June 6, 2011: Early that morning I received a call from Samantha, one of the rescue coordinators at animal services, telling me "please check your email ASAP". Calls like that are usually never good and assure me 145% that my day is about to be turned upside down. I logged in to my email and saw one from her "Sweet Shih Tzu Puppy", with files attached. First thought was "hmm, this doesn't seem bad" with a feeling of relief as I waited for the email to open. It opened, and that relief turned to shock, then sadness, and as the tears rolled down my face as I frantically got dressed. I called Sam on the way out the door, then our vet, who graciously cleared his morning to get our newest pup seen right away. That pup was Faith. Faith was found tossed over the fence of animal services in her carrier, in the Florida heat, after the shelter had closed. She was matted so badly you could barely tell that she was a dog, heartworm positive, with a shattered pelvis and a shattered rear leg that was causing her tremendous pain. She had to be sedated just to have her face shaved down so animal services could try and evaluate her. Faith was barely a year old, if that, she still had some of her baby teeth retained. FLDR was still a tiny rescue, new, Facebook was still new for us, and "Saving Faith" required just about every resource, and pretty much every volunteer in our rescue. Fluids, meds, a leg amputation, teaching her how to walk (because she literally didn't know how because the matts had bound her so badly), slowly adding weight to her, heartworm treatment - everyone stepped up and took shifts the first few weeks, and through it all, Faith gave US faith. She immediately trusted all of us, gave us kisses, snuggled up, and her faith in us never wavered. Many of you followed her progress, came to our events to meet her and give her some cuddles (she truly did love everyone). After almost a year of rehab, treatments and recovery, Faith was finally cleared "as healthy as she will be" and ready for a true home of her own. Beth and David, fosters and volunteers with FLDR, had been instrumental in Faith's care from the beginning. They fell in love with her, especially Beth, but as much as they loved her, when approached with the possibility of adopting her (all the rest of us already knew in our gut that they were supposed to be Faith's family) they initially hesitated - citing concerns they they weren't good enough for her, worried that they would somehow "let her down" or "miss something" in her care. We, and Faith, had more faith in them than they had in theirselves. After speaking with her vets, and lots of thoughtful consideration, Beth and David welcomed Faith into their family, officially. Faith had a new brother, Bennett, one of FLDR's puppy mill rescues, and would go on to welcome Thor, another FLDR medically fragile pup, into their pack. Over the last nine years, Faith has been loved, cherished, treated like the princess she deserved to be, and barely spent any time away from her humans. She's vacationed, attended family celebrations, celebrated the wedding of Beth and David's daughter, and welcomed three grandchildren with them. If Faith had a theme song, we truly believe it would be "Don't Stop Me Now", as she was always having a good time, and never really slowed down. Until this past week. Faith's medical issues started to catch up to her, and despite all of Beth and David's best efforts and top notch medical care, Faith was finally tired, and let them know it was time. To say this has been devastating is an understatement. Faith was so loved, by so many, and she loved everyone back fiercely (attacks with kisses were a real thing!). We can not offer Beth and David enough gratitude, thanks, appreciation, hugs and love for loving Faith so so much, giving her the best life, and still sharing her with all of us. While for the last nine years she has been an official part of Beth and David's family, they always made sure to let us know she was still "ours" too, and our collective hearts are broken, as last night Faith crossed the Rainbow Bridge, while being held in the loving arms of her humans. As I am typing this, the tears are still flowing. We are all going to work really hard to focus on the many, many good years that Faith knew she was loved and cherished, while we grieve the fact that it still seems too short. Somehow, rescue can shatter your heart yet put it back together all at once, its hard to properly articulate the feeling in words, but this is as close as I can get at the moment. I sincerely hope that Carol was there to greet her at the bridge, and give her so much love and let her know "job well done" for rescuing so many humans and giving us all Faith.

Thank you Faith, for all the love, and all the faith. (Laurie)