Tommy, a Labrador service dog from Dogs Inc, was matched with U.S. veteran Hank Ford to support him with PTSD. In February 2025, Tommy's unusual barking, pawing, and chest-focused nudging woke Ford and led him to seek care for a serious atrial-fibrillation episode.

Fort Lupton, Colorado / Dogs Inc service-dog program | Labrador service dog Tommy

Story

Tommy was matched with U.S. veteran Hank Ford through Dogs Inc after Ford sought help managing PTSD. The public reports describe a careful process: interviews, online classes, home assessment, a September 2023 match, and a period of intensive training in places Ford had tended to avoid.

Tommy’s first work was not medical detection. He helped Ford rebuild daily rhythm, leave isolation, and feel safer in public spaces. In February 2025, however, Tommy woke Ford with unusual barking, pawing, and chest-focused nudging. Ford realized he felt unwell, went to the hospital, and was diagnosed with a serious atrial-fibrillation episode.

This archive records Tommy because the story is richer than one alert. It shows matching, training, trust, ordinary routines, and one urgent morning when a dog noticed something his person had not yet understood.

Sources

• People: Tommy and Hank Ford service-dog story
• ABC7: report on Tommy's medical alert
• Dogs Inc: service-dog organization