Hey Golden Whiskers family,
It’s been one week since our third annual Tails on Trails – Hike to Save Pets, and I’m back with a special episode!
This time, I’m recording outdoors at a park in Knoxville, with my good friend Lori behind the camera asking me a few questions.
If you listened to my last episode, you know how stressed I was leading up to the hike. I was worried about registration numbers, putting a lot of pressure on myself, and trying to manage all the details.
Well, I’m happy to report that 125 hikers registered, including 20 who participated from afar, and we raised $10,871.95!
But what I’m most pleased about is how the event actually felt.
After last year’s hike, I decided to simplify things. I wanted more live acoustic music, a firepit, s’mores, and the feeling of people gathering around a campfire on a crisp fall morning.
And that’s exactly what we created.
In this week’s episode, Lori and I talk about what made this year’s event different, the community that’s grown around Tails on Trails, and something I never could have imagined when Nomar and Mia were alive: how many people would eventually be touched by their lives.
I get a little emotional talking about that.
We also talk about what’s next. We’re estimating that the Nomar & Mia Compassion Endowment is now somewhere between $20,000 and $21,000, although we’re still waiting for the official total from UT.
My new goal is to finish funding the $25,000 endowment by December 31, 2026.
That’s our next challenge!
With gratitude,
Scott
goldenwhiskerslove.com | tributehikes.com
🎧 Episode Snapshot
In this special outdoor episode, recorded one week after Tails on Trails, my friend Lori joins me for an unscripted conversation about the event, the people who supported it, and what I’ve learned.
You’ll hear:
🥾 How Tails on Trails 2026 turned out — 125 registrations, including 105 local and 20 virtual, and $10,871.95 raised.
🔥 Why simplifying the event made such a difference — and how live acoustic music, s’mores, and a firepit created the fall morning gathering I’d envisioned.
❤️ How Nomar and Mia continue to bring people together — something I never imagined when they were alive.
🐾 Why pets mean so much to us — and why losing an animal can be one of the most difficult experiences of our lives.
💛 Why the Nomar & Mia Compassion Endowment resonates with pet lovers — especially those who know how stressful and expensive veterinary emergencies can be.
🎤 A different perspective from Lori — my longtime friend who knew Nomar and Mia and has seen the work, stress, and emotions behind all three Tails on Trails events.
🎯 Our next fundraising goal — a 60-day effort to finish funding the $25,000 endowment before the end of the year.
One thing that really gets to me is thinking about the hundreds of people who’ve participated, volunteered, donated, shared their pet stories, or helped spread the word over the past three years.
Nomar and Mia meant so much to me, but I never imagined their lives would lead to something like this.
🐾 Help Us Finish the Nomar & Mia Compassion Endowment
We’ve now held three Tails on Trails events, and this year’s hike raised $10,871.95!
We’re estimating that the endowment has reached approximately $20,000–$21,000, pending confirmation from the University of Tennessee.
Our goal is $25,000.
Once the endowment is fully funded and eligible to begin making distributions, it will help families facing emergency veterinary expenses through the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.
My goal is to raise the remaining amount by December 31, 2026.
If you’d like to contribute or share the fundraiser with someone who loves animals, I’d really appreciate it.
👉 Donate or learn more at tributehikes.com (this is the Tails on Trails event platform)
You can also donate directly into the fund at UT here.
Thank you to everyone who’s helped us get this far!
🐾 Cattitude Prompt
Have you ever done something in memory of a pet that turned into something bigger than you expected?
Maybe you started a tradition, helped another animal, volunteered, or found a way to honor their memory.
I’d love to hear about it.
And if you’d like to help us finish funding the Nomar & Mia Compassion Endowment before the end of the year, you can visit tributehikes.com and donate or make a donation here.
Hit reply or leave a comment. I’d love to hear your story.
