Some stories are too important not to share because they highlight what matters most:
Ami (a pseudonym), who has a PTSD Service Dog from us, found himself stuck in traffic due to roadblocks during recent protests in Israel. The cars came to a complete standstill for minutes that felt like hours.
At first, Ami tried to use the skills he learned to manage the rising anxiety—looking ahead, checking his phone, telling himself it would pass. But his body reacted faster than his thoughts. His breathing grew shallow. His heart rate climbed. The urge to pull over and confront the protesters began to build.
Then police vehicles arrived with their flashing lights, and blaring sirens. But they got stuck near Ami in the traffic. The noise and chaos pushed Ami dangerously close to a flashback. Losing control felt imminent.
Inside the car, his PTSD service dog, Bobby, went to work. Bobby shifted closer to Ami, initiated physical contact, applied pressure, and repeatedly brought Ami’s focus back to the present. He responded to changes in Ami’s breathing and tension exactly as he’d been trained to do—again and again—as the chaos outside intensified.
Ami didn’t get out of the car. He didn’t explode in anger. He let the police handle the situation. He even managed to message his family to let them know he’d be delayed.
By the time traffic began to move again, his body had already settled. Ami continued driving, reached his destinations, and completed everything he had planned for the day.
This isn’t a story about a traffic jam. It’s a story about training, partnership, and a PTSD service dog doing his job—precisely when it mattered most.
*Photo for illustrative purposes only.