Success Stories
In these uncertain economic times, in can be daunting if not impossible for some families to bear the cost of emergency veterinary care. Unable to afford the life-saving procedures that their animals so desperately need, they are left with the heartbreaking choice between surrender and euthanasia. But with the support of generous donors, the FACE Foundation has been able to give grants to these needy pet owners. As you read the stories below, know that it is our donors who make their surgeries possible. Please consider making a donation today.
Tiger
We expect that many of you are familiar with
Tony the Tiger who said the famous words, "They're Grrrreat!" when he
tasted a new breakfast cereal. We have our own Tiger and we expect that he's
proclaiming, "I'm Grrrreat!" now that he has recovered from a medical
emergency. Here's Tiger's story. ...
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Cutie
We'd like to tell the story of Cutie, an
English bulldog who has brought great joy and happiness to her human family.
These have been difficult times for Cutie's family whose "human" dad
is active duty Navy. After returning from deployment in Afghanistan,
everyone's world turned upside down. ...
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Max
Meet Max, the adorable Dachshund and his loving family. Max suffered a life-threatening injury, and his family could not afford the surgery needed to save him. Thankfully, the FACE Foundation was able to help, and he is now enjoying his second chance at life!A very special thank you goes out to ...
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Charlie
Many animal rescue groups devote time, energy,
and resources to providing new beginnings for animals who have been abandoned,
relinquished, neglected or abused or who have been just left at local shelters.
Charlie is a five year old Italian Greyhound who had been posted on Facebook by
a woman ...
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Koopa
Some of you may know Koopa as a fictional
character in the video game series, Super Mario. We know Koopa as a gorgeous
Maltese/Havenese mix puppy. Everyone knows that a baby gate is intended to
confine a baby or a dog to one area of the house but that didn't stop Koopa.
One day in January when ...
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Emma
Emma is a pit bull mix puppy whose best friend
is Bella, a Mastiff mix. The day after Christmas when Emma was only four months
old, she and Bella, who is only two years old, decided to celebrate the holiday
season with some fun and games. We'd call it rough housing; the dogs would call
it ...
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Dunston
Someone needs to remind Dunston that he's a
cute bundle of puppy fur, not a cat who lands on its feet from almost any
height. Dunston is a Shih Tzu who was only a four month old, seven pound puppy
when he was being cuddled in his human mom's arms. Then he saw Jamar, his human
dad, on his way to ...
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Pippa
Pippa just doesn't know how this happened
because she certainly isn't a big girl with little bones! Pippa is a female pit
bull terrier who was born on June 10, 2012. Nicole, her human mom, always
thought she'd have a Yorkshire Terrier whom she'd name Pippa. Then she met and
fell in love with a ...
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Brutus
When a rabbit or a bird or a lizard catches the
eye of a dog, the dog's prey drive can kick in. Dogs are predators and the prey
drive is just part of what they are. It is a natural instinct. The challenge,
of course, is when you are taking your dog for a walk. Enter Brutus, a one and
a half ...
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Bitsy
You've heard the nursery rhyme about the
"itsy bitsy spider", right? If you were asked the meaning of
"itsy bitsy", maybe you'd say it is the same as "itty
bitty" or "tiny" or "small". We'd like to introduce
you to Bitsy, who is now a seven month old calico kitten. She may be named
Bitsy but ...
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Pony
Pony is about to celebrate his first birthday. He says this story covers
a really personal topic and it's a bit embarrassing to discuss in public. On
the other hand, he knows that many male kittens and cats have a similar
diagnosis so he's decided to tell you about it. Male cats can easily ...
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Tucker
Meet "Tucker!" This happy hound-dog
is sweet as can be, but his upbeat personality is what got him into trouble...
His problem? "Happy Tail." He wagged his tail so hard that he cut it
open when it hit the table. He got an infection, and it became so severe that
he needed his tail amputated, ...
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Brody
Last week, FACE received
a letter to Santa, written by a little girl named Ashlynn... her beloved dog
Brody was sick. Her parents had spent all they had trying to save Brody's life,
but didn't have enough for the final surgery he needed. FACE was touched by
this little girl's letter...and ...
