A Note from a Very Special Supporter of TTOH:

Mark and Cathy,
You folks are the reason, we who have the privilege of wearing a uniform; do what we do. Thank you for your inspiration and support of America's Armed Forces.

Very Respectfully,
CAPT D. H. "Dano" Fillion
Executive Officer
USS WASP, LHD-1

Initiative Spotlight

In just two years, TTOH has been able to affect the lives of many. We look forward to working with both veterans and civilians by including as many partners as possible in our programs throughout the United States in the coming months. Our focus not only involves providing people with assistance animals, but also involves advocating for this type of assistance to be more readily available world-wide. This includes educating the public and physicians on the benefits of assistance animals to humanity. We hope you will join us as we address this great social challenge.

Due to the overwhelming support of our donors and volunteers, we have been able to fund six teams of combat-wounded veterans with double and single amputee injuries and their service dogs. Through this program, service dogs are trained to serve as walker/balance companions when veterans are ambulatory and walking with their prosthetics. They provide balance while walking, going up and downstairs, and getting up from a sitting or fallen position When the veterans remove their prosthetics and transfer to a wheelchair, dogs help their owners by assisting in picking up dropped articles, retrieving items from a distance, pulling manual wheelchairs a short distance and turning lights on and off, among other important daily tasks.

We are extremely proud to have the opportunity to help our veterans live more independent lives after they bravely fought for our own independence abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq. We would like to thank all of our supporters who have made this program possible.

In addition to providing grants for our combat wounded veterans, TTOH was able to provide a local woman who has multiple sclerosis with a service dog after finding out that her dedicated service dog had recently passed away. This has allowed her life to continue to be full and independent.

With so many great initiatives being carried out, it's hard to imagine that there could be even more to report. Dr. Brian J. Green, 2007's Beacon of Light award honoree, has generously offered free veterinarian care to any service animal living in proximity to his Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital in Westchester County, New York that has received funding from TTOH for the rest of the dog's life! Brian is truly living up to his award's name, and beyond, as a beacon of light for dogs and their owners everywhere. In addition, our first corporate sponsor, BrightHeart Veterinary Centers has also offered to provide free lifetime advanced veterinary care for all TTOH-sponsored service animals.

Thank you again to our generous donors who have made all of these great programs possible. If you are interested in learning more about our initiatives or would like to apply for a grant, please contact info@thetowerofhope.org. We look forward to exploring ways we can work together to empower people who are living with a disability, a chronic illness, or have been in an abusive relationship to live happier and more independent lives through service and assistance animals.