enjoyed her stroller, which gave her a chance to take in the world without having to struggle to keep up.
She took very long naps in the afternoon and would sleep and snore throughout the night. Interestingly, she never barked and there were times we would catch her staring at herself in the mirror!
Thank you for being in our lives, Emmy. We love you."
Churchie
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 7th, 2021
Family: Mary Parpal
Fans: Sara Young
Tribute: On Friday, May 7th, Nicole and Mary fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Churchie.
Churchie was part of our Seniors for Seniors program and Nicole Maguire was his liaison who helped to fill his medications and do check ins monthly.
Nicole writes,
"Church lived with his mom Mary, her granddaughter Tianna and Baby Kade and shared the house with two kitty siblings and Tianna’s little pup named Coco. He also got to share his time with Mary’s family and he had lots of dinners at their friend Holly’s house. Church was a very happy pup and he loved going for walks. He was friendly with everyone he met and Mary said he never made a peep in the house.
Church was diagnosed with a mass on his lungs and the vet let us know that his cancer had metastasized about three -four months ago. He was given a few weeks to live and he surpassed that timing with flying colors. He finally started to take a turn for the worse last week and then started declining quickly.
He got to enjoy lots of extra snuggles on his last few days and my husband and I were able to take him out for hamburgers and a nice afternoon on his last day. Church was such a good boy and I know he made such a wonderful impact on Mary’s life. She truly loved him and he will be missed so much!"
Carmen
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 29th, 2024
Family: Pamela & Craig Condon
Fans: DS, Donor in Honor of Dick & Betty Stephenson
Tribute: On October 29th, Craig and Pamela fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Carmen.
They shared,
"It was with unexpected sadness that we have said goodbye to our beloved Carmen on October 29th. The time had come in her 16th year. We knew her behavior was showing some differences, and things were changing in the few weeks before this sad day. She was subtly telling us. Carmen had become more lethargic, turning up her nose at her favorite foods and sleeping a bit more erratically.
Dr. Russell was able to meet with us after a very difficult night with Carmen. After some diagnostic testing, he let us know that her kidney levels had elevated significantly, in addition to her diagnosed Cushing’s disease. This now meant that additional efforts could be used to continue her life with no guarantees for how much longer. This was a most difficult decision, but we knew it would be better than to prolong her suffering any longer, and to say our final goodbyes. We sincerely thank the vet staff for their steadfast compassion and caring.
When I saw Carmen on the Frosted Faces website just over 4 years ago on her Frosted Fling with Holly Buderus, something told me that she was the one we were looking for. After a meet-n-greet with Holly and another meeting at FFF, we chose sweet Carmen, an Australian cattle dog, to complete our home. She quickly became so much of our family life with her funny looks, making us laugh - often, chasing after her squeaky toys, giving lots of loving kisses and enjoying her walks in the neighborhood. She was such a great car traveler checking out the sights and
smells. Carmen was a super cuddler on the couch with me, until she wasn’t able to get up there herself, then always stayed close by. She knew we loved her dearly.
Shortly after she came to us, unexpectedly, we were contacted by the previous owner’s granddaughter. We found out much more about her early years, history, and received some of her puppy photos. We scheduled a meet-n-greet which showed us very quickly that Carmen had definitely remembered her. We so appreciated that heartfelt experience.
We are missing her spunk, her keeping an eye on us all the while sure to be in very close proximity, pulling out one (or more) squeaky toy(s) from her BIG toy box, barking at “nothing” or at that little dog walking on the sidewalk, or simply waiting for her treats with a big smile. Carmen was our little “herder”. Our home is much quieter now.
A year ago, we had “foster failed” a bigger companion senior dog, 12 year old Shadow Cole, for Carmen. They became buds and eventually enjoyed each other’s companionship. With the loss of Carmen, Shadow has been showing us he is also grieving this void. He doesn’t know why she’s not around, and has been very quiet, although he has made some moaning sounds at random times. We think he is missing her presence, as we are too.
We know Carmen’s journey over the Rainbow Bridge allows her to be free to run without pain or suffering. We will see her on the other side. RIP, our dear sweet Carmen. Our hearts are broken.
With so many photos taken over the past 4 plus years, it has been hard to choose the ones that encompass and convey her joyful demeanor, with her fun and loving attitude. We loved her and will miss her so very much.
A huge thank you to Frosted Faces for everything it does for so many animals. Our Carmen is only one of thousands under FF’s care. We sincerely thank the staff, vets, volunteers and donors who have made this organization as successful and recognized as it has become. A significant difference is being made for rescued animals by the actions and dedication of the Frosted Faces Foundation. Thank you!"
Malachai
Acquired from: San Gabrial Valley Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: April 25th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 18th, 2020
Family: AJ Gillard & David Chu
Fans: Victoria Conway
Tribute: On September 18th, we fulfilled our promise to Malachai.
"Malachai was supposed to be a Frosted Fling who turned into a foster. If you've visited an Open House in June/July, he greeted you with calmness and a smile. One of those Open Houses led to him to his adoption. He was returned by his adopters who suspected he had Addison's Disease. Kelly sent us an email, and just like that, we had him again.
Mally flourished being back in his favorite spot in our living room. He would often lean against who ever was paying him attention. It was as if he never left. His energy was strong. He was back to his calm self. He was so happy. Most importantly, there was no sign of anything wrong, including Addison's, in which we learned his terrible diarrhea around that time could have caused the imbalanced electrolytes on the bloodwork at their vet.
The plan was always to have him tested for Addison's, just in case. I took him to the vet and waited for him in the parking lot. The tech came to tell me the he was pale and they wanted to run more tests. I went home to wait. And then I got the email. Poor Mally's lungs were filled with cancer, nothing like they had looked 5 months prior. How could it be true? There were no signs. He was eating and drinking normally. He would enjoy his walks, without incident.
I returned to the vet to pick him up with a treatment plan to ensure his comfort. Malachai had other plans. He collapsed on the way out to the car from pericardial effusion most likely from a ruptured mass. The vet was able to stabilize him long enough for us to say goodbye. He passed peacefully in our arms. It all happened way too fast.