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Sweet Pea
Update on Sweet Pea...Sweet Pea received the surgery she needed on
her fractured little paw, and her veterinarian expects her to make a complete
recovery. She is doing great now, and is home resting and recovering. In six
weeks’ time, she will be better than ever.
Bill, Sweet Pea’s adoring ...
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Seraphena
Update on Seraphena...Seraphena received the surgery she needed on
her fractured leg, and her veterinarian expects her to make a complete
recovery. She is doing great now, and is home resting and recovering. She will soon be better than ever.
Seraphena’s adoring family of five was
overwhelmed ...
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Lippy
Her name is Lippy but we could also call her
Lucky. Why? Because Lippy, an eleven year old Siamese mix, survived a scary
incident with a coyote and lived to tell about it. About 4:00 a.m. one morning
in June, Yvette, Lippy's human mom, heard what sounded like a cat fight. She
ran to the window ...
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Blue
If you ask a family who has a beagle in their
life to tell you about their dog, they'll certainly tell you that the beagle
dog breed is a scent hound and, therefore, has a great sense of smell. A nose
to the ground kind of dog. They might also describe their dog as cheery, merry,
amiable, ...
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Malakai
What's the definition of a bionic man? It is a
human being whose body has been taken over by electromechanical devices. Malakai
isn't a human being and his orthopedic pins, plates, and screws aren't operated
by electricity but we think we can call Malakai a bionic dog! Here's his ...
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J.P.
Someone says they want to introduce you to Jean
Pierre. You immediately think of a handsome Frenchman, right? Very debonair and
full of joie de vivre. Someone who is elegant but who also loves to have fun.
We'd like to introduce you to J.P., a two and a half year old Himalayan who is
named ...
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Bootsie
When you look at a photograph of this sweet and
pretty tabby, it won't come as a surprise to you that her name is Bootsie.
Check out those white boots on each of her paws! Less than one year ago, Lisa
rescued Bootsie from a certain death and she's been part of Lisa's family since
before her ...
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Marley
There is a wonderful song written and performed
by Carole King. As its lyrics say, if you are down and troubled and you need
some loving care, "You just call out my name, and you know where ever I
am, I'll come running to see you again". Whenever Jamie has needed a
friend, Marley has been ...
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Lucy
When Barbara received a call from the President
of the FACE Foundation about two years ago, telling her that she had the dog for
her, little did Barbara know that she'd meet one of the friendliest and most
loving dogs of her life. Barbara's right leg had been amputated earlier due to
medical ...
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Miley
Miley is a sweet two and a half year old cat
who lived her life outdoors by day and indoors by night. Usually Miley would
come into the house at night but when she didn't return one evening, her family
was worried. As they pulled in the driveway the next evening, Miley sprinted
across the ...
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Roca
We've all heard someone say that they were in
the right place at the right time. If Roca
could talk, that's what she'd be saying these days. And guess what?? Her human
family would be saying the same thing!
Last month, Roca,
a nine month old American Pit Bull, was found wandering the ...
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Saphira
It may have been April 1 but what happened to
Saphira, a beautiful six year old Russian Blue cat, wasn't an April Fool's Day
joke. No one knows what happened. Saphira and Lily, her cat buddy, were playing
on the second floor patio of their home. Onyx and Angel, two doggie buddies,
were busy ...
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King
Update on King!King is doing very well! He came to visit FACE a few weeks ago, and we got some great footage of him exploring the office.Check out our new video of King's journey below:
Hi! My name is King... I
am a sweet three year-old French Bulldog. My back legs ...
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Sparky
This adorable Pomeranian, Sparky, is the best friend and loyal companion to his owner, Thomas. Sparky was diagnosed with a urethral obstruction at Parkway Pet Clinic, and he needed surgery to save his life. Thomas was devastated when he learned the cost of Sparky's surgery. He is ...
