Oct. 17, 2004 – The four members of the Ashdown family arrived on the island last week, and the five members of the family left Sunday afternoon.
It all started when Helen Ashdown, 9, heard there was going to be dog show Sunday afternoon at Bolongo Bay Resort, where they were staying. They were scheduled to leave the island that afternoon.
The family stopped by the beach where the Barktoberfest was in full swing, and Helen took one look at a year-old female coconut retriever, a blond, long-haired dog, wearing a Humane Society T-shirt. She gazed at Helen with her deep brown eyes.
"I went to her, and I wouldn't leave her," Helen said.
And that was that.
Helen's mother, Philomenia Ashdown, began filling out adoption papers. Her father, Charles Ashdown, kept Helen and her sister, Mary Grace, 12, under control. And the mother called Delta Airlines to see if they could bring the dog. There was no problem with Delta, as long as the temperature didn't go over 85 degrees, the airline's limit for taking on pets.
The weather was muggy and hot at Bolongo.
"Oh please, please," said Helen and Mary Grace, gazing at the sky, which was beginning to show some signs of rain.
"Oh, rain," they pleaded, to no avail.
It was getting to be about 2:30 p.m. and time for check-in. "We want to take 'Mocha' with us," Mary Grace said. "And we are going to," Helen said. "Yes," agreed their parents.
The Ashdowns had come to St. Thomas on a working vacation. The senior Ashdowns are attorneys, and Philomenia had a case here last week in District Court.
At home in Cincinnati, they have two chickens, four rabbits and a cat, Helen said, but no dog. "Helen lost two rabbits last year," her father said, "she has been very sad about that."
The dog was brought to the Humane Society a week or so ago by Anna Clark, who had found her near her restaurant, Toad and Tart, in Smith Bay. "She was named 'Ginger," Helen said, "but we are calling her 'Mocha'."
Charles Ashdown said Helen has an unusual love for animals. "She sees them as human beings, and that seems the natural order," he said. "'Mocha' was ready for us. Helen saw it, and we saw what Helen saw."
As the Ashdown's left for the airport, Helen said, "This is the best vacation ever." Mary Grace added, "And what a souvenir we are bringing back."
A volunteer from the Humane Society was dispatched with them to the airport just in case the airline couldn't take "Mocha."
About a half hour later, Sergio Ruano, the event's master of ceremonies, announced that "Mocha" was on her way to Cincinnati.
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