Doctors said that she only had a couple of weeks to live, so this pilot flew her to her adoptive family 400 miles away so that her final days would be filled with love.
Ashlyn was an elderly dog in a North Carolina shelter, and she wasn’t doing well. She’d lost a lot of weight and had sarcomas, which were malignant tumors beneath her skin. But it wasn’t too late for her to strike gold.
When the New England Humane Society (NEHS) identified a suitable home for Ashlyn to spend the last few weeks of her life, all she needed was a means to get there. So the founder of Flying Fur Animal Rescue (FFAR), Paul Steklenski, decided to fly her up on his plane.
Steklenski became sad as he piloted the plane with Ashlyn in the seat next him, thinking about how this may be her final flight anywhere.
Even though Steklenski is used to transporting needy puppies to rescues so they may find loving homes — he normally transports between 15 to 30 dogs each month — the elderly dogs particularly tug at his heartstrings. “Those are the ones where you really focus on what they’re going through,” Steklenski explained to The Dodo.
Ashlyn was nervous at the bit of the two-hour travel. “She seemed a touch distant at first,” Steklenski remarked. “Then she’d kind of open up a bit and get closer.”
He surely made her feel better by feeding her dog treats. “She then gave me one paw, then the other,” he explained.
“She then rested her head on my lap,” Steklenski explained. “That means a lot to me. That is all that is important. That is the prize in and of itself.”
Steklenski decided to take up flying as a hobby in 2013, at the same time he adopted a dog. These items were unconnected at the time, but they were irrevocably intertwined soon after.
“We went to pet stores, then to shelters, and began to discover the difference,” Steklenski told The Dodo last year. When he discovered how many needy animals are in shelters, he decided to put his new hobby to good use.
Ashlyn would not be where she is now if it weren’t for him. While everyone assumed they were transporting her to the hospital, her recovery has led rescuers to believe she may have more time than they imagined.
“Her condition crushed me when I brought her up from the airport,” Tracy Lander, who has three dogs of her own and has been fostering dogs for the NEHS for two years, told The Dodo. “She had lost 39 pounds and her optimum weight is between 65 and 70 pounds. She came to me wearing a sweater, and when I removed it, I could see every rib.”
Lander began feeding Ashlyn three times a day to help her gain weight. She also gave her vitamins to assist her deal with her numerous health issues, which ranged from skin problems (induced by chemical burns) to cancers.
Ashlyn gradually began to change. “She’s getting out more,” Lander observed. “She’s a fantastic eater… and she adores me.”
Ashlyn has even begun to cuddling with Angel, another of Lander’s dogs. Xander, Lander’s boxer mix, has also expressed an interest in connecting with Ashlyn. “He’ll simply walk up to Ashlyn and start licking her,” Lander said. “He believes that he can heal everyone with his mouth.”
Ashlyn moved in with the Landers in January, and no one knew how long she’d be there. Now that it’s April, they don’t think of her as the fospice dog, but rather as someone who reminds them to live in the now and cherish every day — which is always a wonderful lesson.
“She understands she is adored,” Lander added. “No matter what happens, she knows she is loved.”
No one expected Ashlyn to make such significant leaps the day she boarded Steklenski’s plane. She went from being a tired shelter dog to becoming a member of a loving family, which is precisely why Steklenski does what he does.
“I never envisioned discovering something so wonderful, so rewarding that it would eclipse practically everything else in my life,” Steklenski remarked.
Full Of Mange And Pain, This Puppy Dog Had Never Been Loved. Then The Miracle Happened !
Meet Thomas, a stray dog who was discovered in appalling condition on Houston’s streets. Thomas, who was just eight months old, was suffering from a terrible skin infection that was causing him excruciating pain and blood loss. Fortunately, a dedicated team of veterinarians and animal lovers came to his aid, and after five months of care, Thomas has changed into a happy, healthy, and adorable pup.
When Thomas was discovered, he was in such a bad condition that he couldn’t even eat. All he could do was snuggle up on his bed and attempt to get some relief from the anguish. The clinic’s team of veterinarians worked tirelessly to heal his skin infection and provide him with the care he required.
Thomas began to show signs of progress as the days passed. He began wagging his tail and begging for attention from people around him. Thanks to the careful care he received, the previously fearful and suffering puppy was gradually becoming a lively and affectionate dog.
Thomas’ metamorphosis was not instant. It took the team of veterinarians and animal lovers who took him in five months of regular treatment, love, and attention. However, their efforts were rewarded, and Thomas is now an entirely different dog. He’s happy and healthy, a far cry from the terrified and suffering pup found on the streets.
Only kindness and love might have resulted in this dog’s amazing metamorphosis. We will be eternally grateful to the rescuers for saving Thomas’ life! Thomas’ rehabilitation is a brilliant example of what can be accomplished when people band together to aid those who cannot help themselves.
So, what happens next for Thomas? He’s ready to find a loving permanent home where he can grow and provide delight to everyone around him now that he’s found his newfound health and happiness. Thomas has a bright future ahead of him, full of love and numerous tail wags, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the team who saved him.
Please ‘SHARE’ this story with a friend or family member !
Leave a Reply