Cheryl M. Rudolph, 52, of Ashland, MA, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2015 after a long illness. Cheryl leaves her two beloved sons, Benjamin Thornton and Kevin Rudolph, her companion Diva, longtime friend, Thomas Thornton and countless human and animal friends whose lives she touched in profound ways. As the Ashland Animal Control Officer for over 15 years, Cheryl helped to raise the bar for animal control operations across the state. Her tireless efforts for animals and their welfare were integral to her life, from adopting animals in need, to developing and directing the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts Training Academy. In 2007 Cheryl received the "Animal Control Officer of the Year" award from the MSPCA and Animal Rescue League of Boston. She was President of the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts and the Academy Director for several years. In 2013 Cheryl was appointed by Governor Duval Patrick to the Advisory Committee of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources' Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund (Massachusetts Animal Fund). She held many national and state certifications in the field of animal rescue and safety. She was a member of the SMART (State of Massachusetts Animal Response Team). Cheryl was a part time rescue technician for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. She also worked as a bus driver in Ashland, at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton and Avery Dennison in Framingham. She grew up in Ashland and Taunton and graduated from Bristol County Agricultural High School. Cheryl loved fishing, hiking and camping with her sons and friends. She enjoyed motorcycle rides and travelling to Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. She looked forward to pizza night at the Fish and finding the perfect home for rescued animals. A celebration of her life will be June 28 at 1:00 pm at the Ashland Fish and Game on Ponderosa Road in Ashland. A brief ceremony will be followed by a reception. Donations in her memory may be made to the Cheryl Rudolph Friends of Animals Fund c/o Mass. Animal Coalition, Inc. P.O. Box 766, Westboro, MA 01581.