Tails of Hope Foundation

05/27/2024

The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30, 1868. Then known as Decoration Day and observed on May 30th, the holiday was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the American Civil War. This national observance followed many local observances which were inaugurated between the end of the Civil War and Logan's declaration. Many cities and people have claimed to be the first to observe it. However, the National Cemetery Administration, a division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, credits Mary Ann Williams with originating the "idea of strewing the graves of Civil War soldiers—Union and Confederate" with flowers.

Official recognition as a holiday spread among the states, beginning with New York in 1873. By 1890, every Union state had adopted it. The world wars turned it into a day of remembrance for all members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as "Memorial Day" and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.

11/11/2023

Tails of Hope Foundation
Makes Historic Contribution to Veterans with Disabilities
On November 9 a Tails of Hope Foundation idea became a reality. Together with co-founding partners from Hartford HealthCare (HHC) of Connecticut we proudly launched our Veterans with Disabilities Task Force (VDTF). The inaugural meeting was hosted at the Connecticut State Capitol by State Representative Henry Genga who also spearheaded the passage of Connecticut's K9 Veterans Day law in 2017.
Key stakeholders from veterans, military, business, service and non-profit organizations participated. Honored guests included veterans with disabilities, federal and state representatives, the chair of the State Legislature's Appropriations Committee, the Vice President of Operations for the Hartford Region from HHC and the Mayor of Hartford.
Sherri Vogt, the wonderful Army Veteran and HHC’s Veteran Liaison, served as the meeting's Emcee.
Beyond Tails of Hope's leadership role, we provided critical information about the invaluable and lifesaving role service dogs play for disabled veterans.
The VDTF’s goal is to build multidisciplinary community support to improve the lives of veterans with disabilities, and reduce the high rate of veteran su***de — approximately 22 per day. The plan is for VDTF to serve as a nationwide model.
That goal is just what the community did for Veteran Jake and his wife, Sara. Both spoke poignantly with their “Soldier's and Family’s Story”. They talked about how life changed after Jake was permanently injured by a rocket propelled gr***de while serving in Afghanistan, about their daily challenges, his relentless pain and Sara’s tough role as caretaker.
Two HHC visionary physicians, Dr. Seetharama, the Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Dr. Gregory De Gruchy, Associate Program Director at HHC’s UCONN PM&R Residency Program, created a new treatment plan for Jake which reduced his pain level to manageable on most days. He also has hope in potential research on reversing degenerative nerve disease.
Dr. De Gruchy is a Marine Veteran who served multiple deployment tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He became disabled from combat injuries, but received great medical care which inspired him to become a doctor.
Tails of Hope had introduced Veteran Jake to both of these brilliant doctors and the multidisciplinary community that joined together to help him. Veteran Jake went from hopeless to hopeful. Jake told the participants that Tails of Hope literally saved his life since meeting us in 2017.
Vietnam Veteran Ralph Orlando and his Obedience Dog Club of Daytona helped all the way from Florida by donating catering for the task force launch and the local Edible Arrangements of Windsor donated a beautiful Fruit Festival basket.
CT-N television filmed the entire meeting which you can watch on-line at https://ct-n.com/ctnplayer.asp?odID=22310 . The next key stakeholders' meeting is scheduled for February 28, 2024.
Thanks to our great volunteers, partners and supporters, Tails of Hope has continually supported veterans by gifting service dogs to disabled veterans, sponsoring advanced veterinary care, reuniting battle buddies when military working dogs retire from active duty, providing emotional support and services at the canines' end of life “Final Walks” and so much more.
Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient, Paul Buccha, challenges others to do more too by saying, “It is not enough to say thank you (to veterans), but rather to ask how you can help”.
Everyone can make a difference in the lives of veterans with disabilities. Please ask yourself how you can honor a veteran who sacrificed so much for your freedom. Consider gifting a home-cooked meal, home repairs, a haircut, lawn mowing, a visit, house cleaning or other. Your gift can be small or large and all acts of kindness will be deeply appreciated. Most importantly your gifts will let veterans know they are appreciated, remembered and not alone!

