Service Dog Alerts Veteran to Life-Threatening Condition

A veteran from Colorado credits his service dog with saving his life during a serious medical emergency. Hank Ford, a former member of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, experienced a critical health issue in February 2023, when his yellow Labrador, Tommy, alerted him to an irregular heartbeat that could have led to a stroke.

Ford, who suffers from PTSD, highlights the transformative effect that Tommy has had on his life. He described the change as “night and day,” noting that friends and family have remarked on the significant improvement in his overall well-being since he began working with the service dog.

On the morning of the incident, Tommy, who typically wakes Ford around 07:00, behaved unusually. “He was hitting me in the chest. He wasn’t coming up to my face. He was literally hitting me in the chest,” Ford recalled. This unusual behaviour prompted him to seek medical attention, where he was diagnosed with a rapid, irregular heartbeat. Medical professionals later informed him that had Tommy not acted quickly, he may not have survived the episode.

Ford expressed that many veterans hesitate to obtain service dogs due to concerns about how they might be perceived in public. “A lot of veterans, they won’t get a dog because they think people look at you different when you’re walking through a store. But a dog makes a huge difference,” he explained.

Reflecting on his bond with Tommy, Ford said, “Everybody always talks about, you know, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. It was a dark spot. He turned the lights on.”

The story of Hank Ford and Tommy serves as a poignant reminder of the vital role that service animals can play in the lives of veterans, particularly those dealing with the lasting effects of combat-related trauma. Their companionship not only offers emotional support but may also prove life-saving in critical situations.