FORT LUPTON, Colo. — Hank Ford says his days often felt long and isolating for years after leaving the military. A veteran of both the Marine Corps and the Army, he describes retirement as “a lot of alone time,” a dangerous mix for someone living with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Idle hands are not a good thing,” Ford said. “Especially when you’re battling with PTSD and depression. It’s not good, and so that’s why I got Tommy.”

Tommy is a 3-year-old service dog trained by Dogs Inc , a nonprofit pairing veterans with animals who can interrupt panic attacks, reduce hypervigilance and provide grounding during periods of stress. Ford was matched with him in September 2023. The connection, he said, was immediate.

“I can just look at him and move my eyebrows, and he knows what I’m about r

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