Animal groups receive $12,000 from ‘Taking Care of Paws, Sasha’s Way’

On June 3, animal rescue groups received proceeds from “Taking Care of Paws, Sasha’s Way.” Attending the presentation were Michael Locke, Big Heart Pet Brands; Cheri Mead, New Leash on Life; Jonathan Dison; Larissa Dison; Susan Burlingame, Challenger’s House; and Bethany Marbut, Amanda Howard and Dana Brown, Friends of Rescue. (RECORD PHOTO/GREGG PARKER)

MADISON – The legacy and gentle wishes of Alexandra ‘Sasha’ Dison are thriving.

On June 3, animal rescues received $12,000 from “Taking Care of Paws, Sasha’s Way” held April 29 at Madison Station Bar & Grill.

In May 2011, Sasha was diagnosed with rhabdomayosarcoma cancer. Sasha, 9, died on April 27. Her parents, Jonathan and Larissa Dison, agreed that Sasha would want her fundraiser to continue as she had planned.

On June 3, New Leash on Life, Friends of Rescue and Challenger’s House each received $4,000. Whitworth Animal Clinic hosted the presentation.

Challenger’s House, a cat rescue, plans to use a portion of their donation to buy cat furniture. “Many of our cats are with us their entire lives. They’re older and need some new things,” volunteer Susan Burlingame said.

Many animals at New Leash on Life are older and need heartworm and other medical treatments, volunteer Cheri Mead said. Friends of Rescue’s animals also need heartworm treatments; like many rescue groups, they try to provide supplies to foster families, volunteer Dana Brown said.

Ticket sales and direct donations to Sasha’s website accounted for most collected funds. People donated from Maryland, California, Michigan, Connecticut and Missouri — even Canada and England.

Camp Smile-A-Mile gave $3,100, the largest donation. Sasha enjoyed her time at the camp with other cancer patients.

Beth Mumaw, Liz Cuneo, Shrail Heinrich and Mark Komara organized ‘Sasha’s Way.’ Cuneo said the presentation to animal groups was “a very humbling experience.” Cuneo’s family dog Rose was nursed from poor health by a rescue group.

“Knowing that Sasha, a little nine-year-old girl brought this community together and helped … lives of homeless animals, was a blessing,” Cuneo said.

In recent weeks, Mike Locke with Big Heart Pet Brands in Decatur donated 3,500 pounds of pet food.

Locke increased his original pledge of 2,000 pounds to 3,500 after Limestone County tornadoes caused Peace, Love and Animals and Friends of Athens-Limestone Animal Shelter to be inundated by lost dogs and cats. New Home Rescue also received pet food from Big Heart.

“We’re heartbroken at the loss of Sasha, but we see what a difference she made in our lives and animals’ lives. If more people in this world had Sasha’s servant heart, how much better off we would be,” Cuneo said.