The Hidden Toll of Being a First Responder
Behind the flashing lights and sirens, the job of a first responder is both heroic and
harrowing. Whether responding to car crashes, domestic violence calls, fires, or natural
disasters, EMTs, firefighters, and police officers often witness humanity at its most
vulnerable. While their training prepares them for crisis response, nothing truly shields
them from the emotional aftermath.
Over time, repeated exposure to traumatic events can take a serious toll on mental
health. Many first responders develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety,
depression, or experience emotional detachment. They may push through their pain to
serve others, but inside, many are quietly battling flashbacks, hypervigilance, and
overwhelming stress.
Medical service dogs, specially trained to help people manage visible and/or invisible disabilities like PTSD—are offering new hope to those on the front lines of public safety.
What PTSD Looks Like in First Responders
In first responders, PTSD often shows up subtly at first – trouble sleeping, irritability, a
short temper, or difficulty relaxing even when off duty. Over time, these symptoms can
become chronic and interfere with personal relationships, job performance, and overall
well-being.
- Some of the most common PTSD symptoms experienced by first responders include:
- Hypervigilance: Constantly feeling on edge or scanning for danger, even in safe
environments. - Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks: Replaying traumatic scenes, sometimes
vividly or without warning.
Nightmares or night terrors: Disrupted sleep due to trauma-related dreams. - Emotional numbness: Feeling disconnected from others or unable to enjoy life.
- Avoidance: Withdrawing from people, places, or situations that trigger distress.
- Irritability or anger outbursts: Trouble managing frustration or controlling
emotional reactions.
These symptoms don’t just affect the individual – they ripple outward, often straining
marriages, friendships, and professional relationships. And because many first
responders are trained to be self-reliant and stoic, they may be less likely to seek help,
fearing stigma or a perceived loss of control.
How Service Dogs Help in Trauma Recovery
Our medical service dogs are highly trained working animals that can assist with
specific PTSD-related tasks. These dogs provide stability, helping our recipients
manage their symptoms and rebuild daily structure.
Here’s how they make a difference:
- Alerting to Anxiety or Panic Attacks: A service dog is trained to identify rising anxiety—often before the recipient is fully aware. He/she can intervene by nudging, pawing, or making physical contact. This grounding behavior
can interrupt the anxiety spiral and allow the person to take proactive steps, such as
practicing breathing exercises or removing themselves from a triggering environment. - Interrupting Nightmares: Service dogs are trained to wake recipients from impending night terrors or intense dreams
by nudging, licking, or gently jumping on the bed. This can prevent the recipient’s night terror from becoming full blown, allowing them to go back to sleep peacefully. - Encouraging Routines and Social Reintegration: Caring for a service dog requires consistency with daily tasks like feeding, walking, and grooming, helping the recipient to create a routine. More importantly, service dogs help
reduce isolation by increasing a recipient’s willingness to leave the house, engage in
community activities and rebuild a sense of normalcy.
Emotional and Functional Benefits of Service Dogs
Beyond performing customized tasks, the presence of a medical service dog supports long-term
recovery by fostering a non-judgmental trust, emotional regulation, and an improved sense of self. The relationship between a recipient and their dog is built on reliability and structure.
Confidence and Independence
With a service dog by their side, many first responders feel more confident re-entering
situations that once felt overwhelming—whether it’s attending a public event, shopping
at a busy store or traveling away from home. The dog’s consistent behavior and
training creates a stable foundation for building independence.
Reducing Reliance on Medication
While not a replacement for clinical care, many recipients report needing fewer to even zero
medications to manage symptoms like anxiety or insomnia. The dog acts as a non-
pharmaceutical intervention that helps regulate emotions and reduce the frequency of
PTSD episodes.
Family and Relationship Improvements
As recipients begin to heal, the positive effects extend to their loved ones. Spouses,
children, and coworkers often notice improvements in communication, mood, and
participation in family life. In this way, a service dog becomes part of a larger recovery
journey that includes the whole support network, even breaking the cycle of intergenerational PTSD.
How to Get Matched with a Service Dog
Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs is committed to transforming lives through
purpose-driven training and lifelong support. Each service dog is individually trained to
meet the unique needs of its future recipient—whether those needs involve PTSD,
mobility challenges, diabetes or seizure response.
The Guardian Angels Pairing Process
- Application and Evaluation: Prospective recipients complete an application and
undergo a thorough evaluation, so our team can learn about their lifestyle,
medical history, and goals. - Dog Matching: Guardian Angels identifies a dog whose skills, personality, and
energy level suits the recipient’s needs. - Training and Bonding: Once matched, recipients participate in an intensive
training period designed to ensure the dog and recipient can work as a team. - Ongoing Support: Guardian Angels will remain involved throughout the pairings
life of the team, offering check-ins, retraining, veterinarian care, mental health and life coaching, and community resources.
This thorough process ensures that the recipient is paired with the best service dog for
their unique needs and has all the support necessary for a successful journey.
Hope, Healing, and the Road Ahead
For first responders dealing with PTSD or trauma, seeking help can feel
overwhelming—but healing is possible. After 15 years and our zero-suicide record, our service dogs are already changing lives across the country, offering a practical, effective tool in the fight against the long-term effects of trauma.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, know that support is available. Guardian
Angels Medical Service Dogs is here to help create new beginnings—one life-changing
pairing at a time.
If you’re a donor, volunteer, or advocate—thank you! Your support makes it possible to
train more dogs, reach more recipients, and continue our mission to bring healing where
it’s needed most.
Together, we can make recovery a reality for the heroes who never asked for
recognition—but deserve every ounce of support.
Learn more about Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, apply for a medical service
dog, or find ways to contribute to our mission at medicalservicedogs.org.
Mrs. Borden’s expertise and accomplishments are acknowledged by numerous national awards from various industries and agencies including the 2018 Corporate Pet Industry Woman of the Year and multiple awards for her organization’s work in mental health and suicide prevention.
She is frequently requested as a Keynote Speaker, and as an Industry Consultant to teach service dog laws to judicial systems, attorneys, and businesses, and to assist in service dog bills in multiple states that were passed into law. In 2020, she started an Institute for Higher Learning and the Borden Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she has written and teaches college-accredited/VA-approved apprenticeship courses on dog training and service dog training.
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