We had the privilege of rescuing him twice. And we would do it a third time if we could. We will miss him so much. He will forever be a good boy.
Rest well, Mally-boy. It was an absolute honor to know you. We love you."
Odie
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Oceanside
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: April 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 6, 2021
Family: Aaron Turcios
Fans: Terressa Whitaker
Tribute: On September 6th, Aaron fulfilled his promise to Frosted Face Odie.
"Odie passed away last Monday. It’s fitting that he passed away on Labor Day as he would never be caught working for anything. Trick for a treat? “I’ll do it but I won’t like it.” Go chase a ball? “Yeah, good luck with that, I’m going to go sniff a butt.” I’ve missed him right under my feet every single day.
I’m thankful to Frosted Faces for giving me the opportunity to have Odie in my life. It wasn’t always easy and there were a lot of bites at the beginning when applying ear medication. It definitely made us closer though. Odie was my shadow. So much so that I would feel bad when going to another room for something quick because Odie would get up and follow me every time. Every time there would be a disapproving huff as if to say, “you made me get up from a nap for that?”
You were the best boy, Odie. I love you so much."
Jim
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: April 26th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 31st, 2020
Family: Andy & Kelly Smisek
Fans: Victoria Conway
Tribute: On August 31st we fulfilled our promise to Jim.
Jim was a stray to San Diego Humane Society and upon exit we knew something was not quite right. We did an ultrasound and discovered that he had a mass on his adrenal gland and it only grew larger as we monitored it while adjusting his medications to improve his kidneys and blood pressure. On Monday last week Jim got very sick, sicker than a “bad day.” He was pale, shivering uncontrollably, and his temp was 96 and dropping. His body was all done fighting that horrible cancer and we helped him pass peacefully and quickly.
Andy and I chose to be the hospice family for Jim and felt that we harbored the optimism and adventure that would get him through his ups and downs. Right off the bat Andy started calling him Yim, like with a Norwegian "J." It was catchy and silly, and pretty soon that is all we called him!
Jim went on multiple bike rides, was pulled in a wagon or pushed in a stroller on family night walks, he had lots of beach days, and he even went SUPing! All Jim wanted to know was,"Whattya got to eat?" Baby carrots were his number one! He would eat a whole bag if you let him! He ate everything and anything. He looked forward to sharing peanut butter and honey sandwiches with Andy at night, working on lick mats in front of 30 Rock reruns, and chomping on bully sticks. He would bunny hop at us while we were eating or cooking to show interest. Ridiculous for our little dying dog!
Jim was flopsy like a muppet, so he let us hold him like a dolly. He wore a bellyband to manage accidents- so much pee! He usually got a bath in the mornings due to overflow in the diapie, and we have thanks to give to FFF volunteers and Erin, Alicia, and Jenna for throwing him into the morning bath rotation with other Frosted Faces.
No one licks our ankles anymore and we stopped buying baby carrots. We lived large, loved hard, and didn't let Jim miss a quality beat.
We yuv yoo, Yim.
Kevin
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 7
Date of Rescue: April 27th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Pat & Chuck Campanella
Fans: MM
Bach
Acquired from: Chula Vista Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: April 28th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Sara Sakurai
Fans: Victoria Conway
Jero
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: April 28th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 30th, 2020
Family: Ali Manz
Fans: Victoria Conway, Ali Manz in memory of Foster Bailey
Tribute: On June 30th, we fulfilled our promise to Jero.
Jero passed away on his own terms, and selfishly, we wouldn't have had it any other way. We could have never let him go.
Jero was surrendered to San Diego Humane Society after one of his guardians passed away and the other did not want the responsibility of a dog. He was given a U/U designation with grade 4/4 dental disease and a bilateral perineal hernia, so staff reached out for a safe rescue exit.
Bloodwork and x-rays were unremarkable, so we did his perineal surgery repair and dental surgery! It was a beautiful fix... until Ali noted that Jero was seizing, his color was poor, and he was not eating. New labs showed a low and dropping hematocrit. Perhaps the surgery or meds gave him IMHA? Maybe he had underlying cancer? We transfused him and hospitalized him for days. Ali was a trooper getting him in for frequent PCV rechecks and giving Jero quality and care with grace. We finally added azothiaprine after a second transfusion and he seemed to stabilize! He was humping and hiking and running around with great labwork.
In his last day he just seemed to fall apart. When Jero had "bad days" they were really BAD days, but he always bounced and we had faith he would pull through. What dog passes away when everyone loves him so? All dogs, of course. Love and money can only do so much, and then there is inevitable death when the body can simply do no more.
Jero and Ali lived in the moment. There are no regrets other than to have known him sooner. Fly high-
duckie
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: April 29th, 2020
Date of Passing: April 21st, 2023
Family: Amber Crosby
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On April 21st, Amber fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Duckie.
She shared,
"When I got Duckie, I was at a very low point in my life. I had just lost my grandfather, who had raised me as his own, and my whole life was on a downward trajectory. Then I decided to look for a dog. So I went on PetFinder, selected adult and senior dogs, and scrolled through the pictures. When I saw Duckie, I knew he was the dog for me.
Bringing him home only proved that point. He fit into my home perfectly. He didn’t alarm or chase the cats, he wasn’t loud, and he just wanted cuddles! He knew basic obedience as well. So he would cuddle with me while watching TV or playing games, he would listen to me explain the learning objectives from class, and he would always be excited to see me when I came home from work (sorry, grandma, mom’s home). He even gave the green-light upon meeting my boyfriend for the first time, with almost immediate kisses! Duckie was always giving kisses.
Over time, Duckie went blind and developed dementia, but his loving and happy-go-lucky spirit never changed. He would often start to wander in the early morning hours, coming to my room to wake me up to go potty or just for cuddles. The way he also began seeking out my boyfriend when he visited touched my heart! The poor baby started to slow down, waking up, but no longer lunging from the couch or bed to greet me after school or work. Then he sometimes wouldn’t wake up at all when I came home. But he never stopped seeking me out when he was awake, especially if I was cooking!
