Too heavy a burden to carry: Fay passes away
By Gina Spadafori
December 29, 2009
Bringing up from comments (thanks, Elaine) with a h/t to Brent at the KC Dog Blog …
Fay, the fight bust dog whose lips were sliced off by a worthless scum dog-fighter, lost her battle for a new life. The dog was the topic of much discussion not only for her horrific man-inflicted injuries but also because she was the centerpiece of a HSUS fund-raising pitch to raise a million bucks for dogs “like” her, even though the national organization wasn’t paying a dime to care for her until bloggers pitched a bloody fit.
More information on the Mutts-n-Stuff Web site. I think perhaps Fay is in a better place, free of pain and fear, and I am so happy she knew love and caring before she died. I cannot say enough good about people like Gale, who give of their time, money and hearts to care for and heal the broken animals among us, especially those like Fay who are victims of such horrific abuse.
These volunteers and the pets they serve deserve awards, not sociopaths like Michael Vick and his brothers in slime who would do something like this to a living being.
Poor sweet Fay. May she rest in peace.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — December 29, 2009 @ 10:38 am
And may Michael Vick … no, I won’t say it publicly.
Comment by Susan — December 29, 2009 @ 11:00 am
I’m so sorry to hear that Fay lost her valiant fight. I’m also echoing the words that Susan prefers not to say in public.
Comment by David S. Greene — December 29, 2009 @ 11:11 am
If you were thinking of giving money to the HSUS to help pets “like” Fay, why not instead give directly to the small groups that don’t have the money to raise lots more money with Hollywood ninnies to speak for them in TV ads?
Mutts-n-Stuff is still doing good work. Give.
National English Shepherd Rescue stepped up for a hideous bust in Montana and deserves some help, too.
IMOM helps people who can’t afford their pets’ vet bills. The AAHA Helping Pets Fund does the same, as Pet Connection pal Jason Merrihew of AAHA can tell you.
I know many of you work with small organizations that do a lot of good. Put the names and links here, and let’s raise some money in Fay’s honor!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 29, 2009 @ 11:20 am
Not sure if this sweet dog was from Vick’s compound, but the fact remains: humans that abuse animals are not fit to walk among us. RIP brave little Fay.
Comment by Deb Kolaras — December 29, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Sick Vick’s operation was shut down when he was. Fay was from a Missouri fight bust.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 29, 2009 @ 11:35 am
Sob
I wish I could go hug Barry White and bury my face in his fur. He’d let me, but it would distress him and violate his trust. So I’ll impose on Cole, who doesn’t see it that way.
Everything that was done for Fay was worth doing, for her immediate sake alone, with no other justification needed.
But we all so wanted this to be the beginning of her happy life. For her sake, and for the encouragement. She deserved so much more. Her caretakers deserved to see her whole.
Thank you so much for remembering NESR and the ONB dogs.
Wednesday will be the first anniversary of seizure day for the majority of them. They were terrified. But by the end of the day, they were fed, watered, and sheltered from the elements. A start.
One year later not finished
Comment by H. Houlahan — December 29, 2009 @ 11:50 am
This just hurts my heart. My hope for the New Year is for a world that no longer perpetrates this kind of cruelty on animal or man.
May Fay rest in peace and find a better live on the other side.
Comment by PopArtDiva — December 29, 2009 @ 11:52 am
I am just sick about this, although it sounds like she new some real happiness with her foster mom, Gale. And that’s a comfort to everyone who cared about her.
I’m so sorry, Gale. And bless your bully heart, Fay.
Comment by Christie Keith — December 29, 2009 @ 11:56 am
Fay now has lips.. she is happy and healthy and will never again be used in all of the hideous ways she was used here on earth….
Rest in Peace Fay..you will be remembered..
Comment by bestuvall — December 29, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
So heartbreaking.. My thoughts and prayers go out for all who helped Fay ..Rest in Peace sweet Fay ..No one will nor should they ever forget you..
Laws in the country must change regarding animal cruelty and dog fighting ..It disgusts me how little time these monsters serve for such brutal and vicious crimes ..
Comment by Gloria Keknhofer — December 29, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
bestuvall … I love your observation: Fay is whole, and feels wholly loved where she is now.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 29, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
Bless you Fay you are with God. No more hurt.
