Tails of Courage Dog and Puppy Rescue

Tails of Courage is a national 501 (c) (3) charitable dog rescue organization which was started by a survivor of the World Trade Center attacks.  In remembrance of the brave firefighters who lost their lives that morning, www.tailsofcourage.org was started as a way to “give back” to the community.  It began as a small dog rescue charity, which was run out of a house.  TOC rescued abandoned and abused dogs from New York City and gradually expanded to be able to take dogs from Pennsylvania, Connecticut and West Virginia.  The business grew, started placing dogs in foster homes throughout CT, leasing temporary space in local kennels, arranging for transports, and renting vans to personally pick up the dogs. 

In 2013 TOC was recognized for placing over 1,000 adult dogs and puppies for adoption.  TOC received an award from the Mayor’s Council of the City of New York for accepting abused and abandoned dogs from New York City. 

Several years ago TOC went to NYC to accept a dog from a shelter.  Upon arrival, the shelter workers said they also had another very old German shepherd dog that needed a home.  TOC felt that the dog was too old for to take for adoption.  The shelter workers smiled at each other and opened a door.  An old dog walked out slowly, came over, and put his head down in the transporter’s lap and looked up.  That day, an old German shepherd named Freedom came to live in Connecticut. 

Freedom walked over to dogs that were missing fur from being outside in the elements their entire life.  He lay down for hours next to dogs cringing behind furniture, because they had been chained to radiators and burned and were afraid of humans.  He picked up pieces of food and dropped it in front of dogs too weak to walk over to food bowls to eat.  Gradually dogs that had lost the will to live started to come alive again.  Freedom found a purpose in life, in his old age, and helped so many other dogs live.  Freedom didn’t live very many months; but in those months, he felt loved and needed. 

TOC’s goal is to find forever, loving homes for puppies and dogs rescued from euthanasia, for dogs that are missing paws, for older dogs who just want to live out their lives in peace.  The reasonable adoption fees include spaying and neutering, all vaccinations, a free vet visit, and micro chipping.  TOC makes it possible for families who might not be otherwise able to afford to buy a dog, bring a loving animal into their family and give their children the wonderful memories of dog ownership.  Adoption events are almost every weekend in local Petsmart and Petco stores, staffed by volunteers.

TOC has branches such as TOC Run with the Pack which encourages physical exercise and donates dogs to service men and women; TOC Run Your Race which encourages everyone to be proud of who they are no matter what they look like and no matter what their physical attributes and has 5 spots in the NYC Marathon; and Traveling TOC which takes service dogs to visit schools and nursing homes in an effort to combat school bullying and loneliness. 

On July 15, 2013, TOC was able to take over the oldest kennel in the State of Connecticut, located at One Pembroke Rd, Danbury, CT and turn it into a dog rescue facility, fondly called “TOC HQ”. Over 50 rescued adult dogs and puppies moved into the facility, where adoptions can now be held every day, uniting loving families with furry forever-friends. 

These dogs and puppies have lived in cardboard boxes, on the sides of the road; have scavenged to find food on a daily basis. They just want the love of a forever family. 

Next Adoption Event:  Saturday, July 27, 2013, PETSMART, 525 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, CT from 1-3 PM.  Check them out at www.facebook.com/tailsofcourage