I will never forget how much the recent onset of Duckie’s illness worried me, but I wanted to remain strong for him. In his final days, the option of euthanasia was put on the table. But I didn’t want to do it. What if he could beat this illness? What if he just needed some time? I didn’t want him to suffer, but I didn’t want to rob him of the chance to live if he could recover. My deepest regret was that I wasn’t there to hold him in his final moments. I wasn’t there to give him the cuddles he so readily gave others. But no one who ever lived or ever will live could have loved him more than I loved him. I will always love Duckie. He was my first dog ever. And he will always be in my heart.
Duckie, thank you for all that you did for me. You rejoiced when I was happy, cried with me when I was sad, and unleashed unto me your unbridled love and affection. I will always remember how even just looking at you brought me joy. I love you so much Duckie! You’re a good boy!"
Odie
Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: April 29th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 10th, 2022
Family: Autumn Rosas & Javier Rubio
Fans: Bella S.
Tribute: On October 10th, Autumn fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Odie.
Autumn shared,
"I adopted a sweet old man named Odie/Osito back a few years back.. Unfortunately, on Sunday night he collapsed as he followed me and began to seize out. Sadly, I had to make the decision to euthanize him. They say it was hemangiosarcoma. I want to thank you guys for allowing Odie to come into my life. He saved me and I saved him."
beans
Acquired from: Irvine Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: April 30th, 2020
Date of Passing: January 10th, 2023
Family: Alex Chatfield
Fans: Tami Cross, Jaclyn Zandieh
Tribute: On January 10th, Alex fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Beans.
She shared,
"Dogs were always a part of my family when I was a child, but Beans was the first dog that I had the honor of personally caring for.
When I first saw him on the FFF website I thought he was adorable. It wasn’t until I meet him for the first time did I realize just how tiny and sweet this little guy was. Weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs, he truly was my little bean.
Beans quickly became my tiny shadow as he joined me at friends and family homes, on boat rides, at the gym, on trips to dog beach, and he even clocked in at work with me on occasion.
He was loving and sweet to children, adults, and all sizes of dogs. He loved to cuddle up on the couch with anyone that would let him share a blanket. While Beans was more than willing to indulge in most treats, Salmon was by far his favorite.
Beans was the first face to greet me when I arrived home for nearly three years and I’ve missed him ever single day since he left us. I am filled with gratitude for the time we shared and he will always be remembered and loved. “
wrigley
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 6
Date of Rescue: April 30th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Lindsay & Jim Cosley
Fans: Victoria Conway, Liam Palmer
Sandy
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: April 30th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Fangda Li & Yuan Wang
Fans: Shauna Ianni
Ursa
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: April 30th, 2020
Date of Passing: June 9th, 2023
Family: Kelly Kistner & Brent Antal
Fans: Victoria Conway
Tribute: On June 9th, Kelly and Brent fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Ursa.
They shared,
"We're sad to report the loss of our sweet Ursa last week. We adopted her from frosted faces a little over 3 years ago and she was 14 years old.
We loved our little girl so much and felt so loved by her. She was our little spritely bounce-back-bear who didn't let her accumulation of chronic illnesses get in the way of living a full life until the end.
We will miss being greeted with her joyous jumps, yelps, and nuzzles when we come home. We will miss her teaming up with her frosted face brother, Buckley, to beg for treats. We will miss her silly little fuffs and howls when she rolled around and burrowed into the bed or our sides and gave sneak attacks of kisses.
We'll remember all the great times we had together. Trips to Yosemite, deserts, and beaches all over the state. Even just running errands, she loved rides in the car or sitting in shopping carts, as long as she was by our sides.
Our home is so much quieter now without her silly little noises, but we're so glad we got to share over three years of our lives together.
Rest in peace our little Ursa (aka Bear, Ursa Bear, Bear Bear, Little bo boo, Ursa boo, Little boo, Littles)."
Mumford
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: April 30th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 8th, 2022
Family: Kelly & Lori Smith-Riccardi
Fans: Lynn Norman in honor of Mo
Tribute: On September 8th, Kelly and Lori fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Mumford.
They shared,
"Mumford passed September 8th, 2022.
I have delayed writing this – somehow thinking that if I didn’t write it, it wasn’t real. Every morning since Mumford crossed the rainbow bridge, I wake up missing him. Ironically, even without him here, I still wake up every morning at 0430 – the time Mumford had conditioned me to be awake with him.
In May I deactivated Facebook and stopped sharing about Mumford because he had started to slow-down and Facebook memories kept reminding me about the dog I had lost prior to adopting Mumford. It was hard to see the parallels knowing that the cancer was eventually going to win and I would lose him too.
We brought Mumford home on May 7, 2020, 5 days after Tucker crossed the rainbow bridge. Mumford was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed. The moment I saw Mumford’s photo, I knew that I was meant to give him everything he hadn’t had up until that point in his life.
FF said he was found as a stray in Orange County, blind, cloudy old man lungs, heart murmur, elevated liver values. When we applied to adopt him, I was told these poodle mixes don’t last long, and I had no doubt. I remember skipping work to make the first available opening to meet him, and was told upon getting there, that if we didn’t adopt him, he had another family coming in from AZ to meet him.
I think we knew then that we weren’t leaving without him.
We got to share 854 days with Mumford and tried to love him as big as we could for as long as his body would allow. Mumford got to smell Big Sur, Carmel, Los Angeles, Big Bear, San Luis Obispo, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, Mammoth, Las Vegas, Sedona, Page, Zion, Idyllwild, Rosarito and Ensenada. We also explored most of San Diego.
He ate Japanese Wagyu steaks, burgers on the regular, lobster and crab legs. But despite his flair for fine dining, he was also excited for literally anything that smelled edible. He was not picky at all - as was evidenced by his ER visit to force him to throw-up something he should not have gotten into.
It was Mumford’s world and we just got to live in it with him.
We were regulars at the vet’s office and would have done anything to have had more time with him. My heart aches daily thinking of my sweet eyeless wonder.
Mumford didn’t like to cuddle, he wouldn’t sit on the couch with me, and if I tried to lay next to him on the floor he’d often get up and move.
This darn dog made me work for love, but all I ever wanted to do was make him feel as loved and cared for as humanly possible because I believed he had been cheated of that in his youth.