Comment by mary frances — December 29, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
What Gina said in #4. Give to the local organizations, the small organizations, the groups doing the blood-and-guts work. The groups that don’t have private jets, and executives with six digit salaries, and expensive lawyers.
Rest in sweet peace Faye, run whole and free without pain, and feel the love being sent from those of us down here who will remember.
Comment by Susan — December 29, 2009 @ 12:32 pm
Maybe this was the greatest gift that she could receive. I am sad to hear of her passing away, but at least Fay and the folks who loved her won’t be pawns in a rather twisted game anymore…hopefully.
And I second the call to support IMOM and the AAHA funds - I have seem both of those funds help people who had good intentions but very sick pets and limited funds.
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — December 29, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
Meant to say as well but too choked up…thanks for all the good people who loved dear Fay (especially Gale)…and all the good people here at Pet Connection - (Gina, Christie, HH, KC Dog Blog) - Fay has united a lot of good people - it’s a long list getting longer and stronger.
Comment by mary frances — December 29, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
I can almost picture Fay whole again as said above…I truly want to believe when poor souls like Fay pass…they MUST go to a better place…whether it be abuse…disease..or accident…
Recently I found out about IMOM (on Twitter I think) and saw how just a little from alot can make a difference..
Comment by Carol V — December 29, 2009 @ 1:23 pm
Came back from lunch with a friend, read this again and the additional comments … and just started crying again. I feel so awful for Gale, Fay’s foster mom.
And Dr. Tony, thanks for the ER Doc nod of approval to IMOM and the AAHA fund. They’re a couple of my favorite animal-related charities.
Get hold of a box of Kleenex and go the Mutts-n-Stuff blog to see Fay with friends on Christmas Eve:
http://muttsnstuff.wordpress.com/
To see her greeting people in her red Christmas cap … well … gaaaahhhhhh.
Rest sweetly now, Fay.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — December 29, 2009 @ 1:28 pm
I am praying that Fay’s time here on Earth serves an ultimate, noble purpose whose story will continue to speak for all the others like her. What a beautiful soul. My heart goes out to Gale and all that loved and cared for that special girl who are now hurting so deeply.
Comment by Nadine L — December 29, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
I am so saddened by this. What a huge hole Fay has left in all our hearts, from her abuse as a fighting dog, to her rescue and reconstructive surgeries, and then more exploitation by John Goodwin of HSUS, she has just kept on being a dog, learning about life, living and love.
bestuvall, you are right. Her scared and mutilated face is now whole, she suffers no more pain. May her death not be in vain. May we have all learned something from this grand, gallant girl.
Naively, I suggest we all donate what we can afford to a local shelter, or sponsor a specific dog, or consider fostering if we don’t do so already, all for Fay and her like who have suffered, are suffering now and will continue to suffer at the hands of our species until a real shift in our attitudes is made.
Comment by Anne T — December 29, 2009 @ 2:33 pm
On another note.. breed specific legislation is running rampant in this country .. every day in more and more cites dogs like Fay are being fought and then when actually they have a chance at life they are KILLED.. why?? Just because of the way they look.Center Mi just passed bsl. In many places Fay would have been catagorized as “dangerous”
BSL is wrong on so many levels.. If it comes up in your town take a picture of Fay and ask your officals… does this look like a dangerous dog?
Let’s make Fay our logo against BSL.. we could not have a better representaive and it would serve her memory on the highest level..
Comment by bestuvall — December 29, 2009 @ 3:13 pm
Seeing what was done to Fay makes me sick to my stomach and brings tears to my eyes. I pray she is now at peace. How could a person do that and be able to sleep at night?! It makes me so sick inside. The people who helped her and showed what love really is deserve the best
Comment by jennifer — December 29, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
I wonder if the surgeries were too much for her? She seemed to be doing so much better. She fought to live, she fought to get better - the sweet pea did her best.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — December 29, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
Without more information, my guess is she threw a clot and it went to her lungs. Of course, it could have been something else entirely, but it’s not that uncommon after surgery or long periods of confinement.
Comment by Christie Keith — December 29, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
Godspeed, Fay.
IMOM helped The Best Boxer In The World get surgery today- they couldn’t help with funding, but helped his mom find other alternate funding sources- she’s been unemployed for 18 months and 10 year old D’Argo got written off by a few other charities due to his age, despite a pretty good prognosis from the specialist.
