Ryder’s Journey & The Birth of Ryder’s Fund
Share
Ryder has been my constant since the day I brought him home. He’s always been the best boy — loyal, gentle, and so well-behaved. Through my battles with anxiety, depression, and the lasting effects of CPTSD, Ryder has been my anchor.
There were days when the world felt like too much — when noise, people, and memories collided in ways that made it hard to breathe. But no matter what I was carrying, Ryder was always there. He has this quiet way of grounding me — pressing his head into my lap, or simply sitting close enough to remind me that I’m safe.
He’s been the reason I get up in the morning, the reason I open the blinds, the reason I still laugh on the hard days. He gives my nervous system a kind of calm that therapy and medication alone never could. For me, healing from trauma has never been a straight line, but Ryder has been the steady rhythm that helps keep me moving forward.
He’s my companion, my grounding force, and the warm greeting that makes every hard day worth coming home to.
For years, Ryder was a healthy, happy dog. But around the age of five, he began developing skin issues — itching, licking, and raw patches that left him uncomfortable and me desperate for answers. I switched his food, believing I was helping, not realizing that storing kibble in plastic bins can actually cause harmful chemical leaching that degrades the food’s quality. (It’s a common mistake — plastic storage can trap oils and bacteria that irritate a dog’s skin and gut over time.)
Eventually, I found my way to Dr. Harvey’s Natural Dog Food and Dog Is Human vitamins, hoping to give him better support from the inside out. The changes helped — his coat grew shinier, his energy steadier — but soon, another challenge appeared.
The Lump That Changed Everything
A few years later, I noticed small bumps appearing on his body, typical of aging dogs. Most were soft, harmless, and easy to monitor. But then there was one that didn’t feel right — a hard mound on his neck that wouldn’t move under the skin. Our vet aspirated it twice, yet the tests showed nothing definitive. The next recommendation was an ultrasound.
That appointment changed everything. The results were uncertain, but the concern was real — the possibility of cancer was on the table. Suddenly, I was faced with choices I never wanted to make: possible surgery, additional tests, and treatment plans that came with a steep emotional and financial cost.
When you love an animal as deeply as I love Ryder, you’d give anything for more time — but like so many pet parents, I realized the heartbreaking truth: affording that level of care is often out of reach.
That moment was the seed of Ryder’s Fund.
At first, it was simply a way to try to cover the cost of his own medical care — a safety net for whatever came next. But over time, it began to grow into something much larger.
When Love Becomes Legacy
Ryder’s Fund isn’t just about one dog’s story. It’s about every pet who’s ever been someone’s whole world, and every person who’s ever faced the fear of not being able to afford to help them.
As I searched for answers, I also found purpose. I began studying holistic care — food, herbs, natural healing — and realized how connected our wellness is to theirs. That understanding became the foundation for Leah Ashley’s Organics: a small-batch, organic skincare line made with the same care I give to Ryder — safe, gentle, and intentional.
A portion of every purchase now goes directly to Ryder’s Fund, so that other pets can receive medical attention and support when they need it most. What began as a personal plea has become a mission — turning love into tangible help.
Pagosa Springs — A Moment of Peace
When the fear feels heavy, I think back to Pagosa Springs, July 2025.
That trip was everything both of us needed. Ryder got to leave behind his sassy cat sister, Riley, for a few days and soak up what it felt like to be the only baby in the house again. He adores her, but I know a part of him still misses the quiet simplicity of those first five years when it was just us. He loves car rides, and the hours-long drive felt like an adventure — nose pressed to the window, taking in every new scent as the mountains grew taller around us.
When we arrived, I could tell he felt it too — that peaceful shift that only nature brings. The house was surrounded by trees and mountain air that smelled like pine and rain. Ryder had room to explore, stretch out, and soak in the quiet. He was in his element — curious, content, and completely at ease.
He loved being around my extended family — the laughter, the chatter, the constant hum of people who love animals as much as I do. He wandered from person to person like he was making sure everyone was happy, tail wagging the entire time.
But it was the mornings I’ll remember most. Just him and me, before anyone else woke up. Coffee in my hands, Ryder lying beside me as we watched the fog lift off the mountains. There was no noise, no rush — just the sound of the wind moving through the trees and the rhythm of his breathing next to me.
That trip was a reminder of how precious presence really is. It was the stillness I didn’t know I’d been craving — a perfect, ordinary kind of peace that I’ll carry with me forever.
Those mornings in Pagosa taught me that healing doesn’t happen away from fear — it happens inside it. It’s learning to stay, to breathe, to choose love even when you don’t know how much time you have left.
That’s what anticipatory grief has taught me — that love and loss aren’t opposites; they’re two sides of the same devotion. One exists because of the other.
So instead of waiting for loss, I choose to honor Ryder’s life now.
I choose long walks, soft mornings, laughter, and comfort. I choose to make his world as beautiful as he’s made mine.
The Heart of Ryder’s Fund
Ryder’s Fund was born from that love — from the space between fear and hope, between holding on and letting go. It’s a way to turn love into action and to make meaning out of moments that could have broken me.
If you’ve ever loved an animal who changed your life, I hope you see a piece of your story in ours. I hope Ryder’s journey reminds you that love is powerful medicine — for them, and for us too.
Because at the heart of Leah Ashley’s Organics, every balm, every jar, every act of care is a ripple of that same love.
And together, we’re turning it into something that heals far beyond our own homes.
🐾 A portion of every purchase goes directly to Ryder’s Fund — helping pets receive care when it’s needed most.