If there was a way to find him sooner, I would go back in time in an instant.
In July we knew we were not going to get the year they had projected post radiation for his adrenal gland tumor (that had invaded his left kidney). He had a seizure and from that moment forward, he was with someone at all times.
Mumford became a regular in my office. He wasn’t the easiest office mate because when Mumford wanted someone, he wanted it right then -- there were more than a handful of client meetings I stepped out of to give him a potty break.
With as adorable as he was, no one complained.
I feel very fortunate that Mumford and Frosted Faces allowed us to love him. I cherish every moment I got to share with my sweet old man. And while I knew he was on a short-term loan when we adopted him, no number of days would have been sufficient.
For his small stature, Mumford exuded love. While he wouldn’t cuddle, when you picked him up to take him outside, he would press his sweet face against the crook of your neck and in those moments, everything about the world felt hopeful again.
There are challenges that come with adopting a senior pet, but any challenge is so small compared to the feeling loving a senior who had a rough start will bring you.
As sad as I am that I didn’t get to spend his whole life with him, I’d like to believe the time we did spend together will be the memories he took with him across the rainbow. I’m sure he is playing with the brother he never met and both are waiting to be reunited."
Winston
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 2nd, 2020
Date of Passing: July 31, 2021
Family: Kathy & Greg
Fans: Helen Van Tassel
Tribute: On July 31st, Kathy and Gregg fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Winston after battling kidney disease.
"Winston (known as Wagner during his time at Frosted Faces) was a distinguished gentleman (at least at home). He made his way to us as a foster after having lived a life of neglect in his previous home. He was also a tad naughty in the Littles yard so we took him in to help him relax in a calmer environment and ensure a comfortable recovery for his neuter and much-needed dental surgery. He was completely unimpressed with our dog Jackson's attempts to play, but he liked to be near him when he settled into a nap. During his time with us, he enjoyed cake and ice cream to celebrate his foster brother's birthday, lots of walks on the beach, his first hike (at least we assume it was), weekend pupachinos and even his own burgers, grilled to perfection by his foster dad who loved to dote on him (and was Winston's favorite as well). No dog looked as stylish as Winston in his Hawaiian shirts and matching belly bands. He knew it too... chasing all the lady pups in the play yard when he visited FFF in his new outfit.
Winston was our foster during the pandemic, so we mostly spent our days at home. This was fine by Winston as he LOVED a good, soft blanket and would "fluff" it to perfection before he settled in for a rest. He did not need to be asked twice to jump into bed at night and loved sleeping in. He was a quiet pup and we didn't even know he had a bark until about two weeks in when he defended the home against a delivery.
We loved sweet Winston and his stinky kisses, which were corrected with dental surgery with Frosted Faces. The day he went in for his appointment, the staff at College canceled all other surgeries as they reported he required quite a bit of work. He was so woozy when he came home and we worried he would not be able to eat enough for his medication. But not to worry...ever the foodie, Winston was happy to take small bites of rotisserie chicken the next morning and he recovered quickly enough to leave us for her permanent family later that weekend. They also doted on Winston, serving him lots of tasty treats to help his heart meds go down easier and showering him with affection as well as lots of soft beds to snuggle in.
Winston was the first fluffy white dog that we fostered. We expected him to be adopted quickly and he was. But we loved every minute of our few weeks with him and know he brought so much joy to his family, who loved him at first sight (in his fetching shirt, of course!).
Rest in peace, sweet boy. I wish we would have met you sooner, but I am so grateful you experienced nothing but love in your final year and I am glad part of your time was with us."
Darla
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 3rd, 2020
Date of Passing: June 22nd, 2022
Family: Holly Buderus & Kawika Ohumukini
Fans: Kat Taylor, Donor in Memory of Dan, Cindy Lewellen, Beth El
Tribute: On June 22nd, Holly and Kawika fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Darla.
Holly shared,
"I met Harlem over two years ago. I was picking up a new Fling, and kennel manager, Jenna, first introduced me to this young, gorgeous GSD, then she brought out this little old pittie lady with a huge mass on her thigh. The shepherd looked fun. The pittie needed me, so I took her home. On the drive, she tore her brand-new soccer ball into 20 pieces. The seatbelt was similarly destroyed. At home, she chewed the remote, dribbled urine, and generally let us know we weren't the boss of her. Two weeks couldn't pass quickly enough. Goodbye and good riddance, Harlem!
Months later, we'd fostered another pittie, an angel named Prudence, who passed away in my arms at home. I couldn't stop crying. I went to the hike and didn't see Harlem. She was onsite, not eating. I visited and gave her fluids. She looked so sad. She ended up being hospitalized for days, and she needed a ride home. I asked Kelly, "Could I take her out that night and bring her back in the morning?" The reply came quickly, "Of course!" We didn't bring her back the next day. I fostered her another two months and got her weight back up. And she smiled! She started trusting that she was home, and she got so funny. She'd do something silly, then turn to make sure I saw it. I laughed so much. I fell in love. I pleaded with my guy to keep her. Three months and two fosters later, I got my wish. He agreed, and I emailed at 5am to schedule an appointment before he could change his mind.
Darla came home to stay in January, 2021. In February, she had a vestibular episode. I thought she'd had a stroke and was dying! But after a few days of intense napping and only the best meals, she learned that a much wider stance and slower pace would get her back to her very favorite thing, walkies! Her back end was drooping, though, so we got her wheels. We couldn't find the right fit for her short, long body, so we donated the wheels and got her into water and laser therapy. Staff there noticed increased confusion and panic in the pool. Darla had dementia.
While her physical and mental health declined, 2021 was a remarkable year, because Darla became a big sister to not just one but several Frosted Faces. We kept her separated from little pups Azalea and Caroline, but when bulldog mix, Darla Ann, joined the family, we decided to do some intros, and I'm sure we made a few people very anxious when we shared photos of them just feet apart. Our Darla Jean was a Molly and Me dog, so how could she possibly be living peacefully with another dog? The truth is, I don't know. I can only speculate that she finally felt she no longer needed to fight for love and security. She was home, and she knew it.