10/24/2023

Today is Tails of Hope Foundation’s 17th birthday! Woohoo! We are so proud of our accomplishments and so humbled to be able to support heroic professional K9 teams.

Over the past 17 years TOHF has filled critical gaps in support of the national security canine field. To see our impressive timeline of accomplishments click on: https://www.tailsofhopefoundation.org/archived-news .

Among TOHF’s most critical accomplishments include the co-designing and co-hosting of the September 11 Tenth Anniversary National K9 and Veterinary Recognition Ceremony held at Liberty State Park, NJ across from Ground Zero. The Statue of Liberty bore witness to the stately and patriotic ceremony honoring the professional K9 teams and veterinarians who served immediately following the 9/11 attacks. For more information and photos of the ceremony, please see https://www.tailsofhopefoundation.org/911-tribute . That spotlight ceremony brought the professional K9 field to the attention of America.

Here are a few highlights: In 2012 TOHF chaired the inaugural Military Working Dog contingent in the New York City Veterans Day Parade; the largest Veterans Day parade in America. We also launched our Youth Ambassador K9 Career™ program (YAP-K9™) (see https://www.tailsofhopefoundation.org/yap). TOHF continued its leadership role by co-hosting America’s first official K9 Veterans Day ceremony in NJ (the first state to pass a law recognizing that day). In 2013 we met with the White House’s high-level national security staff, and in 2014 led the campaign to honor America’s first Arson Detection K9, “Mattie”. In 2019 TOHF co-designed and served as co-show runner for the inaugural Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. 2020 marked the launch of our K9☤ER™ project’s “5 star-rated” advanced training of first-aid for line-of-duty K9 injuries and K9 decontamination. 2023 has brought an expansion to international consultation and the upcoming launch of the Veterans with Disabilities Task Force in the state of Connecticut.

Thank you donors, volunteers, and supporters, including national security K9 subject matter experts, for making possible our work supporting the heroic military, law enforcement, search and rescue, and crisis response K9 teams. We couldn’t do it without YOU!

09/18/2023

Rev. Raul Ausa celebrated mass at Trinity Church in Allendale, New Jersey (9/17/23), in honor of retired Army SGT David Kist's Service Dog, K9 "Patrick." Patrick recently passed away.

In turn, Tails of Hope Foundation celebrated Trinity Church for it's unwavering support of Tails of Hope Foundation, and David Kist and K9 "Patrick," for the past ten years! It's a milestone!!!
We are very grateful to Trinity Church for their support of national security K9 teams, and for veteran's service dogs, especially K9 "Patrick."

Patrick had unconditional love for SGT Kist, and SGT Kist had unconditional love for Patrick.

It was a blessed day!

09/15/2023

09/11/2023

Remembering 9/11 as the Death Tolls Continues to Rise

Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11/2001 terror attacks on America. The horror of those attacks remains in the minds, bodies and souls of those who served, their families and Americans across the nation. However, often now when the topic of 9/11 is raised, a growing number of people ask, “What do you mean, what happened on 9/11?” Some even say, “Why do you keep bringing this up, it happened so long ago?”. For those who served; especially for the families of the perished, injured, the countless responders and innocent citizens newly diagnosed with life-threatening 9/11 related illnesses, and those who have perished since 9/11/2001, these comments are akin to being stabbed in the heart.

Why must we “Never Forget” ? Because 2,977 innocent people were murdered that day including firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement officers, and Port Authority K9 Police Officer “Sirius”, the beloved partner of Lt. David Lim who thankfully survived the World Trade Center collapse. The toll of those that have died from 9/11 diseases is now estimated to have passed those killed on September 11th.

Professional K9s and the dedicated veterinarians and their staffs who tended to their wounds served a critical role in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The 9/11 canines served in national security roles, search and rescue, as crisis responders and comfort canines. Today such professional canines are in greater demand then ever as domestic and international terror threats increase.

