May 27, 2026

Frosted Faces Foundation Gives Senior Pets a Second Chance

Share

Helping Senior Dogs and Cats Find Love, Comfort, and Family in Their Golden Years

For many local animal lovers, pets are family. Frosted Faces Foundation, a nonprofit based in Ramona, is helping senior dogs and cats receive the love, medical care, and second chances they deserve while also creating meaningful companionship opportunities for older adults.


Founded in 2014 by Kelly and Andy Smíšek, Frosted Faces Foundation began by fostering senior shelter dogs who were often overlooked because of their age or medical needs. What started as a small rescue effort quickly grew into a larger mission focused on saving aging pets and supporting the people who care for them.


Today, the organization works closely with shelters to rescue senior animals facing uncertain futures. Each pet receives individualized veterinary treatment, rehabilitation, behavioral support, and the opportunity to be adopted into a loving home.


For residents considering adoption, senior animals can be an especially good fit for a quieter desert lifestyle. Older dogs and cats are often calmer, already house-trained, and happy to enjoy companionship, short walks, and peaceful routines.


One of Frosted Faces Foundation’s unique efforts is its Seniors for Seniors program, designed for adults age 65 and older. The program helps connect seniors with companion animals while reducing barriers that may make pet adoption feel difficult later in life.


The organization thoughtfully matches adopters with pets based on lifestyle and care needs, while volunteers help provide added support when needed. Assistance can include transportation to veterinary appointments, prescription pickups, delivery of pet supplies, and regular check-ins.


Participants may also access complimentary veterinary services through Frosted Faces Foundation’s on-site clinic. If a senior adopter is hospitalized, the pet can temporarily board at the facility free of charge. If an adopter can no longer care for the animal, the pet can return to the foundation.


In addition to adoption services, Frosted Faces Foundation offers temporary boarding during family emergencies, financial assistance for veterinary care, foster opportunities, and long-term care planning programs that help ensure pets remain safe if their owners pass away.


In 2016, the nonprofit purchased its Ramona facility to provide a safe transitional space for senior animals needing medical care or behavioral support. In 2021, it opened an on-site veterinary hospital focused on the specialized needs of older pets.


At the heart of the organization is a belief that growing old is not a burden, but a privilege.


For those looking to adopt, foster, volunteer, or support senior pets, Frosted Faces Foundation is helping create brighter final chapters for animals who still have plenty of love left to give.


Frosted Faces Foundation


1448 Pine Street
Ramona, CA 92065

Phone: (858) 304-0204
Email: info@frostedfacesfoundation.org


Drop-In Adoption Hours:
Daily from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM


Open House & Tours:
Saturday & Sunday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM



