Lieutenants: More than a Service dog, My Lifeline
- Justin Hurtado-Palomo
- Feb 6
- 4 min read
In November 2017, I met the partner who would change my life forever. He wasn’t a doctor or a therapist. He wasn’t a piece of adaptive equipment or a new medication. He was a four-legged, golden ray of sunshine with a wagging tail and eyes full of devotion.
His name is Lieutenant, and he is my service dog, my lifeline, and my heart wrapped in fur.
Before Lieutenant, I struggled daily with the reality of my Primary Progressive CIDP. Every movement took effort. Every task was a potential battle. The things most people take for granted—picking up something I’d dropped, opening a door, turning on a light—were sometimes insurmountable. But from the moment I took the leash in my hands at Canine Companions, I knew I wasn’t alone anymore. Lieutenant wasn’t just trained to help me—he was born to.
And every single day since, he’s reminded me what it means to live, to fight, and to keep going—no matter what.
A Dog with a Purpose: What a Real Service Dog Does
People love dogs. They love stories about them, too. The loyalty, the unconditional love, the way they seem to understand us even when we can’t find the words. But Lieutenant isn’t just a beloved companion—he is a highly trained service dog.
And that distinction is everything.
Lieutenant spent over two years in training, learning more than 40 specialized commands to help me thrive both at home and in public. Every command, every skill, every second of his training was designed to give me more independence, more confidence, and more freedom.
At home, Lieutenant helps me:
🐾 Retrieve dropped items – My strength and dexterity fluctuate, and bending down isn’t always an option. Lieutenant picks up anything I drop—from my phone to my keys to a single coin—without hesitation.
🐾 Open doors and turn on lights – Simple tasks, right? Except, when your body doesn’t cooperate, nothing is simple. Lieutenant can push buttons, tug handles, and use his nose to flip light switches—all so I don’t have to struggle.
🐾 Help me balance and stabilize – On days when my muscles feel like they’re betraying me, he braces his sturdy body against me, helping me move with confidence.
🐾 Get help if needed – If I fall or need assistance, Lieutenant knows exactly how to respond, whether that means fetching my phone, pressing an emergency button, or alerting someone nearby.
In public, he gives me freedom:
🐾 Navigating crowds safely – Large, busy areas can be overwhelming when your mobility is unpredictable. Lieutenant creates a comfortable space around me, making sure I don’t get jostled or knocked over.
🐾 Carrying small items – When my hands are full (or simply not working well that day), he can carry bags or other small items, reducing my physical burden.
🐾 Helping with doors, elevators, and accessibility challenges – From pushing automatic door buttons to retrieving items I can’t reach, Lieutenant ensures I don’t have to rely on strangers to navigate the world.
The Truth About Fake Service Dogs – A Dangerous Trend
Lieutenant is a real service dog, trained by one of the most reputable organizations in the world—Canine Companions(canine.org). He is a legal service animal, protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
But not all dogs wearing a vest are service dogs—and that’s where the problem lies.
Too many people fake service dogs, either because they want to take their pet everywhere or because they don’t understand the laws. And while it might seem harmless on the surface, fake service dogs are actively harming the disabled community.
How Fake Service Dogs Create Real Problems:
🚫 They behave unpredictably – Unlike trained service dogs, fake service animals often bark, jump, or react aggressively, making businesses hesitant to allow legitimate teams inside.
🚫 They make public spaces less safe – A well-trained service dog like Lieutenant knows how to stay calm and focused in all situations. A fake service dog, however, can lunge at, distract, or even attack real service dogs, putting people like me in danger.
🚫 They make life harder for those who depend on real service dogs – Every time someone brings a fake service dog into a store, restaurant, or public place and it misbehaves, it increases skepticism toward all service dog teams. I’ve been questioned, doubted, and even turned away because businesses have had bad experiences with fake service dogs.
Why It Matters
Imagine needing a wheelchair, but every time you enter a store, someone questions whether you "really need it." That’s what fake service dogs do—they make legitimate service dog teams justify their right to access public spaces.
And that’s not okay.
More Than a Dog—My Lifeline, My Heart
Lieutenant is not a pet. He is my independence, my security, my constant companion.
There are days when the world feels too heavy—when my body doesn’t cooperate, when the pain is relentless, when everything just feels too much. And on those days, Lieutenant reminds me why I keep going.
Because when I’m struggling to get out of bed, he’s there, gently nudging me until I move.When I feel alone, he rests his head on my lap, grounding me in love and presence.When I can’t do something, he reminds me that I don’t have to do it alone.
Lieutenant has been with me through the hardest moments of my life, never wavering, never leaving my side. He doesn’t see my disability—he sees me. And every single day, he makes the world a little bit easier, a little bit brighter, and a little more possible.
What You Can Do to Support Service Dog Teams
If you love dogs—and I know you do—you can help protect legitimate service dogs and their handlers by:
✔ Learning the difference between real service dogs and fake ones.
✔ Never distracting or petting a working service dog—no matter how cute they are.
✔ Calling out service dog fraud—because fake service dogs put real ones at risk.
✔ Supporting organizations like Canine Companions that provide service dogs to people in need.
Lieutenant is not just a dog.He is not just a helper.He is everything. And for that, I am forever grateful.
Resources:
🐶 Canine Companions – Learn More About Real Service Dogs⚖️ ADA Laws on Service Animals
If this story touched you, please share it. Let’s spread awareness about the life-changing impact of real service dogs—and why protecting them matters.
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