Cricket, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier, had a rough start in life. At only six months old, she was thrown out of a moving vehicle and left to fend for herself. Thankfully, her life took a turn for the better when Josh, a military veteran with a history of rescuing and rehabilitating fighting dogs in Detroit, heard about her situation and decided to take action. Josh confronted the man who found Cricket had been keeping her in a cage for a year and a half, never allowing her to see sunlight. He presented him with two options: either give Cricket up willingly or face the consequences of contacting the authorities. The man chose to give Cricket to Josh, which turned out to be the best case scenario for both the dog and her new dad.
Upon rescuing Cricket, Josh took her for ice cream and allowed her to run free in an open field for the first time in her life. It took multiple baths to wash away the filth she had accumulated from living in a cage, but eventually, Cricket began to thrive under Josh’s care with a shiny coat and a zest for adventures.
As a veteran suffering from PTSD and a permanent disability, Josh needed a service dog to help him with daily tasks and provide emotional support. He decided to train Cricket as his service dog, and their bond grew stronger each day. Despite her traumatic past, Cricket is now a beacon of pure happiness and joy, always eager to greet anyone she meets with a smile and a wagging tail. She was even trained to wave to kids when they wave to her first!
Although the man who had initially kept Cricket in a cage had wanted her to become a protection dog, her gentle and happy nature made her ill-suited for that role. Instead, she excels at helping Josh with various tasks, such as picking up items on lower shelves at the grocery store, providing support when he gets out of bed, and walking between his legs to brace him as he walks.
Cricket’s presence also helps Josh cope with PTSD, especially when they are in large group settings. While some may be initially frightened by her breed and appearance, Cricket’s adorable personality and love for everybody equally quickly wins them over.
Josh affectionately refers to Cricket as a “blanket dog” due to her love of snuggling under blankets, even in hot weather. She is incredibly affectionate and always wants to be touching or snuggling with her dad. Despite her difficult past, Cricket has come a long way and now lives a happy and fulfilling life as Josh’s service dog.
Toledo, United States.
