It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our sweet, sightless and gentle boy, Lazarus quietly passed away at home. He spent his last night with us, comfortably sleeping in his favorite chair. Laz was barely three years old.
His departure from this world was very peaceful and handled with the utmost dignity, grace and respect by Dr. David Garza and his wife, Shayna of PineHills Veterinary Hospital, one of our three gracious veterinarian partners.
“Laz” came into our lives as a Farley resident in February 2017 and has been living with us at our home since April 2018. Although he has left us after a relatively short life, he lived much longer than most expected, bravely fighting the onset of debilitating kidney disease since birth.
Laz will be terribly missed but forever occupy a very large and special place in our hearts.
It was our great privilege and complete joy to care for him while embracing his loving, affectionate disposition along with his 70 pounds of playful, Pit Bull exuberance. He never let his blindness or disease deter him from behaving like a typically loyal canine companion.
A very special thank you to Allen “Mo” McNeill, T.J. Combs and Farley volunteers Kristen Seawell, Diane Lisevick, Cathleen Pritchard and Bill Graham, as well as the wonderful people at Pinetree Animal Hospital and Carthage Animal Hospital, our other Farley veterinary partners, who all helped us care for Laz in various ways.
In his honor, please remember the many homeless, adoptable animals that are currently at-risk and living in “kill-shelters” throughout North Carolina, awaiting a forever home. If you are unable to adopt or foster one of these deserving animals, please support your favorite animal rescue organization by volunteering your time or making a monetary donation.
Fortunately, our current Farley dog, “Cash” was able to spend some quality time with Lazarus. Cash is awaiting adoption into his forever home. You can learn more about Cash here. If you would like to help The Farley Foundation in some way by either fostering or sponsoring Cash, please let us know. Of course, adopting Cash would make his dream come true.
Once Cash is safely and securely located into a permanent home, we intend focus our time and energy for the remainder of the summer on caring for our own five rescue animals. If you are interested in becoming a Farley Foster this fall, please contact us. As always we appreciate whatever support you are able to provide.
On behalf of The Farley Foundation, we thank you.
John and Betsy Ficarro, Co-Founders.
The Farley Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)3 animal rescue organization founded by John and Betsy Ficarro of Pinehurst, NC. It is named in memory of their first shelter dog Farley, a certified therapy dog who was rescued as a puppy from a North Carolina county shelter by Cindy Bristow founder of Solutions for Animals (a Hoke County NC animal rescue non-profit) minutes before being euthanized and subsequently adopted by the Ficarros.