With cancer being the leading cause of death in dogs, it’s important that you check your dog regularly for abnormal skin patches, growths, or lumps. Fortunately, a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence for many pets. With the multitude of treatment options available, a dog with cancer can still live a long, fruitful life.

Ashlyn received a disheartening prognosis

For Ashlyn, a dog living at a shelter in North Carolina, the prospects were far less promising. It started when shelter staff noticed her energy levels had dropped. No longer did she run and play as before. After she was examined, the vets determined that she had cancer and gave her only a few weeks to live.

Flying Fur Animal Rescue offers to help

Wanting to make her last days on Earth as happy as possible, the shelter desperately searched for a home to take her in and give her the love she deserved. Surprisingly, they were able to find one. The only problem, however, was that it was over 400 miles away. Paul Steklkenski, a pilot and the owner of Flying Fur Animal Rescue stepped up to the plate, promising to get Ashlyn to her new home quickly.

The long flight to her new home

Loading Ashlyn up, the two began their long flight to her new home. The trip was definitely an experience, with Paul taking pictures of himself and Ashlyn as they made the flight. In the pictures, her happiness is evident and she appears to be enjoying herself. As a way to keep Ashlyn calm during the flight, Paul would give her a treat every time it seemed like she was getting uncomfortable.

Paul had actually combined his passion for flying with his love of animals, founding the Flying Fur Rescue. Since then, his company has helped save over 1,500 dogs. For Paul, the highlight of this trip was when Ashlyn started to relax enough to trust him.

“She started off a little bit distant,” the pilot said to The Dodo. “Then she would kind open up a bit, and she got closer. Then she gave me one paw and then the other. Then she laid her head on my lap. To me, that’s huge. That’s all that matters. That’s the reward in itself.”

Tracy Lander takes over

Waiting for them at their destination was Tracy Lander, the woman who had agreed to give Ashlyn a home for her last days. When Paul brought Ashlyn to meet Tracy, the woman was shocked at her condition.

“When I picked her up from the airport, her condition destroyed me,” Tracy said. “She was down to 39 pounds — her ideal weight is between 65 and 70. She came to me with a sweater on — when I took it off, I could see every rib.”

Still going strong

Tracy started by feeding Ashlyn and getting her weight up. Ashlyn also had plenty of companionship thanks to Tracy’s other dog Angel.

“He’ll go up to Ashlyn and just start licking her,” said Tracy. “He thinks he can heal everybody with his tongue.”

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Best of all, even though Ashlyn was only given mere weeks to live, she has survived far beyond that. Thanks to Tracy’s love and the necessary treatment she continues to live in her loving forever home. For more on Ashlyn and her current status, visit her Facebook page.

H/T: The Dodo