Celebrating K9 Veterans Day—Coast Guard Foundation Raising Funds To Build K9 Memorial At California Base

ByJason Johnson

This isn’t necessarily speedonthewater.com “news,” but there are a lot of dog lovers amongst this audience that it makes sense to report that the Coast Guard Foundation announced that to celebrate today’s K9 Veterans Day—a day to honor and commemorate the service and sacrifices of American military and working dogs throughout history—it is raising funds to build a K9 memorial. The goal for the fundraising effort is $50,000 and a generous supporter—Coast Guard Foundation board member Fred Brodsky—kicked off the effort a few days ago with a $10,000 donation toward the memorial project. So far, more than $37,000 has been raised.

Members of Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach, Coast Guard canine Kelly and her handler, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Brasker, await a hoisting line from an Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter during training in San Francisco Bay in April 2021. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Bacon

The Coast Guard has a long tradition of employing service animals in the protection of this country. The canine memorial will be built at Coast Guard Base Alameda, Calif., where the ashes of service dogs can be laid to rest by their handlers. The memorial is going to honor not only the dogs that dedicated their lives to their country, but their handlers as well.

“These dogs are highly trained and crucial to ensuring our national security,” said Susan Ludwig, president of the Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1969 to strengthen the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families. “Working dogs deserve our admiration and respect for their vital role in the Coast Guard. We believe that they deserve a place of their own to recognize their contribution to the service.”

To donate to this effort, click here. And to learn more about the Coast Guard Foundation, or to help support its work, visit www.coastguardfoundation.org or call (860) 535-0786.