The day before I left on vacation, Darla had a quality of life assessment with Dr Russell. Her dementia was increasing, she had trouble walking more than a few feet, she was incontinent of both bowel and bladder, and she seemed to be in pain. He said it wouldn't be wrong to let her go. She was having a really good day, so I didn't know what to do. I started crying, and the doc suggested we try some pain meds to hopefully help with her walking and put more quality back in her life. A day into boarding at 24-Hour Dog Daycare, staff reached out to my emergency contact, Jen Burrell, and let her know Darla wasn't doing well. She was refusing to walk or eat. Jen picked her up and delivered her to Frosted Faces. Jodi Mosher prepaid for her stay there, so thank you both! I'm so fortunate to have my Frosted Faces family! I got so many fantastic photos and videos of Darla at FFF, smiling and looking so bright. I couldn't wait to get home to my little girl.
She was a lobby dog! Darla Jean, who started her second life as Harlem, the Molly and Me dog, was in the lobby, and she had friends.
Unfortunately, when I picked her up, Darla wasn't eating well, and she could barely walk. Two days after we got home, I made an appointment to let her go. I was as ready as I'd ever be. I reached out to Jen and Jodi again. They both offered to meet us at FFF. Darla continued to decline. I had to carry her outside and hold her up while I expressed her bladder. I brought her water bowl to her. She drank, but she absolutely refused to eat. On her final night, she slept just a few feet from me, and she didn't make a peep. I woke repeatedly to check that she was still with us. We sat outside for hours on her final day. For all our fun outings over the years, Darla was happiest in the grass with me nearby. She barely lifted her head. Danielle Robbins visited and loved on her, then we drove to FFF for the last time. The tears flowed as I carried her to the patio and laid her in the bed to say goodbye. As soon as I put her down, she started agonal breathing. I raced inside and interrupted an xray to get the doc. Darla was leaving us. My fierce, stubborn girl was ready to go, and she was doing things her way, to the very end.
It's been almost two weeks now, and it's still so hard to think of life without my baby clown. She needed me, but I needed her, too. She made me laugh when the world seemed to be spinning out of control. As much as my heart is breaking now, I would choose to do it all again just to see her smile. Thank you, Darla, for saving me. You made me so proud to be your mom.
Thank you, Kelly and FFF, for saving my sweet Darla Jean. She had two more good years, and I'm so grateful for that time to know her."
Levi
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 5th, 2020
Date of Passing: November 22nd, 2024
Family: Kelissa Doiron
Fans: Jaclyn Zandieh
Tribute: On November 22nd, Kelissa fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Levi.
She shared,
"We said goodbye to Levi November 22nd.
His smile. That's what drew him to us. He looked like he was smiling in all his photos, which made me take a closer look. Tan and brown Chihuahuas don't usually stand out, but the smile caught my eye. He was on a fling and they put clothes on him and he was just a happy looking 'pup'. After we took him home, he was such a character. He even smiled in his sleep. His favorite person was whoever fed him, so he bounced between favorite humans a few times, starting with me and ending with me. When he wanted a treat, he'd hype up his FF sister, Sophie (who was adopted a year later), and they'd both come running over to beg for treats. He would search the floor while we ate, hoping we dropped scraps, and when he was done, he'd lay with his butt touching our feet and face outward to "protect" us while we ate. He'd ask to go outside to every person who left the house in the morning, and loved running to the nearby fire hydrant to leave his scent and read the other dogs messages. He was the first dog my mother let sleep in her bed. He was always so happy getting pets from my mom, or sitting on my dad's lap during TV time. He'd spend many minutes biting his blanket and pulling it into the shape he wanted on his dog bed, and would usually use it to cover his head while his butt stuck out, as a way to tell us he was there.
It's one of those things where you question every moment, filled with what-ifs. On November 12th, Levi was eating treats in the kitchen, with our family getting ready to eat dinner. A larger dog, whose owner was over, was coming in from the backyard, broke free from her leash and attacked Levi. We tried so hard to save him, but after 10 days of back and forth vet trips, his kidneys gave out.
I hope he knew how much he meant to me and our entire family. I was willing to do anything it took to save him, but I understood when he told me it was his time to go, and I held him until the end. He left this world in my arms and with his trademark smile on his face. Sophie already misses him, so I've been giving her extra cuddles, and she started sleeping in his dog bed. I miss him greatly, and always expect him to come running every time Sophie is getting fed or given a treat. These 4 and a half years I had with Levi will forever be cherished. "
Eleanor
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 5th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 13th, 2022
Family: Kari Walden
Fans: Emily Leshon
Tribute: On May 13th, Kari fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Eleanor.
She shared,
"A friend drove me up to the Frosted Faces campus to look at dogs. Three small dogs were brought out to me separately. The first dog and I had no connection. The second dog didn’t like its bum touched. The third dog was Eleanor. They put her right in my lap. Frosted Faces only had her for a period of 24 hours. So not much could be said about her except that she needed a home. When Eleanor was in my lap, she kissed my hand and I knew she was the dog for me. She never kissed me again so I knew it meant a lot. Eleanor had shades of gray and dark curly hair, weighed ten pounds and was very sweet.
On the way home, I couldn’t believe I was bringing home a dog. It was a lot of responsibility. I didn’t know she was almost blind and couldn’t hear.
The veterinarian took out all her teeth except three due to gum disease. The veterinarian told me that Eleanor was missing one eye due to an eye disease and would go blind in her remaining eye.
We spent two wonderful years together. Eleanor’s dementia became increasingly worse as time went by. At the end of her life, she was getting stuck in between furniture and staring at walls. I am trying to write this in between my tears because I miss her so much . I carried her in my arms like a baby. We went everywhere together. Even places we weren’t allowed to go.
Because Eleanor had experienced a traumatic past it took her a long time to trust me. The more time I had her the more I realized that she was blind, deaf and had dementia. Eleanor loved to run during our walks. It was my job to make sure she didn’t run into buildings or railings . She trusted me that she was able to run and be safe. Almost every person we met on the street loved Eleanor. People would stop and we would talk about Eleanor and how cute she was.
