Ryan Dixon is a veteran with 24 years of service in the U.S. Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician and Counterintelligence Special Agent. He deployed several times, including Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Honduras. During his deployments to Afghanistan, he was blown up. He struggles with recurring nightmares of those events and also experiences hearing loss and TBI trauma from the exposure. These experiences led to a diagnosis of PTSD, compounded with depression and anxiety. Ryan is hopeful that he will no longer feel alone, and that having the help of a service dog will lead to a healthier and happier life.
In July 2026, Ryan bumped with a sweet Labrador Retriever named HAZE! HAZE helps Ryan stay aware of the world around him by alerting him to important sounds like alarms and knocking, paying attention to help reduce hypervigilance, and interrupting behaviors when necessary. Together, this team is ready to spark a bright future!