Comment by Cait — December 29, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
They are both in my heart and prayers. Godspeed dear Fay. I’d like to believe that Fay will be helping other dogs from her new “home”, making it so abuse like what happened to her will someday be unheard of for other dogs. I know if she could, she would.
Comment by Sandi K — December 29, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
This is so sad. Heartbreaking :-(
Bless Fay and her wonderful foster family who showed her love and kindness after she’d experienced such horrors.
RIP, little one.
Comment by karen — December 29, 2009 @ 7:18 pm
Yes, give to local groups that are struggling then you know the money won’t be wasted.
Pets Alive Middletown, NY http://www.petsalive.com
IndyFeral Indianapolis, IN http://www.indyferal.org
Cats Haven ” http://www.catshaven.org
Comment by DD — December 29, 2009 @ 9:31 pm
Wind to thy wings, little sister.
Comment by A.C. — December 29, 2009 @ 9:36 pm
HSUS is tweeting about Fay (not Faye).. they are so sorry.. but don’t fail to mention that THEY paid for Fay’s (not Faye) surgery along with the ever present “donate” button. Please give to the charity that actually saved FAY (not Faye). I am not familiar with IMOM.. but IGIVE also allows you to name your charity..
Comment by bestuvall — December 29, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
RIP sweet Fay, I’m sorry to hear that you lost your battle. You are in a better place now.
Comment by Kristy — December 29, 2009 @ 11:00 pm
Im afraid that its painfully obvious who the real “animals” are. What a sad and unforgiveable act of cruelty.
Comment by Tony Warne — December 30, 2009 @ 1:33 am
Most of you are correct for a pitbull leaving Hell is an obvious improvement.I am not a Vick fan and I abhor Dog-fighting but a point I do not understand is all the Hatred aimed at Vick leaving virtually none for the Scum like Pizano and Gallagher of Dade County,or the likes of Hinklepooper and Kelley even Nelson of Denver who are GUILTY of Murdering 1000’s of Family Pets and yet come the next election they are voted back in.????????????????
smarock10@yahoo.com
Comment by selwyn marock — December 30, 2009 @ 2:14 am
Selwyn Maroc, you don’t understand?
Those people who murder 1000’s of family pets - do they do it by relatively humane methods, or by connecting battery cables to the dogs’ ears, then dumping them in pools? A lethal injection, or beating the dog against a tree until it dies?
Are they doing their job, no matter how reprehensible to others, in a legal manner, or is what they are doing illegal?
And finally, are they awarded with national (and international) fame, million dollar contracts and “leadership” awards?
Comment by K.B. — December 30, 2009 @ 5:25 am
@Comment by bestuvall — December 29, 2009 @ 3:13 pm “Let’s make Fay our logo against BSL.. we could not have a better representaive and it would serve her memory on the highest level..”
This could be Fay’s life’s noble purpose. Social media could rapidly spread the word against BSL and at the same time benefit the small groups that rescue. Perhaps Fay needs her own FB page with her true story and photos by Gale.
Comment by Nadine L — December 30, 2009 @ 8:31 am
Rest in peace Fay…So disgustingly cruel and senseless…
Comment by Brett — December 30, 2009 @ 8:48 am
RIP Angel Fay. My sympathy to Gale and all who helped her.
Comment by Leslie K — December 30, 2009 @ 10:47 am
Smarock, there’s plenty of hatin’ to go around for everyone who callously causes suffering.
I’m also super pissed-off at Osama bin Laden, but right now we are talking about Fay.
And when we are talking about Michael Vick, we are talking about Michael Vick. Not sure what going off on a tangent about, say, Paris Hilton contributes to that.
Though, if someone can provide a logical connection and riff on it, I’m cool with that.
Comment by H. Houlahan — December 30, 2009 @ 10:51 am
I still haven’t found out exactly why sweet Fay died??? thanks so much, may Fay RIP
Comment by Margaret Sikora — December 30, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
I read “cardiac arrest.”
Comment by Snoopys Friend — December 30, 2009 @ 3:20 pm
Well, every dog (and human) dies of “cardiac arrest.”
