"I'd risk my life to rescue my dog," said every dog owner ever. People who don't have pets of their own may find it hard to relate to this or believe that someone wouldn't actually risk their life trying to save a dog.
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But a lot of people consider pets as a part of their family, as did the woman in the following story. She will forever be remembered as a hero for saving her pet in an emotional act of heroism…
Goldendoodle
Tracy Cashman regularly walked her Goldendoodle Lola near her home in Wyoming, Michigan. But according to the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, the 38-year-old was reported missing on Saturday night after not returning home from walking her dog.
Battjes Park
Tracy's family says she frequently walked her dog at Battjes Park, located at 1601 Blandford Ave SW. At around 9 pm on Saturday, Lola returned home without Cashman, so her family went to the park to search for her.
Cold Water Rescue
When they were unable to find Tracy, they called the police for help. At around 12:30 am, police discovered Tracy's body in the ice of a pond at the park. Firefighters performed a cold water rescue, but she had already passed, according to ABC 13.
Lola
Investigators believed Tracy fell through the ice trying to rescue her Lola after she fell through the ice during their walk. Tracy's mother Rhonda Moore said that her daughter would not have walked on the ice under other circumstances.
Hero
Moore added that it was no surprise to hear she was heroically trying to save her dog being that she had a heart of gold. "She wasn't foolish. You know what? She acted on instinct because she had such a big heart," Moore told the Daily Mail. "That dog…any dog, any cat would be just like another kid to her."
Longtime Boyfriend
Tracy's longtime boyfriend, Jerome See, was devastated to hear the news. "The dog came back and she didn't and I figured she was just looking for the dog so I waited and I guess I waited too long," he said.
Funeral Expenses
Tracy left behind a 19-year-old son and two daughters ages 12 and 18. Her family set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral costs. The goal of the GoFundMe was simple; it sought to raise $10,000 for Tracy's funeral expenses.
GoFundMe
"Tracy was a much-loved daughter, mother, sister, partner, coworker, and friend. She passed unexpectedly. These funds will help with the funeral expenses," the GoFundMe explained. In 11 days, $9,580 donations were raised.
Worked At A School
Besides being a wonderful mother, she was also an employee of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools. Tracy's family and friends said she was well-liked by students and colleagues. "[She was] an all-around caring and loving person," said Melissa Dalman, who grew up with Tracy. "It didn't matter who you were, she was always there for you."
Godfrey-Lee Public Schools
The school district alerted the community of Tracy's passing, saying that the school will be let out early on Monday, December 10. The statement said that she had worked at the school since 2012, beginning in Food Service before transitioning to the role of Administrative Assistant to the Director of Operations, Transportation, and Food Service.
Commitment To The District
She coordinated the transportation for all students in the district in a safe and efficient manner, and she also recently passed her certification test to be a bus driver. "This act shows her commitment to the district as finding substitute bus drivers was not always easy," Godfrey-Lee Public Schools wrote.
Dedicated Employee
"She was a dedicated and loyal employee, who constantly put the needs of students and families at the forefront of her thoughts and actions. She embodied the District's core values of community, equity, excellence, human-centered and relationships," the statement said.
Crucial Role At The School
Another key function of Tracy's role at the school was processing meal benefits applications for the 95% of the district's 1,863 students. The applications allow students to receive free breakfast and lunch at all of the Godfrey-Lee Schools.
Behind The Scenes
"The percentage of eligible students also qualifies the district for approximately $1.4 million in at-risk funding from the State of Michigan. This work is an example of how vital [Tracy's] role was to the district, but also indicative of how most of her work was done out of the spotlight."
Family Left Behind
The statement also mentioned that Cashman is survived by Jerome "Jerry" See, and children Scott, Haley, and Hanna See. Besides loving her family first and foremost, Tracy also loved animals and the outdoors.
Half-Day For Students
The school district explained why they wanted to have a half-day for students the Monday following Tracy's death. Superintendent Kevin Polston stated, "We wanted our students to hear the message about Tracy from a trusted adult in a setting where we could provide resources for them if needed."
Crisis Team
"Students throughout the district utilized Crisis Team support and we are thankful for our Administrators, Counselors, Social Workers, School Psychologist, Kent School Services Network staff and community partners, to comfort students. The half-day schedule for students and full day schedule for staff also allowed dedicated time to provide grief support to staff," Polston said.
Grieving A Friend And Colleague
He further stated, "We know for our children to receive the best education possible, our staff needs to be emotionally healthy as well." "The dedicated time in the afternoon, facilitated by our community partners that are experts in the field, provided a healthy outlet for our staff to begin to process the grief of losing a friend and colleague."
Woman With A Big Heart
The outpour of love and support from Tracy's school showed the world how big of a heart she had for children. "She was quick to notice a student that needed a smile or an extra hand," the school wrote on their Facebook page.
Trusted Friend
"Students found her to be a trusted friend at school that they could count on when they needed her." A funeral was held for Tracy the following Friday at Lee Street Christian Reformed Church in Wyoming. The District also closed that day to allow staff to attend the funeral service.