SEATTLE — One year after the tragic killing of Ruth Dalton, an 80-year-old dogwalker affectionately known as “Grandma Ruth,” the Seattle community gathered to honor her life and legacy with a new memorial.
Remembering a Life Cut Short
Dalton was killed during a carjacking in Madison Valley in 2024, an attack that also took the life of her loyal dog, Prince. On Wednesday evening, about 100 friends, family members, and longtime clients came together at Madison Park Beach for the unveiling of two benches dedicated to the woman who spent decades caring for people’s pets and touching countless lives.
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell joined the gathering, calling Dalton’s death a devastating reminder of the human cost of violent crime.
“When you see a person that has lived such an angelic life as she did, what she stood for, and she gets senselessly murdered, taken away from us, it hurts,” Harrell said.
The mayor noted that while recent crime statistics show declines in homicides and violent offenses, those numbers “mean absolutely nothing” when a community is mourning at a memorial site like Dalton’s bench.
A Community’s Tribute
The benches, placed along one of Dalton’s favorite dog-walking routes, feature a plaque inscribed with the simple commands she often used with her canine companions: “Come, sit, stay.”
Dalton’s granddaughter, Melanie Roberts, shared how she settled on the words after struggling to decide on the right message. One day, she recalled, she felt the sun on her face and heard her grandmother’s familiar voice calling to the dogs she loved.
“It just felt right,” Roberts said, her voice breaking as the crowd looked toward the benches overlooking the water.
A Business Built on Care
Dalton ran Grandma’s Critter Care for decades, becoming a trusted figure in the Madison Valley and Madison Park neighborhoods. For her clients, she wasn’t just a dogwalker — she was family.
Laura Bethel, who had used Dalton’s services for 27 years, attended the ceremony with her black lab, Bella. She recalled Dalton’s compassion during the final days of a beloved pet’s illness.
“Ruth would meet me at the emergency vet and sit with me,” Bethel said. “If I felt like I needed to go home, she would sometimes stay. She always was just looking out for us.”
The Case Against the Suspect
The man accused of killing Dalton and her dog, Jahmed Haynes, was initially found mentally unfit to stand trial in September 2024. By December, the state Department of Social and Health Services ruled him competent, though legal proceedings have continued to face delays. Another hearing in the case is scheduled for October.
For Dalton’s loved ones, the wait for justice remains frustrating. Still, many say their focus now is on honoring her memory and finding healing in the community she built.
Healing Through Legacy
As the sun set over Madison Park Beach, dogs barked playfully and children tugged at their leashes — a scene many said Dalton would have cherished.
“She always gave more of herself than anyone could ever expect,” Roberts said. “Now, these benches are here so everyone can sit, reflect, and remember her kindness.”
For a neighborhood still grieving, the tribute offers a small measure of comfort — a reminder that even in tragedy, Grandma Ruth’s legacy of love and care endures.
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