Comment by Christie Keith — December 30, 2009 @ 3:27 pm
Ultimately they do - that was the only news I could find and believe me I looked. Not much help though. Sorry.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — December 30, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Some more information on Fay is to be forthcoming soon.
http://www.ksdk.com/news/local.....yid=192722
The comments from her foster mom who was with her at her death also.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — December 30, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
I don’t understand why there is no news coming out about how and why Fay died - specific information. As a contributor to her expenses through several donations, I feel that it is more than appropriate for her foster mom to come on this blog again and update us.
I have mixed feelings now about the new fund raiser where Fay is being remembered and people are asked to donate but little substantial information is being released about her death. I did read where she was cremated.
To ask the public to care, to fight for justice, to donate funds while she is alive and now after her death and not to release more information seems wrong - and is a slap in the face to all that cared for her well-being.
I think she was exploited while dog fighting and then again exploited while rescued and now exploited in her death. Fay deserves better and so do we.
Comment by Snoopys Friend — January 5, 2010 @ 10:26 am
Snoopy
I have been very sad after losing a girl that was very close to me. There was no slap in anyone’s face and I am sorry you took it that way. Imagine how I feel, imaging having a dog you loved exploited to raise 1.2 million for an organization that one questions their true mission. I guess you are much stronger than I.
It was publicly announced in People Magazine and on various websites why she passed. She died from previous wounds from her past. Not from surgery as I read above. How graphic would you like me to get? Shall I start with her adhesions from being repeated raped, infection set in, scar tissue, and etc? Or how about how her guts were pierced from previous injuries that caused scar tissue to adhere to her intestines and colon? Or should I get more graphic for you?
Comment by gale — February 4, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
AND I was asked by many fans of Fay to come up with something so they can remember her forever. According to your post, I should have ignored them. That is you and not me.
I find your accusation I exploited Fay to be very rude. I forgot how you held her, took care of her after surgery, made her food, and hauled her back and forth to the vet that was 45 minutes away one way… I forgot how you gave her a life she has never seen before. Our watched her blossomed at fundraisers and had the time of her life riding in the wheelchair. I forgot how you stood two feet away from her when she woke up from surgery only to her pass.
So my fundraising to help more victims of dog fighting is exploiting Fay? Really? How many bust dogs did you take? How many times were you at the secret locations walking dogs, holding them telling them it will be okay, or bringing them special treats to make their day?
Comment by gale — February 4, 2010 @ 8:21 pm
I personally would much rather see Fay’s image and memory used by her Mom to help other fight dogs,than the HSUS.Being a Mom to an abused dog [not a fight dog] I can totally relate to not wanting to go into the gory day to day details.Hugs to you Gale , it takes a very special person to set yourself up for the heartbreak that comes from caring for a dog like this.At least because of you,Fay knew love and had a real home even if for a short time.
Comment by Leslie K — February 5, 2010 @ 6:59 am
Leslie nails it.
Gale, I would hug you if I could.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — February 5, 2010 @ 7:28 am
Thank you for your kind words. Fay’s death was emotionally hard on me and discussing on open forums the cruelity she endured seemed wrong. I did not find value discussing all the horrible things that happened to her to cause her passing. I was trying to spare those who would prefer to remember her smiling in the wheelchair or kissing her dad….instead of the gore listed above.
After her death we did a necropsy because I had to know what in the heck happened….and when we saw all the internal damage….I had a melt down. How could “huamns” be so cruel.
I had to get my mind back into helping the bust dogs. I focused on my sanity and helped 20 more dogs into rescue. I took Bonnie, more than likely Fay’s daughter/granddaughter. They came from the same yard and have a very strong resemblence. Bonnie is missing her front leg and is more scared than Fay. And Reggie whose face is a road map of scars. He needed me to get my head back on straight so I could help him too.
Star from the bust was a beautiful black and white girl with one blue eye. She passed away last week with the combination of cancer and babesia…. I think she appreciated our fundraising to give her last month of life full of special treats, basic medical for her comfort, and love before she passed. She got to sleep in a warm bed, watch tv on the couch, and felt a kind hand instead of one that would hit her.
Comment by gale — February 5, 2010 @ 7:13 pm
Gale, I’m in awe of your strength and compassion. Thank you for the work you do for those who need it most!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — February 5, 2010 @ 11:41 pm
Gale, you are a true hero and a shining light. Thank goodness there are people like you on this planet. I am so sorry for your loss of Fay.
Comment by Sandi K — February 6, 2010 @ 1:37 am