23/09/2026
At the recent 9/11 Memorial Observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania HOPE Animal-Assisted Crisis Response teams had the profound honor of being embedded directly with the families of the victims. Among the 10,000 attendees present to honor and remember, our canine-handler teams and team leaders provided quiet comfort, grounded support, and a compassionate presence throughout the emotional ceremonies.
We estimate our team interacted directly with approximately 2,000 individuals over the course of the event. While every connection mattered, a moment of extraordinary connection stood out: a family grieving the loss of their loved one, Sandy, spent time with one of our crisis response canines—who, by meaningful coincidence, is also named Sandy. The family expressed deep comfort in meeting Sandy the HOPE canine, finding a moment of unexpected grace and healing during a poignant day.
Thank you to Janice and her canine Sandy, Elissa and her canine Cricket Louise, Cece and her canine Fergus, Caitlyn and her canine Bobcat and our amazing team leaders Sherry and Valerie.
Moments like these demonstrate the unique power of crisis response canines to meet people where they are in their grief. Your support makes it possible for our volunteer teams to deploy whenever and wherever a gentle, comforting presence is needed most.
Thank you for partnering with us to bring comfort to those navigating profound loss. 💜🐾💜
