2024 Lowcountry Dog Animal Advocate of the Year: Tiffaney Hazel-Faust

Tiffaney Hazel-Faust

In 2009, I began a second career, so to speak, as a volunteer at Pet Helpers Adoption Center on James Island. Over the next several years, I became the number one dog volunteer, working almost daily by doing adoption counseling, evening feeding, and walking, and helping close the shelter. While I spent the majority of my time in dog land, there was someone, just like me in cat land. That person was Tiffaney Hazel-Faust. Tiffaney came in almost every afternoon with her daughter, Logan. They would help in cat land as well as help walk dogs when needed. Over the years, I became pretty close with Tiffaney. We had similar tastes in music and of course of love of animals. When I would come in with a litter of feral puppies that I had caught, Tiffaney would often help me intake them into the shelter. When I bought Lowcountry Dog Magazine and moved away from James Island, my days at the shelter came to an end. Soon after, Tiffaney became an employee holding pivotal roles such as Animal Care Technician, and Customer Service Representative before finding her true calling in the Foster Care Department several years ago.

Two years ago, Tiffaney began the fight of her life with metastatic breast cancer. I would often see Tiffaney at the shelter when I would visit and spoke to her via social media often just to see how she was doing. Tiffaney bravely fought the past two years. Her unwavering courage, resilience, and commitment to Pet Helpers’ mission have been a source of inspiration for everyone around her.

Tiffaney peacefully passed away in the early hours of January 6, 2024 at home, surrounded by her family and beloved pets.

Pet Helpers has officially renamed its foster care program to “Tiffy’s Foster Care Program” in memory of Tiffaney Hazel-Faust. Executive Director, Melissa Susko shared, “Our Pet Helpers Family is devastated with the recent passing of In recognition of Tiffaney’s profound impact on the organization and the animals in its care, the foster care program has been renamed in her memory to ensure she will have a lasting legacy within the animal rescue community.”

Before her passing, an intimate dedication ceremony took place on Sunday, November 26, 2023, to celebrate Tiffaney’s passion, dedication, and lasting legacy. The event provided an opportunity for friends, family, and staff to come together to honor Tiffaney’s indomitable spirit, which has touched the lives of many humans and animals alike. Through the very end, Tiffaney continued to celebrate the daily adoptions that occurred and champion for those animals still awaiting their forever homes, with emails from her hospital bed.

After learning of Tiffaney’s passing, we decided to honor her memory by naming Tiffaney our Lowcountry Dog Animal Advocate of the Year for 2024. We will be collecting monetary donations throughout March. Once all the donations have been collected, Lowcountry Dog Magazine and our friends at Pet Supplies Plus will help match the amount donated and present a check as well as a plaque honoring the memory of Tiffaney to Pet Helpers.

Donations can be made at lowcountrydog.com/animaladvocate.■