It is with a heavy heart that we pass on the news
that our Ashley, the dal pictured in the Willing Hearts Logo, crossed
over to the Rainbow Bridge on June 15, 2002. She was alert to the
end, but unfortunately her body couldn't keep up, and she was in terrible
pain. Ashley would have been 14 years old in January.
Ember, Asley's sister joined
her at the bridge December 12, 2002.
Ashley Suzanne Paes joined our family in 1989 at the age of 7 weeks.
She immediately won our hearts, and did her best to destroy our home.
But - she was so cute and lovable, you could not stay mad at her.
She was so tiny when we first got her, but she kept growing and growing
- until she towered over her mom and sisters - standing 27 1/2 inches
at the withers and weighing 85 lbs. She was a big girl, but even at
two years old she was still trying to take the house down. So - we
decided she was bored, and got her a playmate we named Ember. It worked
- she adored this little pup and Ember's world revolved around Ashley.
In 1997 we brought our two deaf girls, Cindy and Siren, home and the
foursome was complete. Although Ashley was quite large, her love was
larger. The first command she learned was to give kisses. And she
would still give kisses on command even in her senior years. She loved
everyone. She adored going for a ride - we had to spell the word as
she knew what it meant. I would always take her to recycle with me,
and when she heard me getting those cans and bottles together, she
was right there - she knew she was going too. She once tried to leave
with the pizza delivery man, as he could take her for a ride. It sometimes
scared us, as we knew she would go with anyone. Her love knew no boundaries.
Ashley was a very formidable dal, as she was very large, towering
over most male dals she met, and without a doubt the alpha dal. When
we brought in our first foster dal, Tashi in 1999, she knew that Tashi
needed compassion and love. I believe Ashley had a lot to do with
helping Tashi conquer some of her terrors. Through the years we had
many fosters come and go, and as long as Ashley was in residence,
there was not a problem. All the dals knew immediately that she was
the queen. There was no growling or posturing with Ashley, she was
a quiet alpha and just her presence was enough. Ashley was not a rescue,
but she allowed so many rescues into her "queendom" - a lot of them
small pups - with grace and temperance. Ashley didn't ask for attention
from us, she expected it. There was one time I remember when we were
walking in Lewes to the firehouse, as she was to ride the firetruck
at the head of the parade, and most people could not help but comment
on what a gorgeous dal she was, and pet her. She loved the attention,
and felt it was due her. One couple walked by us and did not even
look at her or make any comment. Ashley stopped abruptly, turned and
looked at them walking away, and you could just tell by her expression
that she was thinking "How dare you not pay any attention to me".
Without a doubt she had attitude, but she was the most loving girl,
and so good with all the rescues.
There is a huge hole in our hearts and our life with her passing,
but we know she is looking down on us with love. And Ashley will live
on through Willing Hearts Dal Rescue, lending her image to help Dalmatians
in need. Our vet sent us a tree to plant in her memory, and many people
have donated to Willing Hearts in her memory. We would like to thank
everyone for their generosity, and list their names below. We will
always love her, and know she will be waiting for us at the Rainbow
Bridge.
Donators: Savannah Animal Hospital - The Ashley Tree
Monetary Donators:
Karen Kohn and Susan Potts
Pat McElaney
Jim and Toni Craig
Charo Tobian
Maureen & Barry Sternlieb
Lorraine Roskelly & Boni Wernega
