We all face hardships at some point in our life. Although we know they make us stronger and more resilient, it’s often difficult to persevere and overcome them.
In those moments, we should always remember that no matter how hard life gets, giving up should never be our option. If we keep fighting, our efforts will surely be rewarded.
Mildred, the heroine of this story, didn’t give up either.
Meeting Mildred
Mildred’s story begins when she was brought to the Southern Oregon Veterinary Specialty Center. Her ribs were protruding, and she was so weak that she could barely walk. She also suffered from Lyme disease.
Despite the terrible condition she was in, Mildred refused to give up on herself. Although she had an incredible fighting spirit, she needed someone to help her, to be there for her, and to be her savior.
That somebody was Lee Asher, a rescuer of abandoned and neglected dogs. He turned his home property in Estacada, Oregon, into a non-profit sanctuary, The Asher House. Asher documents all his rescues and shares rescue dogs’ updates on social media.
His first video of Mildred showed her barely walking on her legs. She looked weak and starved. As she tried to walk, her weak legs wobbled. She was also unable to lift her head. Asher outstretched his arms to meet her, and held her sad face in his hands and kissed her.
They left the animal hospital, and Asher carried her to the car to ride with the other rescue dogs. They sniffed her as soon as she entered the car. Mildred felt relaxed because she knew she was going home.
Welcome Home
All the dogs welcomed Mildred into the family and greeted her with kindness while wagging their tail. Mildred took a nap, and had dinner with the rest of the pack.
After rescuing Mildred, Asher felt content.
“I feel so good. Indeed, this feeling of remembering why I’m doing what I do. From now, I know. She was that pinch, that nudge, a reminder. I’ve been in such a sad place. Now, I know. I feel so blessed that she’s here.”
In October 2022, Asher shared an update about Mildred. She gained 20 pounds and she was much stronger and able to run after his ATV, swim, and play.
“She’s a dog now. Dogs are supposed to be free, to have adventures, to have love, affection, to have support. She has everything she needs now, and because of that, she’s the happiest dog I’ve ever seen. She is so full of love, so full of energy, and I’m just so proud of her, like truly. I’m just so proud of my daughter.”
Asher shared that the vet was impressed with Mildred’s recovery. She still had Lyme disease, and the vets were working on that. The whole pack loves and respects her. She loves food and cuddles. She’s a daddy’s girl and loves being near him.
Mildred continued her progress, proving what a true fighter she was. Her dad posted another video of the pack in March 2023, and we saw Mildred running confidently. We are amazed by both her fighting spirit and her unbelievable transformation.
Thank you, Asher, for rescuing Mildred and all other dogs, and for giving them a lot of love that has helped them heal and transform into happy and healthy dogs.
You can watch Mildred’s amazing transformation here.
