John's life transformed thanks to his Assistance Dog Yoda

Safety, comfort and confidence thanks to Assistance Dog Yoda

John was just 21 when his lottery number came up for Vietnam. He returned home changed forever. The things he saw and experienced stayed with him, long after the war ended.

For decades, John lived with anxiety that could strike without warning. Noise, crowds and confined space all triggered panic. With a racing heart and shallow breathing, his instinct was always the same: leave immediately and go home.

“I almost never used to go out in public,” John says. “I’d only leave home if I needed something from the shops. It wasn’t unusual for me to get halfway through the shopping, drop the basket and walk out.”

Living with a disability like PTSD can make everyday life feel overwhelming. Fear, anxiety, and isolation can take over, making it hard to feel safe or in control. Over time, John’s world grew smaller. The isolation became normal and he thought this would be his life forever, until a chance encounter changed everything.

John met a woman with an Assistance Dog and though he knew nothing about her story, he could see how calm, confident and safe she felt in her dog’s presence.

It was following that interaction that John applied for an Assistance Dog of his own. He recalls understanding that it’s not a guarantee you and the dog will be a match and you may not go home with one. In John’s case, the bond was swift.

“The day we were introduced, I got on the floor and quietly spoke to him,” John remembers. “I said, ‘Do you want to come home with me?’”

Within days, Yoda was already picking up on John’s anxiety. During one early training session, when noise outside caused John’s stress to rise, Yoda responded immediately, placing his chin firmly in John’s lap to let him know they were safe. The instructor said she’d never seen a bond form so quickly.

John’s life has changed dramatically since he met Yoda. Most days the pair walk up to the nearby coffee shop for breakfast. Locals often stop and say hello to them both. John’s even looking into ways he can volunteer and give back to his community.

At any stage of life, it’s never too late to experience the impact an Assistance Dog can make on one’s wellbeing and opportunities to live a more socially inclusive life.