News and Events

FACE Booth at Cardiff Dog Days of Summer Was a Hit

The sun may have been hiding but the pooches were still on parade this Saturday, August 14th at the Dog Days of Summer in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.  The FACE Foundation had a booth at this dog-themed street fair where thousands of pets and their owners attended to have a tail-wagging good time.  Dogs of all shapes and sizes came out to the event, ranging from tiny chihuahuas to a massive 180-lb. Newfoundland-Saint Bernard mix!  At the FACE booth attendees of the event stopped by to get their faces painted or play dunk-a-duck and learned a bit about the FACE Foundation in the meantime.  Several grantees and their owners attended the event as well to help show their support of FACE.  Grantees in attendance included Schatzie Cesaro, Shadow Adams, Timmy Kissane, Squirt Glazer, Sebastian Phillips, and Xylon Leon.  The FACE Foundation would like to extend a big thank you to all of the grantees and booth visitors who supported FACE at the event this year.

Tree of Life Mural Unveiling Was a Tail Wagging Success!

Tails were wagging as over 130 animal lovers and their furry companions attended the special dedication on July 18th in support of the human animal bond. The 65 foot mural was unveiled at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Sorrento Valley which was accompanied by live music, food and beverages, a ribbon cutting ceremony, and an educational seminar delivered by ER Specialist Dr. Monica Clare. With numerous generous donations we are proud to have successfully raised $115,000 that will be contributed toward family pets facing euthanasia.

We would like to give a warm and special thank you to our sponsors who made this event possible:

Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Three Dog Bakery
Cupcakes Squared
Pat & Oscars
Waters Catering
Metro Catering
Boudin Bakery
Pizza Port
Michael's Flower Girl

Save The Date! Howl-o-ween Canine Carnival!

You won't want to miss out on our spooktacular Howl-o-ween Canine Carnival! Festivities will include trick or treating, crafts and games, a pet parade, raffle prizes, fun vendors, dog costume contests, and more!

We will also be featuring A Taste of Beachwalk that will include delicious food samples and discounts from participating Beachwalk restaurants and businesses. Tickets for this scrumptious sampling are $25 in advance and $30 at the event. To purchase a ticket in advance please call us at FACE at (858) 450-3223.

When: Saturday, October 30th, 2010; 12-3pm

Where: Solana Beachwalk
           437 South Highway 101
           Solana Beach, CA 92025


We can't wait to see you in your BOO-tiful costumes!

FACE Raises Funds for Life Saving Care

Stitch, an adorable 4 lb. 3-year-old Chihuahua got away from his owner De Anna and was struck by a car. He suffered head trauma and multiple pelvic fractures. For such a tiny dog being hit by a car almost ended his life, but Stitch is a little fighter and after two nights in the hospital, doctors were able to stabilize him enough for surgery. De Anna, Stitch's loving owner lives on a limited income as a waitress and already spent almost $3,000 in emergency care. De Anna was out of money and could not afford the surgery Stitch needed to survive. Devastated and desperately wanting to save her sweet dog, De Anna came to the FACE office today with an application in hand. She couldn't stop sharing pictures and stories about her beloved Stitch.
For such a young boy, Stitch has already had a difficult life by most standards. As a puppy, he was a malnourished stray running the streets in Mexico. He eventually wound up in a San Diego-area shelter. There he was placed on the euthanasia list. While he waited for his young life to end he shared a kennel with a much larger dog. Poor Stitch was attacked by his kennel-mate and contracted a serious infection from his wounds. Fortunately, a local Rescue took him from the shelter, intent on finding this survivor a permanent loving home. Finally, he was adopted by De Anna who has adored him and pampered him ever since.
Through your generous donations the FACE Foundation was able to provide life saving care for Stitch and he is currently doing well in recovery.

You're invited to "Tree of Life" ... Dedication for unconditional love of an animal.

Please join FACE, the Veterinary Specialty Hospital and fellow animal lovers as we celebrate the unconditional love of our pets at the unveiling of our 65ft. "Tree of Life" mural. You will enjoy live music, hors d' oeurves and wine, an educational seminar on "How to recognize if your pet is having an emergency and what to do about it" and mix and mingle with your precious pet and favorite vet.

When: Sunday- July 18th, 1:00PM - 3:00PM

Where: The Veterinary Specialty Hospital

10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121

Space in our stunning 65ft mural at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital is still available for your pet, but filling up quickly! Animal lovers have already commissioned 16 portraits and nearly 100 individual leaves, each representing a beloved life. If you'd like your pet added to the mural before the unveiling celebration please contact us ASAP! Mural prices include $150 per Leaf and $5,000 per Portrait. Leaves and portraits will also be available to purchase the day of the event. All proceeds benefit the FACE Foundation and are tax-deductable.

*Please note: This is an RSVP required event! To register for the event or to learn more about purchasing a portrait/leaf, click here.

Yappy Hour is a Success!

What a great weekend… surfing with the dogs on Saturday and raising money to help save animals on Sunday. Dogtown teamed up with Three Dog Bakery, Pawtopia Dog Training and Coastal Pet Care to host a Yappy Hour to raise money for the Face Foundation. We had a great turnout and we met some really wonderful dog loving people!

