U.S. Air Force veteran and Kentucky Legionnaire shares how her service dog Judy has brought ‘rhythm’ into her life.
National Service Dog Day falls on Sept. 20 and is designed to honor the role of service dogs in the lives of people with disabilities and America's veterans. The day was designated by Congress in 2023 and is part of September’s National Service Dog Month.
We asked you to share how your service dog has impacted your life, so we can share your story with others. Today we are publishing the fourth in that series and will continue to do so ahead of and throughout September.
You can still share your stories – and photos of you with your dog – one of two ways:
Email sbrooks@legion.org.
Submit your story and photo on www.legiontown.org in the “Why I Love My Service Animal” section.
Today, U.S. Air Force veteran Sallie Dawkins – a member of American Legion Post 200 in the Department of Kentucky – shares what having Judy as her service dog has meant to her daily life.
I am a U.S. Air Force veteran, rated 100% permanent and total disabled for multiple service-connected health conditions. My service dog, Judy, and I have been a team since March 2025. Judy is a trained service dog from America’s VetDogs, and her impact on my daily life has been both practical and deeply meaningful.
Before Judy, my days did not always have the structure I needed for health recovery. As a veteran living with C-PTSD and other health challenges, I knew consistency mattered; maintaining it on my own was not always easy. Recovery requires more than good intentions. It requires rhythm, movement, rest and reasons to keep showing up for the next right thing.
Judy brought that rhythm into my life.
She needed meals, water, breaks, exercise, grooming, rest and a consistent bedtime. Her schedule became part of my schedule. Because of Judy, I had built-in reasons to get up, step outside, move my body, notice the time and return to a steadier daily pattern.
Not every day is perfect, and like any service-dog team, Judy and I are still growing together. But her presence has brought stabilization that I deeply needed. She helps anchor my day in practical, repeatable steps. She reminds me to pause, breathe, move and keep going.
Judy’s impact has not only been in what she does during difficult moments. It has also been in the structure she brings to ordinary ones. Because of Judy, my life has more rhythm, responsibility and stability. For a veteran working toward health and recovery, those ordinary daily anchors can make an extraordinary difference.
I have also written a children’s book titled “Judy the Service Dog” to help educate children and families about what service dogs can do and how to interact with them respectfully. Judy’s story continues to open meaningful conversations about service dogs, veterans and the many ways these partnerships can change lives.
Follow Judy on Facebook: @Judy the Service Dog 365.
- Veterans Healthcare