By the time rescuers reached Faline, she was little more than a trembling shadow. She was such a tiny, fragile stray that one of the Keilbach sisters feared she might not hold on.
Getting close to her had not happened quickly. For more than two weeks, the sisters patiently tried to coax her out of hiding, giving her the time and space she needed.
Even after she was finally safe with them, Faline did not relax right away. She stayed cautious, watched everything from a distance, and reacted carefully to every movement around her.
So the sisters kept showing up with the same gentle approach, soft reassurance, steady kindness, and all the patience they could give. Bit by bit, Faline started to trust them.
Bringing her home was only the beginning.
The bigger challenge was finding the forever family that would truly be right for her. Still, the sisters never gave up, stayed determined, and kept trying until their persistence finally led Faline to a happy turning point.
Faline’s Rescue On The Island Of Saipan
Faline came from Saipan, the largest island in the Northern Mariana chain, where adopting rescue dogs is a particularly difficult task.
“She was extremely shy, extremely wary of us, but you could tell that she just wanted to be loved,” Grace Keilbach, from Boonie Babies Saipan, told The Dodo.
She was one of the island’s “boonie dogs,” a unique group descended from the war dogs left behind during World War II. After the war ended, many of those dogs either vanished or were abandoned.
Years of isolation and mixing between breeds had produced a remarkable variety, blending traits from bloodhounds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Labradors, and German Shepherds into this local population.
“Today, the distinct breeds in the genepool are nearly unrecognizable in these dogs as the isolation, crossbreeding, and diversity of the dog population has made Boonie Dogs their own “breed”, American Village Dogs, coming in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors,” says on the rescue’s website.
The moment Faline settled into the sisters’ home, there was a subtle but unmistakable shift in her demeanor, as if she suddenly understood that she was safe and could finally let her guard down.
“On Saipan, it’s not easy to get dogs adopted, and we were so in love with this dog that we knew she needed the best home possible,” Grace Keilbach said.
With their youngest sister’s birthday approaching in Colorado, the idea occurred to the Keilbachs that perhaps the perfect home for Faline might be right in their own family.
Transporting her to the U.S. mainland presented a whole new set of obstacles.
A Long Journey Toward Colorado And Family
It took nearly six months to coordinate a flight, since leaving the island was far from simple. Meanwhile, no one on Saipan had come forward to adopt her.
Finally, a seat became available for Faline, and she made her journey to Colorado.
“That morning, we literally had tears in our eyes. That was a super exciting moment for us because that is the first time that we were ever able to get a dog off island. We were just so excited and couldn’t believe that it was actually happening,” Aria Keilbach told The Dodo.
She arrived timid at first, hesitant in the unfamiliar surroundings, but quickly began to relax and explore her new home.
Now fully part of the Keilbach family, she is lavished with attention, particularly from Ava, the youngest sister.
“She’s just so sweet. It’s so awesome,” Ava said.
Her days are filled with walks, play sessions, tasty treats, and endless affection. At last, Faline has discovered the joy and comfort of a loving home.
“Other Boonie dogs are not as lucky as Faline. When we first sent her to the States, we were hoping that she would be the first of MANY, but unfortunately she was the first and last for a while,” the Keilbach sisters wrote.
Thousands of other dogs remain on Saipan, longing for families, and the sisters continue their relentless work to help them.
Support their efforts and everything they fight for. Here’s how to get involved with Boonie Babies!