Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2014 | Page 23

INTERVIEW

J

illie Wheeler recently lost her soul
mate. Cassie, a black German
Shepherd dog, with eyes that melted
everyone’s heart, died earlier this year,
writes Peter White.
It proved a devastating time for Jillie,
who turned to Cassie for companionship
when her husband Frank passed away
in 2004. But Cassie was much more than
just a pet; indeed she became something
of an Island personality, who along
with her dedicated owner, raised many
thousands of pounds for Island charities.
Cassie captured everyone’s imagination,
and now Jillie has vowed to continue
her late pet’s legacy. However, she insists:
“Although I hope to get another dog
shortly, it will not be as a replacement for
Cassie, because you could never replace
her. Let’s say it will be a continuation
of Cassie. She'll be called Seely and
registered with the Kennel Club as Seely
of Wight - good old Island names.”
Jillie, who lives in Bembridge, recalled
how Cassie helped turn her life around.
She explained: “I had this amazing dog
with wonderful eyes, and people just fell
in love with her. She was also my rock
- the one who got me out of bed in the
morning, because she wanted to go for a
walk. She really gave me a purpose.
“I soon found the one thing I could do
was raise money with Cassie. After Frank
died I went to the Earl Mountbatten
Hospice with £1,000 of donations from
his funeral, and subsequently bought
music centres for each room. Then Cassie
and I went out to raise money for new
televisions at the Hospice. Most of our
collecting was done at the Bembridge
Coast Hotel, where guests would make
a donation for patting Cassie, and
we collected enough for the TVs, an
electrically operated chair and other
equipment.”
Jillie and Cassie undertook a major
fund-raising project to buy a £26,000
coach for the Hospice, and that was
followed by a similar effort for the
Saturday Club for deaf children on
the Island, and in just two years they
reached their target. Jillie was awarded
the British Empire Medal in June, 2013,
for her charity work, but openly admits:
“I could not have done this on my own.
I was motivated by Cassie, and when I
found we were quite successful in our
fund-raising efforts, it encouraged me
even more.”

Cassie died on June 20, this year, but as
a fitting memorial Jillie continues to look
for ways of raising cash for pet owners less
fortunate than herself.
She explained: “Veterinary bills have
increased, so I am concerned that if the

"Although I hope
to get another dog
shortly, it will not be
as a replacement for
Cassie, because you
could never replace
her."

trend continues, then only privileged
people who have substantial income will
be able to afford a pet.
“Many people who love animals are
perhaps only on a pension or have fallen
on hard times, are very worried about
the costs involved. There are also a lot
of elderly people on the Island, and it
concerns me that they may not be able to
afford to keep their dog or cat who is their
only companion and means the world to
them, giving them a purpose in life.”
Jillie admits that since Cassie passed
away it has become more difficult to raise
money, and reckons: “I have got to get
my thinking cap on. I was lucky, I could
afford Cassie, but there are people who
can’t afford to keep their dogs. I am not
a do-gooder; but I just want to do what
I can help other dog owners who are
perhaps not as fortunate as me.”
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