Please remember the canines, the veterinarians, the vet techs and their staff who have died or are now suffering from 9/11 related diseases.

Tails of Hope Foundation takes to heart, and with action, the profound appeal made by Medal of Honor Recipient and Vietnam Veteran, Paul William Bucha, who said, “It is not enough to say thank you, but rather ask how you can help!”

09/04/2023

The Kist Family beautiful Message in Memory of K9 Patrick RE-POSTED https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ByadEpeSAnPwKU96DgS9WWHUQ9WLDpLshHpU4GaxTN2AkHoqminn9Quy4okG4TCZl&id=1335814289&sfnsn=mo&mibextid=RUbZ1f

09/03/2023

K9 Patrick, beloved service dog of disabled Veteran David Kist, passed away peacefully Friday surrounded by love.

Patrick had a GI mass tumor removed at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center of NY (S-AMC) who provided these extremely generous services under their 401 K9 program. Tails of Hope Foundation (TOHF) served as liaison for K9 Patrick’s care as we have for the last10 years, since Patrick was just 6 months old.

After the surgery there were a few tough recovery days, but then K9 Patrick’s condition improved. The veterinarians were pleased with Patrick’s progress and released him home. Patrick had a few wonderful hours snuggling with David. Then overnight, Patrick took a shockingly quick turn for the worst. Simultaneously Patrick’s biopsy results came back diagnosing him with cancer; together his family, with the veterinarians and TOHF, made the heartbreaking decision that it was time for Patrick to be eased into peace.

With less than 15 hours to make plans, from Thursday night into Friday morning, TOHF jumped into action. Continuing our leadership role and support, we coordinated Patrick’s “Final Goodbye” ceremony, along with S-AMC’s wonderful leadership, veterinarians, veterinary staff and social worker. Other key members of Patrick’s support team included Dr. Alice Quinn-K9 Patrick’s trainer, Father Ausa of Trinity Episcopalian Church in Allendale, NJ, NYPD K9 Transit Commander Lt. Pappas, 9/11 K9 Search and Rescue handler, EMT volunteer and member of Ramapo Rescue Dog Association-Nancy Brooks and Patrick’s loving family. TOHF secured an American flag donated by Tractor Supply of Litchfield, CT, prepared memorial framed photo tributes and a grief package to comfort Veteran David’s children. Everything was in place for Patrick’s good-bye. Father Ausa and TOHF’s President gathered at Patrick’s family home Friday morning in NJ and traveled together into New York City returning together at 4:30 pm.

Thank YOU beyond measure to TOHF’s volunteers, caring community partner organizations, our deeply appreciated supporters and Patrick’s donors. All of you have traveled this journey with us through Patrick’s life providing outstanding veterinary care, K9 supplies, support for Patrick’s family, his final ceremony, peaceful good-bye and now with TOHF and AMC’s grief support.

Plans are underway to celebrate Patrick’s life-details to follow.

David and Patrick’s unconditional love traveled to and from both ends of the leash. Patrick will always be in David, his family and TOHF’s heart.

Rest In Peace brave beautiful Patrick. You will always be remembered and forever loved.

07/04/2023

The Founding Father delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain, King George III, and were now united, free, and independent states.[1] The Congress voted to approve independence by passing the Lee Resolution on July 2 and adopted the Declaration of Independence two days later, on July 4.

Tails of Hope Foundation recognizes the sacrifices made by our military, at home and down range, to keep America free.

05/28/2023

Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. With respect, Tails of Hope Foundation gives thanks to all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of our Nation.

11/23/2022

Photo: Past recipients of the Animals in War & Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medals. Incredible heroes!

10/21/2022

Join US and The Elks for VETERANS DAY SALUTE TO OUR 2-and 4-legged VETERANS:

Benefit Dinner, K9 Meet and Greet, Comedy Show by Active Duty Military and Veteran Comedians! Click here for more details https://www.tailsofhopefoundation.org/an-evening-of-comedy-by-active-duty-military-and-veteran-comedians/