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Moses
Moses, a lovable Yorkshire Terrier mix, needed immediate
surgery after being hit by a car. Moses and his owner had been outside feeding
the homeless, as was their normal routine, when Moses got free and was struck.
Moses’ owner John was horrified as he watched his best friend get hit by a ...
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Chaos
Chaos, a 3 year old cat, is the beloved family member of his two young owners who are both students and live on a very limited income. They don't have any children, and Chaos is like a baby to them.Chaos's owners became distressed when they noticed that he had trouble urinating and rushed him ...
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Meet Brutus, a Recent FACE Grantee!
Brutus Willardson is a spunky Boston Terrier puppy, who, due to poor genetics and being the runt of the litter, suffered from a restriction in his colon. He experienced great difficulty and discomfort during ...
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Miguel
Miguel is a sweet Chihuahua and Italian Greyhound mix. His owners, Cheryl and Nick, adopted him two months ago from a San Diego rescue group at a dog adoption event. It was love at first sight, and even though Miguel has only been a part of their family for a short amount of time, they have become ...
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Wizard
One of two feline members of the Camerino family, Wizard is
a spunky, young cat who enjoys playing with his two human brothers, Joshua and
Zach. One day, Wizard’s parents,
Stephanie and John, noticed Wizard was in excruciating pain during urination, and
he was diagnosed later with ...
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Lupin
A five-year-old Dachshund, Lupin suffered from a slipped
disk in his back. Lupin was in great pain, and his
owner, Shane, rushed him to Veterinary Specialty Hospital, VSH, in San
Marcos. There, doctors determined
surgery was necessary to correct Lupin’s slipped disk. Shane was ...
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Lil' Man
Lil’ Man Borum is a 4.5-year-old cat whose father, Nicholas,
is in the Navy. Lil’ Man managed to break his femoral head, or
the top of his femur. Such an injury
required surgery, but his parents were unable to pay for a reparative
procedure. Plaza Boulevard Pet ...
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Charger
Charger is a soft, spunkie little Papillion from Carlsbad. While dining on a filet, Charger swallowed a piece of a bone, which lodged in his throat! Charger began gagging, swallowing, and regurgitating all of the food repeatedly. After being diagnosed with a "near complete ...
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Cozmo
Cozmo loves to run around and play with his family. Cozmo was playing like it was any other day when he tried to make a jump over a fence and accidentally lacerated his leg! Cozmo was rushed to the Carlsbad Animal Hospital and was told that he needed surgery immediately! Cozmo's family knew that ...
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Chanel
At only three months of age, Chanel the fluffy and curly-haired Maltipoo fractured her leg when she jumped off of the couch in her new home. Chanel is so young and small that this fracture was life-threatening and required surgery as soon as possible. Unfortunately her owner could not afford the ...
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Rambo
VALENTINE'S DAY is all about love... and BIG hearts! FACE was able to help fund this handsome Presa Canario's life-saving heart surgery just in time for him to celebrate the holiday with his family. Thanks to his healthy heart he was able to send us the sweetest note - quite a clever boy! It ...
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Lucky
Lucky, a two-year-old Newfoundland mix needed surgery after injuring his paw. One of his toes needed to be removed immediately before infection took over. With the help of FACE, Lucky was able to get the surgery he needed. Thankfully, Lucky was true to his name and is now ...
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Brownie
Brownie is a sweet 5-month-old Pit bull puppy. She pulled her leg so badly that it shifted her knee cap requiring surgery. Brownie would not have had a chance of survival or a normal life without medical attention. Her owner is a young mother to be who is struggling to make ends ...
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Daisy
Daisy is a sweet American Bulldog mix, nearly 1.5-years-old. She is the heart of a local military family that would do anything for her. One day, Daisy's "dad" walked her outside, and in the blink of an eye, she saw a ball down the street and went after it; Daisy was hit by a ...
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Yoda
Yoda, a 12-year-old Rat Terrier/Corgi mix, was in critical condition due to an infected mass that had been growing on his abdomen. Although the tumor was benign, the infection could have been deadly. Sadly, both of his owners have lost their jobs as well as their home. The ...
