When a stray pup named Faline was finally saved, she was so fragile and timid that the sister who rescued her feared she might not survive.
The Keilbach sisters spent over two weeks trying to catch her, and once they succeeded, Faline still remained wary and withdrawn. With patience and care, the sisters slowly showed her she was safe.
Rescuing Faline was only the beginning, because finding the perfect home for her became an even greater challenge. Yet the sisters didn’t give up, and what followed was a beautiful success.
Faline’s Story Begins
Faline was found on the Island of Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, where getting rescue dogs adopted is extremely difficult.
“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.
Faline belonged to the island’s many “boonie dogs,” a unique population descended from war dogs brought during World War II. When the war ended, many of those dogs were left behind or lost.
Over time, crossbreeding and isolation created a diverse mix of breeds like bloodhounds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Labradors, and German Shepherds.
“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.
Once the sisters brought Faline home, there was a moment when everything seemed to click for her, as if she instinctively knew she could finally trust them.
“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.
Back in Colorado, their youngest sister’s birthday was approaching, and the idea struck them that the perfect adopter for Faline might be within their own family.
But getting Faline to the U.S. mainland proved to be a whole new obstacle.
Arriving To Her New Home
It took nearly six months to arrange transportation, as leaving the island was no simple task. Sadly, nobody on Saipan had stepped forward to adopt her.
Finally, after months of waiting, a seat opened on a plane for Faline.
“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.
When Faline touched down in Colorado, she was a little hesitant, but she soon adjusted and warmed up to her new surroundings.
She is now part of the Keilbach family, showered with love, especially from Ava, the youngest sister.
“She’s just so sweet. It’s so awesome,” Ava said.
Faline’s days are now filled with walks, playtime, treats, and endless affection. She finally knows what happiness feels like.
“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 dogs remain stranded on Saipan, longing for homes, and the sisters continue working tirelessly to help them.
Please support their cause and everything they fight for. Here’s how you can help Boonie Babies!