We poured wine and enjoyed delicious human treats from Pacifica Del Mar and Il Fornaio. In addition, photographer Dana Greene took photos of our dogs and helped us raise money while Colleen from Pawtopia gave brief casual training talks to the guests. This was the first event we had a chance to work with Staci at Costal Pet Care, who was a blast to work with.  Because of those who came out to support, we raised $600 for FACE. We would like to thank all those who bought raffle tickets and made donations. Your generosity will provide the medical treatment that a family’s pet desperately needs.

“Real Kill” Rat Poison Especially Dangerous for Pets

All brands of rat poison are harmful when ingested by pets, but pet-owners should be particularly cautious with a brand of poison called “Real Kill.”

 

“Real Kill” is especially dangerous because there is no known antidote for pets that have ingested the product. Usually, pets who have ingested rat poison are treated with vitamin K and have a good prognosis, but this isn’t the case with “Real Kill.”

 

Rodenticides (rat poisons) kill rats by interrupting the body’s blood clotting system, resulting in fatal bleeding. This same result occurs if enough poison is ingested by humans or pets. Vitamin K is usually administered to rejuvenate the body’s blood coagulation ability. For most brands of rat poison this is an effective treatment, but “Real Kill” poison is not responsive to vitamin K.

 

Pets that have ingested “Real Kill” poison have to be treated with alternative methods. These methods include induced vomiting, charcoal, plasma transfusions, intravenous fluids and possibly blood transfusions.

 

Ingestion of rat poison can be a frightening and expensive ordeal for pet-owners, so it is best to keep all brands of rat poison out of reach from pets unless a tamper-resistant bait station is used.

 

If you think your pet has ingested rat poison, contact your veterinarian immediately.

 

Signs that your pet has ingested rat poison include:

-Weakness

-Paleness in gums

-Bloody urine/stool

-Nose Bleeds

Donations made to FACE in memory of local animal lover

FACE would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the family and friends of Helen Kaye Parker, a FACE supporter who recently passed away. In lieu of flowers, Helen Kaye's family suggested loved ones make a contribution to the FACE Foundation. This generous gesture was made in honor of Helen Kaye’s lifetime of kindness, toward both people and animals.

 

The entire FACE family sends condolences to Helen Kaye’s family. We hope all of her loved ones take comfort in knowing the donations made in her memory will help save the lives of local pets needing urgent medical care.

 

Helen Kaye was a dedicated teacher in the Oceanside School District for more than 35 years. She was also an avid cat lover and couldn’t bear to see pets go without medical treatment because of their owner’s financial limitations.

 

Helen Kaye loaned her own money to neighbors and friends who were unable to afford medical expenses for their pets. On more than one occasion, Helen Kaye even loaned money to strangers she met in the waiting room at her vet’s office.

 

“We could think of no more fitting tribute to Helen Kaye’s life than to support the very work she did so many times on her own,” said Shannon Durbin-Yates, Helen Kaye’s niece.

Support FACE with 'Caps for a Cause'

Are you looking for a fun and unique gift idea for your girlfriends? Do you know of any hip San Diego salons that would like to sell these trendy shower caps?

FACE is happy to introduce Caps for a Cause. A portion of the profit from each one of these chic little shower caps benefits FACE. We have six colorful designs available for $20 and a bridal design for $25. There will be a $5 charge for shipping. Click here: caps.doc to view cap designs.

For more information, contact FACE at (858) 450-3223 or admin@face4pets.org.

FACE Featured on CBS News

On November 30, the FACE Foundation received a frantic call from Deanna Lee.  Her cat, Coco,  swallowed part of a Christmas ornament.  Not just a family pet, Coco was the best friend and confidante of Lee's 7-year-old autistic son.  The heartfelt story was picked up by several news stations.  Click here to watch CBS' video, highlighting the dangers of the holidays to pets, as well as the bond between humans and animals. 

"Cats' House Benefit" a Big Success!

FACE is pleased to announce that our "Cats’ House Benefit" was a HUGE success! Hundreds of people showed up to support FACE and get a behind-the-scenes peek at Bob Walker and Frances Mooney’s world-famous cat cottage.

 

Cats’ House visitors got the rare chance to meet the creative minds behind the Cats’ House and their feline family, tour the home, and mingle with fellow cat enthusiasts. The thousands of dollars raised from all of this feline fun will go directly to the funding FACE provides for San Diego pet owners in need.

 

The FACE Foundation would like to thank everyone who attended the benefit.  Your support is invaluable to our foundation and we look forward to seeing you at future FACE events! 

 

To view photos from the event click here: Cats House Pictures.doc

 

A special thank you to the following people and companies for help making the "Cats’ House Benefit" possible:

 

Bob Walker and Frances Mooney

C2 Reprographics

Corner Bakery Cafe

Pet Hideaway

Pet People

Princess Bride Flowers

Solana Beach Chamber of Commerce

Starbucks Coffee

Sunset Press (619) 282-8161

The Purring Parrot

E-Cards Are The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Searching for the perfect gift?  Then look no further than our new e-cards.  Show someone you care about them (and animals) by making a donation to FACE in their name.  In return, they'll receive a beautiful electronic card with a picture of one of the animals we've saved, along with a personalized message from you.  Cards can be purchased here and are available for all occasions. 