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Missy
This charming 6-month-old Pitbull puppy named Missy is part of a family that was transplanted to San Diego due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. She was hit by a car, breaking her back right leg, and exposing bone on one of her toes. Missy needed surgery to repair her ...
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Tiny Bear
Tiny Bear is an 11-year-old Pomeranian that loves to spend time with his family. One of his legs was badly injured, and the only option to save him would be to amputate the leg. This kind of surgery is very expensive, however it was necessary to save his life. Tiny Bear's ...
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Rudy
Rudy's "mom" turned to the FACE Foundation when he needed a dangerous foreign body removed. This 3-year-old Miniature Pinscher had to undergo expensive surgery that was too much for his owner to afford; she is a full-time student that works part-time. Due to the ...
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Bell
Bell is a beautiful 2-month-old Labrador Retriever that got into an unfortunate rivalry with another dog that resulted in a fractured jaw. This life threatening injury required expensive surgical repair so that Bell would be able to eat on her own. Bell's "dad" is a marine at Camp ...
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Wynston
Wynston is a handsome 2-year-old King Charles with a sweet puppy-dog face. He had a slipped disk which caused complete paralysis in both back legs. He is only 2 years old, and his family loves him very much. They are a large family of several generations living in one home ...
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Brownie
Brownie, an adorable 2-year-old Cocker Spaniel, was brought into the Veterinary Specialty Hospital after he had been hit by a car. It was quickly discovered that his pelvis was broken and he would need surgery to have any chance of recovery. Brownie’s treatment was extensive and costly, and his ...
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Penny
Penny was just 3 months old when she was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia. Penny’s owners were shocked to find out that the pet insurance they had purchased for Penny didn’t cover emergency care. Earning just minimum wage, the young couple couldn’t afford the cost of Penny’s lifesaving ...
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Taz
Taz was brought into a local veterinary hospital when his frightened owner noticed unusual bleeding. It was quickly discovered that he would need surgery to have any chance of recovery. This adorable 7-month-old English Bulldog also suffered from an elongated soft palate, making it difficult to ...
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Chowder
Chowder's mom left him for a few hours to run some errands and noticed he was limping when she returned. Turns out, Chowder had broken his knee and would need surgery. The 4-month-old Boxer had only lived with his family for two months after being adopted. Chowder is deaf and his owner's ...
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Rocky
When 12-week-old Rocky's tummy didn't agree with the new treats his owner gave him, he promptly threw them up. Unfortunately, part of a treat got stuck in Rocky's lung, giving him pneumonia and causing him a lot of pain. His veterinarian put him on antibiotics but Rocky's little body wasn't strong ...
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Star
Late into the stages of Star’s pregnancy, it became clear that this tiny chihuahua was too small to support the litter of four puppies she was carrying. The puppies were stuck, and Star required an emergency C-section to save them, and her own life as well. FACE rushed in and made sure the ...
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Paloma
Paloma, is a sweet 2-year-old chihuahua. She is a lovable and loyal dog
who diligently follows her owner Elizabeth everywhere. Her owner had
noticed Paloma was in need of emergency care when she began to whimper
in pain and no longer wanted to be picked up and petted. Paloma was
suffering ...
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Stitch
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. Stitch is a little fighter and after two nights in the
hospital, ...
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Murphy
Murphy’s owner Nicolette thought she had no choice but to euthanize her beloved companion after he injured his back jumping off the couch. Money is tight for this Nicolette and her husband, who is in the Navy, and the surgery to repair Murphy’s back was very expensive. His appointment at the vet ...
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Timmy
Timmy, a three-year old Jack Russell terrier dachshund mix, is a little ball of energy who loves playing at the beach, the park, or anywhere he can run wild and free! When he was two, Timmy began experiencing back trouble, and was prescribed an anti-inflammatory. The medication didn’t help, though, ...