At first, Eleanor would save her pees and poops for the outdoors but as time went by she needed the pee pads. The last six months of her life, Eleanor was in diapers all the time. I would wash her bum every morning which annoyed the hell out of her. But then she was excited to eat her delicious breakfast. Because she only had a couple of teeth, I would mashed up her heated dry food. She didn’t like drinking water, well maybe only on occasion, so I put lots of water in her food and she liked that.
Toward the end of Eleanor’s life, she would sleep 22 to 23 hours a day. She would have a few sips of her food and spent a lot of time in my lap. Our love for each was the deepest relationship I have ever had and I miss her so much.
I am so proud of Frosted Faces for their commitment in saving dog’s lives. Dogs in their care are loved by the owners, volunteers and adopters, each and every one. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be apart of it."
Benji
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Nicholas DeRicco
Fans: RZ
Polly
Acquired from: OC Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2020
Date of Passing: September 24th, 2023
Family: Bret & Jodi Mosher
Fans: Courtni Pugh and David Mihalko
Tribute: On September 24th, Jodi and Brett fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Polly.
They shared,
"I said goodbye to Polly over the weekend. She had an insidious decline in QoL over the past several months. A couple weeks ago, I did some QoL checklists and I looked at all my posts in here from this year as I tried to make a very difficult decision.
Ultimately, I made a decision, but I scheduled a session with my animal communicator to make sure that Polly was onboard. There was a lot packed into the session, ultimately Polly was ready to go, but she was hanging on because she didn't want me to find her dead. 😭 Polly had some very specific requests, which I carried out over the past 2 weeks. These pictures were all taken during that time. Polly had her infamous death stare all the way until our last couple hours together.
I've loved lots of animals and every once in a while, there's a very deep soul connection. A soulmate. That's what Polly was to me. She was thinking about making me happy all the time and all her final requests were things to make the transition easier for me. We visited Dos picos Park, where we had a special one on one camping trip a couple years ago. We had a nice meal at the Knotty barrel where she pretended to eat hamburger and dessert ( I found all the spit out food after I thought she was eating). She let me hold her a lot on the last 2 days and slept with me on the last night. She had been avoiding me for months prior. On our last day, we went to Lowe's and she picked out a hibiscus plant for us to plant for her and then I bought her a muffin from Starbucks and we sat at the park while she ate the muffin top and threw the rest away
😊 She did throw in some reminders here and there that she was ready to go because of course I was doubting myself whenever she did anything normal. Our last days together were full of miracles and synchronicities. Polly ended our animal communication session with a heavy emphasis about being in my family "for a very long time." 3 years and 4 months isn't a long time at all, but time is relative and when I brought Polly home, she was considered a hospice dog without much time left. I guess she wanted to remind me that I had her much longer than expected. And that was my Polly - always thinking about me. 💔"
PAPAYA
Acquired from: Riverside Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Maddison Nelson
Fans: Millicent Townsend
Doris Day
Acquired from: Riverside Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 12th, 2021
Family: Jenny Low
Fans: Kami Gladich
Tribute: On August 12th, Jenny Low fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Doris. In the end, Doris could not stand and combinations of medication were no longer helping. She was frustrated and Jenny let her go with dignity.
Jenny shared,
"I’m not the best with words but my time with Doris was a roller coaster! She was very nervous and scared when I first brought her home. She paced around anxiously for about 2 months, and didn’t want to be too close to anyone but didn’t want to be alone either. Finally, one night my roommate and I were doing yoga in the living room and Doris came in between us for pets . She finally felt comfortable and safe and I was happy to give her a nice end to her life, where she had fun and felt loved. She was my old lady and she is missed ."
DELTA
Acquired from: Carson Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 6th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 16th, 2020
Family: Frosted Faces Foundation
Fans: Marcelle and Alexa, In Honor of Sweetheart, Wally Lacey
Tribute: I am shocked and saddened to share with you that we lost our beautiful Delta today.
This morning while I was doing her bandage change I noticed that she was breathing harder than normal and coughing. When I checked her gums they were pale pink and her temperature was 101.1 (normal). My intuition was to send her to straight to the vet, because we weren't going to mess around. X-rays showed fluid in her chest. She was oxygenating at 79% so she was placed in oxygen and we agreed to hospitalize her at Animal Emergency Clinic of San Diego. This evening Dr. Wishnack called to let us know that Delta had arrested while in oxygen. They pulled her out, tried to intubate her and did a solid 20 minutes of CPR, but they could not recover our girl. He said that upon her passing a lot of fluid came out of trachea which is the typical passing of a dog with underlying heart disease possibly. Thank you to Rick Hoffman and Mary Arkwright for your volunteerism to get Delta to the vets as quickly as possible this morning.
Now we are wading in thoughts of reflection. Anyone who saw her even yesterday would be stunned. There was no doubt Delta was on the road to recovery and her personality was shining. She was surrendered to the shelter so weak, but she quickly bounced. She followed us everywhere smacking that darn cone into all of our calves. She only went into the play yard for a quick potty and spent the rest of her time in the lobby supervising adoption appointments (so she thought), but really we were keeping an eye on her preventing her from stretching her giraffe neck beyond her cone to chew off her hip bandage for the millionth time. We certainly had a lot of quality time together with me sewing those bandages sometimes twice each day when she was being a sneaker.
We have dutch doors all over FFF and Delta poked her nose over each one to find us. She made a silly cooing noise when she knew were behind the lucky door working with another dog. There is a palm in the lobby and apparently that was her bathroom when no one was looking. What are mops for anyways?! One day a volunteer brought us cinnamon rolls, and much to my disappointment, that is how we learned that Delta was a counter surfer. She ate my cinnamon roll right off the middle of the counter!
Delta's cloudy painful eye was fully open the last two days, which means it was more comfortable. There were no more fleas living on Delta and the itchiness had subsided. Her hip wounds were drying up thanks to the stay bandage, manuka honey, and Danielle's laser therapy. Delta was nearly ready for surgery to put her together. She was eating like a horse, and I kept thinking how great she was going to look when I finally got a head shot of her for the website looking healthy and happy as one of our beloved Frosted Faces with a fairytale ending.
Most heartbreaking was that Delta had a family waiting for her. We just approved greyhound lover, Wally Lacey, as Delta's new mom, but agreed to keep Delta in San Diego through bandage changes and surgery.