FACE is pleased to announce our Save-a-Life program

The "Save-a-Life" Program is a collective effort between a veterinary clinic and FACE that has already proven to generate significant funding to help pets in need. Working in collaboration with FACE, participating veterinary hospitals take an active role in raising money to save lives. A percentage of funding generated through each clinic will be designated for emergency care grants at that hospital. We are inviting veterinary practices throughout Southern California to participate.

To learn how the "Save-a-Life" Program can be customized and implemented at your veterinary clinic, please contact our offices directly.

Girl Scouts Donate Cookie Money to FACE

The generous members of Girl Scout Troop 4065 decided to share some of the proceeds of their cookie sale with the FACE Foundation.

The Brownies visited Veterinary Specialty Hospital this month for a tour. After learning about FACE, they decided to help out by making an $82 donation (equal to 10 percent of their sales) that will help save the lives of family pets.

From us at FACE and from the animals, thanks girls!

NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHTS GROWING NEED FOR HELP

A recent news story on FACE describes the growing demand for help and our 'staggering' need for donor support. The Sept. 24 story appeared in the Rancho Santa Fe Review, the Carmel Valley News and the Del Mar Village Voice.

The story also highlights our many success stories.

Executive Director Stacy Steel attributes the growing need in part to the recession leaving many people jobless and unable to afford emergency care for their pets.

Donors have the opportunity to make a life-saving donation that will make an immediate impact for a sick or injured pet and his or her family, Steel states in the story.

"You're saving lives," she says in the story, which appeared in papers in the San Diego Ranch Coast Newspaper Group. "It doesn't get much better than that."

Follow the link below to read the entire story.

SD Ranch Coast News.pdf

 

UNION TRIBUNE HIGHLIGHTS THE WORK OF THE FACE FOUNDATION

On Aug. 8, 2009, the San Diego Union Tribune featured an article on FACE, highlighting our support and dedication to helping animals in need. Originally appearing in the North County section, then re-run in East County on Aug. 20, the article follows the story of Lil Mama, a 4-month-old Lab with a fractured leg.  Click here to read the inspirational piece.

 

 

PIRATE TAKES THE BOOTY AT DOG DAY AFTERNOON

Thumper, a Chihuahua-terrier mix, was top dog at the inaugural Dog Day Afternoon held in Solana Beach on Aug. 22.

Nabbing first place in our costume contest, he walked away with a $50 gift card from Muttropolis as well as the hearts of all the ladies. Aargh!

Thumper was just one of the winners at the event, which raised $3,500 to benefit pets in need of live-saving medical care. Members of Girl Scout troop 1292 picked winners in categories including "Cutest," "Best Trick," and "Biggest Ears."

Throughout the day, guests sampled food from the Beach Walk Shopping Center's restaurants and listened to live music by Stratos. The event also featured pet-friendly vendors, kid's games, face painting, professional pet photos, dog adoptions and a raffle.

Check out the slideshow of event photos in the right column.

TAZ AND ROCKY FEATURED ON FOX 5 MORNING NEWS

FACE featured on Fox5 Morning Show.  Click here to watch two of our FACE cases Taz and Rocky, along with lots of other adorable bulldogs. They're back in the game and warming up for the Running of the Bulldogs event on August 8th. Please join us with your furry friends for a fun filled afternoon in beautiful downtown San Diego!

FACE MAKES NEWS IN SAN DIEGO PETS MAGAZINE

In their July - August issue, San Diego Pets Magazine published a full page article about FACE - showcasing a few of our many success stories and explaining our need for new donors to keep up our good work! The article explains that the increased awareness of FACE has created an influx of calls seeking help; we now need more donations to keep from turning pets away and denying life-saving surgeries. We are thrilled that San Diego Pet Magazine is helping us spread the word about FACE, and the many family pets in need!

> Download article. (PDF)

Printed with permission from San Diego Pets Magazine
www.sandiegopetsmagazine.com

COCONUT'S STORY FEATURED IN RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE

The February 2009 issue of Ranch and Coast Magazine featured one of FACE's success stories. When Coconut, a 2-year-old Sheltie broke her leg, the Giblins rushed her to their vet. They assumed the vet would be able to put a cast on Coconut's leg, and that would be that. However, they soon discovered that their puppy's injury was complicated and that they'd need to see a specialist.

Then came the more devastating news that fixing Coconut's leg would cost nearly $5,000. The Giblins, who have two young daughters and earn a modest income, couldn't afford it. "The only other option was to try to leave it to heal naturally," adds Louise, "but it would probably keep breaking. We couldn't put her to sleep. She's our baby." Coconut's vet then told the family about the FACE Foundation. FACE was able to help the Giblins afford the necessary treatment, and today Coconut is a happy and healthy dog.

Download Ranch & Coast article (PDF).

—By Annamaria Stephens
Printed with permission from Ranch & Coast Magazine
www.ranchandcoast.com