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Cali
When 3-year-old Cali suffered a fractured femur, her owner didn’t how he was going to cover the cost of her surgery. Having been unemployed for most of last year and now working at a minimum wage job, he couldn’t afford Cali’s emergency care. Not wanting to lose his best friend and swimming ...
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Fatty
Fatty is an adorable, playful, chubby cat. He loves people and eating like a pig. Fatty's owner suspected something was wrong when he noticed his cat would cry after using the kitty litter box. Early one morning Fatty’s owner was awoken by a loud painful scream. Fatty was taken to ...
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Shadow
Shadow’s owners panicked when they noticed she had lost control of her back legs. Soon, their loving 10-month-old puppy was vomiting and experiencing severe tremors. It was then that they noticed a bag of snail bait torn open in their yard. Shadow was rushed to the hospital, where she spent two ...
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Buddy
Buddy and his owner, Paul, had just moved into a relative's home after Paul lost his job. One afternoon, Buddy snuck out of the yard and ended up next door where he was attacked by three huge dogs. Paul ran after Buddy and tried to rescue him from the dogs, nearly getting attacked himself. Buddy ...
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Popcorn
Popcorn is a 4-year-old cat who suffered from bladder stones. His owner is a single parent who also supports her elderly parent. Due to the economy, she has been forced to take furloughs at work. Without the support of FACE, Popcorn's owner wouldn't have been able to get him the ...
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Oakley
Oakley was a care free 3-month-old puppy until an accident left him with a broken elbow. Oakley and his furry brother, Diego, got so caught up in playing that they would up right under someone's feet. Oakley's tiny leg was stepped on. OUCH! Oakley's mom couldn't afford the ...
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Coco
Coco was accidentally dropped by the 6-year-old son of a large family. Their income has been cut in half due to the economy and they were unable to afford the surgery to fix Coco's broken leg. Their only option was to put Coco to sleep. Coco's owner could not bear the thought of ...
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Princess Rat
Tiny Princess Rat ran out the front door and into the street, where she was tragically hit by a car. Princess Rat shattered her pelvis and ruptered her bladder, but was miraculously alive. However, the surgery to make her well was too much for her military family to afford. ...
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Lady Bug
Four-year-old Min Pin Ladybug was adopted from a shelter only a few months ago. One day, her owners noticed Ladybug was in pain, and a few hours later she could barely walk. Vets discovered a slipped disk in her neck. This painful problem could only be relieved with surgery. ...
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apache
Apache was going outside with his owner when their legs got tangled and his paw was accidentally stepped on. The mishap left Apache with several broken bones in his foot, and it left his owner, a Marine, feeling terrible about the pain his beloved dog was feeling. Having just ...
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Dynah
Dynah is one lucky kitty. You know what they say about cats always landing on their feet? Well, in Dynah's case her feet took the brunt of a horrible fall that broke both her front legs. Dynah's owner recently lost her job and couldn't afford her cat's surgery. And, due to a ...
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Royalty
Royalty was only 6-weeks-old when she broke her elbow in a fall down the stairs. To fix the injury, Royalty would need surgery. But her loving family couldn't afford the whole bill. As they searched for help, another crisis complicated their lives even further. Royalty's mom Danielle went into ...
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Elvis
Elvis, a 9-year-old German Shepherd, is his mom's constant companion. Just a few months ago, the pair traveled together from Western New York to California, where his mom, Trish, started a new job caring for horses on a farm. Elvis was the one constant in Trish's life at a time when everything else ...
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Suki
Suki is getting the chance to grow up thanks to the FACE Foundation. At only 4-months-old and weighing just over 3 pounds, Suki was injured while playing with some children. Both of her front legs were broken and she was unable to walk. Her owner is on disability and couldn't afford treatment. The ...
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Jazzy
Jazzy was brought into the Veterinary Specialty Hospital with an obstructed urinary tract and a resistant E. coli infection. His owner, unable to meet the financial cost of the treatment, was faced with the unthinkable decision of surrendering Jazzy or putting him to sleep. Jazzy is one of the ...
