Ashley was certified as a therapy dog with The Visiting Pet Program (Our motto: "Bringing Love and Leaving Smiles") in May of 2000 and recently was recognized for 6 years of service with them. Around the city of New Orleans, she has visited regularly with patients at hospitals and with residents of various nursing homes. At The Good Shepard School in New Orleans as well as at several of the public libraries in the greater New Orleans area she also has participated in the " Reading to Rover Program," a literacy program of The Visiting Pet Program designed for children who struggle with reading aloud in a group.
Picture from the Baptist Community Ministries 2004 Annual Report
Photo from home page of The Visiting Pet Program www.visitingpetprogram.org |
| Ashley received her Canine Good Citizen designation from The American Kennel Club in March of 2004. Ashley, now ten years old, was turned in to Airedale Rescue in Dallas, Texas in 1998 with a male litter mate. The story of her first two years is a bit sketchy. Ashley and her litter mate, Winston, were owned by a college student. The first year with the student before he left his home and family to go to college sounds like a pretty normal life; however, life for Ashley and Winston changed dramatically when this student took Ashley and Winston with him to college. While he was away from home during the day and frequently into the night, the two Airedales were left on their own outside in the yard for extended periods of time. Being in college and having to care for 2 Airedales by himself must have been too much for this college student. Fortunately for Ashley, he decided to turn Ashley and Winston into Airedale Rescue in Dallas, Texas. Ashley initially had some problems with Separation Anxiety, but is doing much better with that now due in part to the addition of 3 more Airedales into her household. Working on her overwhelming fear of thunder is an ongoing project. Delia Hardie |
