Veteran Calls Service Dog His Hero After Life-Threatening Episode

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Service Dog Saves Veteran’s Life After Sensing Dangerous Heart Condition

Every Wednesday on a Fort Lupton, Colorado, golf course, veteran Hank Ford serves as a marshal—never alone, always with his loyal service dog, Tommy. But to Ford, Tommy is far more than a companion. He’s a hero who saved his life.

Ford, a 20-year military veteran who served in Desert Storm, Bosnia, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, has spent years battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). After returning from his final deployment in Iraq, the toll became unbearable, ultimately forcing him into early retirement. “I was in a really dark place,” Ford recalled.

Then came Tommy.

Two and a half years ago, Dogs Inc., a service dog training organization, matched Ford with Tommy. Their connection was instant. “He wasn’t the light at the end of the tunnel—he was the light,” Ford said, describing the profound emotional shift that Tommy brought into his life.

While Tommy had already helped Ford find peace and purpose again, earlier this year he did something even more extraordinary. One morning, after Ford’s wife had left for work, Tommy started acting frantically—barking, jumping, and pawing at Ford in a way he never had before. Confused but responsive, Ford got up and immediately felt dizzy and weak.

Then Tommy began pawing at Ford’s chest, as if he sensed something deeper. Alarmed, Ford checked his pulse and realized something was wrong. A trip to the hospital confirmed that he was in atrial fibrillation (AFib), a serious heart rhythm disturbance. Doctors told him he likely would have suffered a massive stroke—or worse—had Tommy not intervened.

Ford underwent an emergency procedure to shock his heart back into rhythm. Throughout the ordeal, Tommy stayed close, draped across Ford’s chest during recovery, his protective presence unwavering.

“If it wasn’t for him,” Ford said tearfully, “I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Now a passionate advocate for service dogs, Ford urges fellow veterans and first responders to consider the life-changing impact these animals can have. “They have a purpose,” he said. “And Tommy serves that purpose fully.”