Doctors warned her that she only had a few weeks left to live, so this pilot flew her 400 miles to her new family so that her remaining days could be filled with love.
Ashlyn, an elderly dog in a North Carolina shelter, was in poor health, having lost a lot of weight and suffering from sarcomas – cancerous tumors beneath her skin. However, it wasn’t too late for her to find a new home. The New England Humane Society (NEHS) found a suitable place for Ashlyn to spend her final weeks, but she needed a way to get there. That’s when Paul Steklenski, the founder of Flying Fur Animal Rescue (FFAR), decided to fly her up in his plane.
As Stekleniski drove the plane with Ashley next to him, he felt overwhelmed with sadness contemplating how this could be her final voyage anywhere. Although Stekleniski is used to carrying needy puppies to rescues so they can find loving homes – transporting between 15 and 30 dogs per month – the elderly canines especially tug at his heartstrings. “Those are the ones where you really pay attention to what they are going through,” Stekleniski told The Dodo. Ashley was worried about the two-hour journey. “At first, she seemed a little distant,” Stekleniski observed. “Then she would open up a little and get closer.” He certainly helped her feel better by giving her dog biscuits. He explained, “She then gave me one paw, then the other.”
Steкleᥒsкi shared that his puppy then rested her head on his lap, which meant a lot to him. For him, that act in itself is already a prize. In 2013, Steкleᥒsкi started flying as a hobby and around the same time, he adopted a puppy. Although unrelated at first, these two eventually became inseparably linked.
He told The Dodo last year that they visited pet stores and shelters, and he began to notice a difference. When he realized how many homeless animals there are in shelters, he decided to put his newfound hobby to good use.
Ashlyn owes her current state of recovery to the person who rescued her. Although they thought they were taking her to the hospital, her resilience led them to believe that she has more time than they initially thought. Tracy Lander, who has been fostering dogs for NEHS for two years and has three dogs of her own, stated that Ashlyn’s condition was heartbreaking when she picked her up from the airport. Ashlyn lost 39 pounds, which is not ideal for her body, whose perfect weight ranges from 65 to 70 pounds. When Ashlyn arrived, she was wearing a sweater, and when Tracy took it off, she could see every rib.
Lender started feeding Ashley three times a day and provided her with vitamins to help her deal with her various health problems, including skin disorders caused by chemical burns and malignancies. As a result, Ashley began to gradually improve. Lender noticed that she was going out more and had become an excellent eater. Ashley also adores Lender.
Ashlyn has recently started cuddling with Angel, one of Lander’s other dogs. Even Xavier, Lander’s boxer mix, has expressed an interest in meeting Ashlyn. Lander explains that Xavier believes he can heal everyone just by approaching and licking them.
Ashlyn moved in with the Landers in January, not knowing how long she would stay. Now, in April, they don’t see her as the foster dog anymore but as someone who reminds them to live in the now and appreciate every day – a valuable lesson.
“She realizes she is loved,” adds Lander. “Whatever happens, she knows she is loved.”
No one expected Ashlyn to make such dramatic leaps.
“I never imagined discovering something so lovely and satisfying that it would overshadow almost everything else in my life,” stated Stekleniski.