Learn More About Borrego Springs

By Andrea McKenna May 27, 2026
SDVoyager feature recognizes the leadership behind the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center Martha Deichler, executive director of the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center (CRC), was recently featured by SDVoyager for her years of service helping families, seniors, workers, and individuals throughout the community. In the feature, Deichler shared how the CRC grew from a small food bank effort during the COVID-19 pandemic into a major hub for community support services. As unemployment and hardship spread through the area during the pandemic, local residents began turning to the food bank not only for groceries, but also for help navigating unemployment applications, vaccine appointments, Medi-Cal, transportation needs, and other essential services. What started as emergency food assistance eventually evolved into the Borrego Springs Community Resource Center, which today offers a wide range of programs including food distribution, English and Spanish classes, citizenship classes, grief counseling, transportation assistance, computer literacy support, AA meetings, and caregiver training programs. Deichler described herself in the article as a “connector,” someone who helps match people with resources, services, and support systems. Her background working in the school district and her ability to speak Spanish have helped her build trusted relationships with families throughout the community. One program highlighted in the story addresses the growing need for caregivers for older adults who wish to remain in the area as they age. Through the CRC’s caregiver initiative, local residents can receive training and assistance connecting with In-Home Support Services (IHSS) opportunities, helping seniors remain independent while creating employment opportunities locally. The article also emphasized the generosity of the community and the support that has allowed the CRC to continue expanding services over the past several years. At 77 years old, Deichler shared that she has no plans to slow down, continuing her work to respond to the changing needs of the community and strengthen programs that help residents access food, healthcare, transportation, education, and support services. The full SDVoyager feature can be viewed here: Read the SDVoyager feature on Martha Deichler
By San Diego County May 23, 2026
County Funding Shapes Fire Protection, Roads, Libraries, and Emergency Services in Borrego Springs
May 23, 2026
Former San Diego City Manager and Casa del Zorro partner weighs in on county charter reforms that could reach voters this November.
May 22, 2026
Source: PBS SoCal
By Andrea McKenna May 19, 2026
The desert nation built on joy and imagination.
By Andrea McKenna May 19, 2026
Borrego Bob’s weather station data has helped track conditions in Borrego Springs for years through BoblandUSA.com.
By Andrea McKenna May 18, 2026
La Casa del Zorro has named Borrego Springs local Tony Cecena as its new General Manager. A familiar face in the local hospitality industry, Tony brings more than two decades of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the community he’s always called home. Cecena began his hospitality journey as a high school student working in guest services at La Casa del Zorro. Now, after 22 years at Borrego Springs Resort—rising through the ranks and managing multiple departments—he’s come full circle, returning to where it all started. In his own words, here’s what Tony shared about his background, vision, and commitment to Borrego Springs:
By East County News Service May 18, 2026
May 17, 2026 (Mount Laguna) — Star parties are back at Mount Laguna with the return of the Summer Visitors Program at the Mount Laguna Observatory. The public programs will be held on Saturday nights from 8 to 11 p.m., May 23 through August 15, with a special bonus mid-week viewing scheduled for Wednesday, August 12. Operated by the San Diego State University Department of Astronomy in partnership with the United States Forest Service, the outreach initiative has been connecting the public with the cosmos in various forms since the observatory’s dedication in 1968. According to Dr. Robert Quimby, MLO Director and Professor in the SDSU Department of Astronomy, each event will feature a public lecture at the Harrington Visitors Center. If weather permits, the lecture will be followed by direct stargazing through the observatory’s 0.5-meter (21-inch) Reginald Buller telescope. While MLO boasts larger instruments for deep-space science, the Buller telescope is specifically dedicated to instructional use and public outreach. Nestled in the Cleveland National Forest roughly 45 miles east of downtown San Diego, MLO sits at an elevation of 6,100 feet. The site is highly regarded by astronomers for its pristine dark skies, exceptional atmospheric conditions, and vital distance from city light pollution. Beyond its public outreach, MLO is a premier research and training facility. The mountain hosts an impressive array of cutting-edge technology, including the 1.25-meter Phillips Claud Telescope, which is used alongside the observatory’s 1.0-meter and 0.6-meter Clifford Smith telescopes to collect critical data on the age of and distance to star clusters. MLO also houses one of only two EvryScopes in the world. This specialized multi-camera array monitors the entire accessible sky simultaneously, making it an exceptional tool for detecting stellar activity and eclipsing binaries (co-orbiting star systems). Because the observatory is a functioning research station located in a rugged forest environment, organizers emphasize that safety and preparation are paramount for attendees. Visitors are advised to bring a small flashlight and park at the lower visitors parking lot located on Morris Ranch Road, follow the short trail from the parking lot to Observatory Road, and from there, look for the white dashes painted on the ground and follow them for a quarter-mile uphill to the Harrington Visitors Center. Note that visitors must remain on the designated road at all times. Morris Ranch Road is located off Sunrise Highway (S1) between mile markers 21.5 and 22, directly across from the Wooded Hill Campground sign. All stargazing events are weather-permitting. For daily operational updates, weather delays, or cancellations, visitors should call the observatory hotline at (619) 594-1415 before making the drive up the mountain.
Show More

Share This Post