We advocated for Delta, but her hand of good fortune was dealt too late to reap its full potential. We are so sorry, honey girl.
TWIGGY
Acquired from: Long Beach Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 7th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Melissa Pendleton
Fans: Wendy Davis Edwards
JAYNE
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 7th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Lisa Clauze
Fans: Evelyn Fielman
OLIVER
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Escondido
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 7th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Lisa Clauze
Fans: Corrine Marteeny
ALTHEA
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society-Oceanside
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: May 7th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 4th, 2022
Family: Dana & Mark Evans
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On August 4th, Dana and Mark fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Althea.
They shared,
"Today August 4, 2022, Althea (AKA "Thea") crossed over Rainbow Bridge. She is no longer struggling or in pain. We made sure that she knew she was loved and supported until the end. My husband and I were with her. It is both heartbreaking AND a privilege to have had this experience.
When my husband and I arrived at FFF on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10, 2020 to volunteer for a 'Two-Week Frosted Fling,' a small, timid and VERY SWEET female dog was brought out by Delia Haust. 'Althea' had just arrived from the Oceanside Campus- San Diego Humane Society on May 7, 2020, where she had come in as 'a stray.' Althea was emaciated and had damage to her right eye, which later had to be removed. She navigated her world with one eye like a pro! Our entire family had no idea the immediate and profound impact this sweet, gentle and quiet little old lady would have on us only after a few days. Althea seamlessly integrated into 'our pack' of six adults, two grandchildren and two Chocolate Labs. After 9 days in our home, my husband announced, 'We are keeping her,' and we asked FFF if she could stay! We were all excited to adopt Althea, watch her put on weight, heal, take her on walks/car rides/adventures, have her sit with us on the couch to watch TV, and even wrap her up like a Burrito and sleep with us! Althea was an 'easy keeper,' good eater, champion sleeper, housetrained, never destructive and rarely barked! Althea had impeccable manners, was smart as could be and was very well-socialized around other dogs and children. A bit reserved at first, you had to earn it with her. But once you demonstrated a little kindness towards her or offered a small treat, all was well! My husband and I used to wonder about her former life and family....Did they miss her? Did they look for her? How could they have parted with her? We will never know and try to refrain from judging anyone in her former life. All we know is that this sweet, quiet and gentle girl loved to lay in the sunshine, roll in the grass, sleep in a plush dog bed with a fleece blanket, receive a gentle hand for pets/scratches, go for walks around the neighborhood and absolutely loved meal times- especially Stater Brothers Rotisserie Chicken! Even though Althea was only with us for 2 years, 3 months and 3 weeks, we hope that she knew how much she was loved by our family. Our final thoughts can be best summarized in the song 'Pretty Bird' by Hazel Dickens.
'Pretty Bird' By Hazel Dickens
'Fly away little pretty bird
Fly Fly away
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I see in your eyes a promise
Your own tender love you bring
But fly away little pretty bird
Close the spring
Loves own tender flame warms this meeting
And loves tender song should sing
But fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'll always stay
I cannot make you no promise
For love is such a daily good thing
Fly away little pretty bird
For he'd only clip your wings
Fly away little pretty bird
And pretty you'd always stay
Fly far beyond the dark mountain
To where you'll be free ever more
Fly away little pretty bird
Where the cold winter winds don't blow.'
Althea, you will forever be our 'little pretty bird.'"
ZEUS
Acquired from: Rancho Cucamonga
Age upon Rescue: 13
Date of Rescue: May 7th, 2020
Date of Passing: May 25th, 2020
Family: Marissa Mortati
Fans: Tacit Networks
Tribute: On Monday, May 25th, we fulfilled our promise to Zeus.
Zeus was turned into the shelter by his family because he was having frequent seizures. I wonder what the family would think knowing now that Zeus was at the very end of his life? We worked him up and found that he had poor renal values, but also was in heart failure, AND he had a giant bladder stone.
We placed him with a family who made the ultimate sacrifice of loving Zeus knowing that she would soon have to let him go. We hospitalized him at College Animal Hospital to get a handle on his heart disease, but as you may know, heart disease is not easy to manage in conjunction with kidney failure. In the end even when we were doing everything medical possible within reason, his body said "no more."
After only a little more than a week of being Zeus's mom, Marissa, had to hold him and give him peace.
She shares,
"Thank you all. It was very tough but I'm glad he’s no longer suffering. I gave him scratches in his favorite spot until he passed. The poor guy was just so exhausted at the end.
Thank you again for all the support, what you all do is amazing and so wonderful."
SILVER
Acquired from: Tijuana
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 8th, 2020
Date of Passing: November 5th, 2020
Family: Danielle Casteel
Fans: Debbi Gordon, Auntie Rayna, Pack Landberg, Cori Higley, Jennifer Stokes, Holly
Tribute: On November 5th we fulfilled our promise to Silver.
"Silver (aka Silver bug, baby bug, Prince Silver, baby boy, sweet boy and a million more) was truly my silver lining to 2020.
After four and a half months of overwhelmingly good days in his battle with kidney failure, Silver passed away in my arms, in his favorite spot, surrounded by love. It was a beautiful goodbye. We both got four and a half months together that we weren’t promised, and I know we both loved every second of it
He was the most perfect boy and was sweet beyond words. We bonded right away, he loved all the comforts of home and being spoiled, and he was so so easy to love. As he became more comfortable in the first few weeks, he started to follow me from room to room, not needing attention, but just wanting the comfort that I was close by and from then on, we were never far apart. The first tail wags from him nearly made my heart burst and I felt so lucky to earn his trust and his love. I don’t know what his past was like, but I like to imagine that even if the circumstances weren’t the best, he did know love and kindness from people and that I wasn’t the first person he loved, and that brings me comfort.
During our time together, Silver got to go to the beach, wineries, and be my date at restaurants and breweries. For Silver though, home was his favorite place to be. His favorite things in life were his favorite rug, pets behind the ear and between his eyes, chicken, eggs, and yogurt. Lucky for him, he got all these things nearly every day! He would nose boop my leg whenever I was in the kitchen or chicken was near, to ask for “more please!”. It was the most adorable and most effective strategy And I will miss it so much. He had such a gentle and loving presence.