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Ava
This feisty little min-pin is beloved by her mom Jessica. Ava is only 4-months-old and loves to be with her family constantly. One night at dinner she accidentally got stepped on while under the table. Her broken front leg required immediate surgery. Ava’s mom is a full-time student and a single ...
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Rug
Thanks to the generous donors of the FACE Foundation, "Rug" is once again making people smile. When bone fragments lodged in his esophagus, Rug needed immediate surgery. With a grant from FACE, Rug received the care he needed and his owners were able to choose life for their beloved dog.
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Kitty
Kitty had a tough start to his young life. He was attacked by a coyote when he was only 8 weeks old. He had already been rescued from horrible living conditions where his parents were kept in rabbit hutches. He is one of the most loving kittens you'd ever hope to meet! Even though his back end was ...
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Honey
When Honey, a 3-year-old female Labrador Retriever, could no longer walk, she was brought to Veterinary Specialty Hospital for diagnosis. Vets discovered that she had injured both her wrists. The injuries were extensive and required surgery which Honey's owner could not afford. After receiving ...
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Oreo
Oreo got out of the house, ran into the street and got hit by a car. His injuries were too severe to be handled by his owner's regular veterinarian and he was referred to a specialist. When poor Oreo's wounds became infected, he once again needed care, this time resulting in the amputation of his ...
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Hannibal
Hannibal was only 11-weeks-old when he stopped eating. His vet suspected PRAA, a condition in which the esophagus is trapped between a ligament and the heart. Although the problem could be corrected, Hannibal's owners could not afford the surgery. They applied to the FACE Foundation and received ...
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Prince
Prince was just a puppy when he was attacked by another dog. His injuries were extensive and painful, and a fractured jaw left him unable to eat. His family could not afford the surgery to mend his broken bones. Their veterinarian told them about FACE, and they qualified for full funding. His ...
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Riff Raff
Riff Raff didn't know that his body was trying to tell him something when he kept vomiting and ultimately refused to eat. His pet parents noticed the change and brought Riff Raff to an internal medicine specialist, who diagnosed him with a fatty liver. When Riff Raff stopped eating, his body ...
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Brownie
After being bitten by a snake, little Brownie was rushed to Veterinary Specialty Hospital, where he started seizing and went into shock. The Chihuahua mix needed emergency care, which his family could not afford. With help from FACE, Brownie was able to receive necessary anti-venom and recovered ...
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Lady
Little Lady is walking again thanks to funds from the FACE Foundation. Lady arrived at the hospital not being able to put pressure on her left hind leg. The vet discovered that due to a genetic problem her knee cap was not sliding in its natural groove. Surgery corrected Lady's abnormality and ...
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Pancake and Tortilla
Pancake and Tortilla were born with a birth defect
that would have killed them before they were even 12 weeks old. They were born
“flat,” which is why their owner gave them such appropriate and cute names.
They needed a special surgery to prevent their rib cages from growing into
their hearts. ...
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Rally
Poor Rally wasn't feeling well. He stopped eating, became lethargic and just seemed depressed. Tests revealed damage to his stomach and colon. Rally's owners could not afford his life-saving surgery. FACE was able to pay for Rally's veterinary treatment, allowing him to fully recover.
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Zoe
Two-year-old Zoe is back at home with her loving family after her run-in with a venomous spider. Her owners were dismayed to discover that Zoe's estimated treatment cost was more than they could afford. With the help of valuable donors, the FACE Foundation was able to provide Zoe's family a grant ...
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Buddy
Lap dog Buddy is walking again with the help from Veterinary Specialty Hospital and FACE. The 3-year-old Miniature Dachshund couldn't even stand when his owner brought him to the vet. Buddy cried out in pain when picked up, and the pain kept getting worse. The specialists at VSH found that Buddy ...
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Baby Girl
Baby Girl learned the hard way that puppies can get hurt in the most surprising ways. Her leg was broken by being stepped on by another dog. She needed surgery, which her owners could not afford. With funds from FACE, Baby Girl was able to undergo the necessary procedure, leaving her happy, healed ...
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