Last year, we introduced you to Joe C. Joe was a 9/11 first responder at Ground Zero, who sacrificed so much to assist with the recovery efforts in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. On September 12, 2001, Joe was dropped off at the Yonkers Raceway, picked up the truck with about 3,000 gallons of fuel, and told to make his way to Ground Zero. In the following days, Joe would spend more than 25 hours helping fill military humvees and the like, enabling them to continue search and rescue efforts long into the night and following day.
The impact of his service lingered long after the dust had settled. Just a few years later, as a result of his time spent at Ground Zero, Joe was diagnosed with lung cancer.
Despite these challenges, Joe continues to face each day with unwavering determination. This September 2024, after a year's wait, Joe will finally be matched with a service dog of his own! Joe will be joining the ECAD campus for team training, alongside three other adults, as he prepares to be paired with his service dog. Through lectures and outings, Joe will learn how to navigate the world with his new companion by his side. We are all excited for this next chapter in his journey!
Joe recently completed his second interview, a crucial step that included interacting with potential service dogs—Dandelion, Asparagus, and Foxglove. One of these dogs may soon become his trusted partner! Joe’s caseworker shared that team training will be an opportunity for him to learn about his service dog's skills and bond before a final match is made. The entire ECAD team is thrilled to announce the pairing and celebrate this momentous occasion with Joe — and so are we!
Joe’s courage and resilience have brought him to this incredible moment, and we are honored to support him on his path forward. If you'd like to stay up-to-date with Joe's service dog journey, be sure to keep an eye out for the next update posted on our site!
In the meantime, we are eager to learn which dog ends up being paired with Joe, and we look forward to celebrating Joe's graduation ceremony in the coming months!
