Justice — Service and Guide/Hearing

Justice, a 6-year-old black Lab, came into her owner’s life just in time. In February 2020, as the world was about to shut down, handler Mike was in a dark place, nearly becoming one of the “22” veterans lost to suicide daily. A dedicated Air Force veteran who served until 1995, including Desert Storm, and later a law enforcement officer for over 25 years, he was forced into medical retirement in 2016 due to Parkinson-like tremors. This marked the beginning of a severe depressive spiral as past memories resurfaced. With his loving family’s support, he sought help and was diagnosed with severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Then came Justice, offering him a lifeline. With her by his side, he began to reclaim his life, even celebrating the birth of his first grandchild. Now, Justice and her partner are committed to helping others overcome PTSD and embrace the healing power of service dogs.