I only wish he could have been in my life so much earlier. I wish I had known him in his youth and that he could have had all the adventures any other dog of mine would have. But, in the end, I think we probably found each other when we both needed each other the most.
I find Silver’s story, and so many other Frosted Faces, to be some of the closest things to real life fairy tales. Silver was rescued from the streets of TJ about a year ago, was lucky enough to find his way to Frosted Faces Foundation, and then eventually to my home. The luck of these paths aligning doesn’t happen for every animal out there, and so, no matter the time we had together, Silver is one of the lucky ones with a happy ending and for that I am forever grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to FFF and all of the volunteers and fans who played a role in making the last chapter of his life so beautiful and full of love.
Silver, being your mom made me a better person and taught me so much about love and compassion. I loved you like you were always mine and you of course did the same for me, as dogs always do. You have stolen a piece of my heart forever sweet boy and your memory will always warm my heart and make me smile "
SEBASTIAN
Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 10
Date of Rescue: May 8th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Teresa Larkins
Fans: Terry Phillips
COCO
Acquired from: Tijuana
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 8th, 2020
Date of Passing: A
Family: Darryl Stevens
Fans: Lori & Kelly Smith-Riccardi in memory of Tucker
Tribute: On April 28th, Darryl fulfilled his promise to Frosted Face Coco.
Coco came as a neglected dog from TJ whose leg we had to remove because it was badly mangled. He was a defensive, but deserved the patience, and he was so lucky to get that from Darryl. Darryl loved him through months of paralysis, and in the end, doggie dementia.
When asked if Darryl would like to include a tribute, he hand wrote a love letter for Coco of which we have attached.
Fly high, sweet boy.
Gramps
Acquired from: Tijuana
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 8th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Michele Delao
Fans: Linda & Rick Knorr, Paige O'Connor
Jackie
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 12
Date of Rescue: May 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: July 11th, 2022
Family: Moses & Carrie Bell
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On July 11th, Moses and Carrie fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Jackie after battling congestive heart failure.
They shared,
"From the moment she peeked her cute little face from around the corner at the Frosted house, we knew that she was the one for us. She was the little boss of the house from the beginning as well as a protector of our two children. Jackie could say, 'I love you' with a gaze and you could always count on her for a cuddle whenever needed. The dog beach at Coronado was one of her favorite places to relax, but I think that we will miss the daily walks through the neighborhood with her most.
We are extremely thankful for the time that she blessed us with and grateful to have been her family for the final years. We love and miss you, babygirl "
BELLA
Acquired from: Bonita Shelter
Age upon Rescue: 14
Date of Rescue: May 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: August 1st, 2021
Family: Judith & Stewart Pickell
Fans: RZ
Tribute: On August 1st, Judith and Stewart fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Bella.
They shared,
"What can you say about Bella she was one of a kind? She was 15 years old and every day she brought us joy. To be 15, she sure didn’t act like it she would play, walk and even try to bite even though she didn’t have one tooth in her head. She was black and white and so curly and soft. We fight through a skin disease all the way to the end and her pancreatitis. Unfortunately, she was too tired to fight anymore.
She will remain in our hearts in our soul till we take our last breath. Everyone of our kids are so special and unique and most of them came from Frosted Faces. We will continue to adopt from this wonderful organization because they know that older dogs need love too.
I pray my Bella is in heaven. I know she is and I pray that I meet her and all my other babies at rainbow bridge. She will never be forgotten we love you Bella. "
DAYSE
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 11
Date of Rescue: May 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: December 23rd, 2020
Family: Anne Case
Fans: Kelly & Kyra Tripp
Tribute: On December 23rd, Anne fulfilled her promise to Frosted Face Dayse.
"I never thought that it would end like this. On Monday morning, Dayse was doing zoomies around the house when I picked up her leash for her walk. When we got back home after our walk around the neighborhood, she drank some water, ate a few milkbones and some hamburger/rice, and was my little shadow following me from room to room. I packed up her stuff, helped her into my car, and brought her to the vet to be hospitalized for a few days to help bring down her kidney values. She was fine when I dropped her off. But by Tuesday morning, she had declined and was critical. No one knows exactly what happened to her.
They think she might have vomited and aspirated which caused pneumonia. I've been going through all the what-ifs in my head and replaying every moment wondering what went wrong. I didn't think I would have to write a tribute for her for many more weeks, maybe even a few more months. I brought her home Tuesday night to spend time with her and give her all the love. I am so glad I did. She slept in my bed with me like she always did and I was up all night so I could keep an eye on her. She waddled her way to her favorite potty spot in the backyard and drank lots of water. She was a fighter.
She seemed to be rallying and I had hope, but by Wednesday morning, it became clear that she was done. Her body just couldn't keep going. She passed away on her own terms at home as I gave her as many kisses as I could and told her how much I loved her. Midnight missed her sister and called her home. The two most perfect old grandmas are reunited again. Dayse is probably doing zoomies around doggie heaven as Midnight gives her her signature side-eye. My sweet girl is gone. "
SMILE
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 9th, 2020
Date of Passing: October 26th, 2021
Family: Michele Swalec & Carl Abram
Fans: The Holliday Family
Tribute: On October 26th, Michele and Carl fulfilled their promise to Frosted Face Smile. They shared, "I had a hard time trying to find a dog during Covid. I came across Frosted Faces and decided to give an older dog a try. My last dog was my best friend and I was looking for a dog that could take her place. Smile was that dog almost exactly. He quickly became my best friend and shadow. It was awful watching him get worse and worse the last 3 months of his life as he walked less and less but I am so grateful for the year and a half I had with him. I miss him a ton. Thank you Frosted Faces for all that you do!"
BLUE
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 8
Date of Rescue: May 10th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Liz & Bret Stilwagen
Fans: Debbie
LUCKY
Acquired from: San Diego Humane Society
Age upon Rescue: 9
Date of Rescue: May 10th, 2020
Date of Passing:
Family: Wendy & Syb EagleWolfe
Fans: RZ