In the Village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, a special service dog named Porter quietly transformed a community and is now poised to change a life.
Raised among the uniforms and radios of a small-town police department, Porter spent his early months not just learning obedience and skills, but offering something even more profound: calm, comfort, and connection. Fostered by Yellow Springs Police Department Chief of Police, Paige Burge, and cared for by the entire department, Porter quickly became more than a service dog in training. He became family.
At 4 Paws for Ability, every service dog’s journey begins in our puppy enrichment program and continues with roughly a year of socialization with our dedicated volunteer trainers. After that, the dogs return to the 4 Paws for Ability campus for professional training tailored to their future partner’s needs. This powerful process prepares each dog for a successful future.
For the Yellow Springs Police Department, Porter arrived just as their first foster, Slinky, graduated. It was a chance opportunity, and Porter found his role “in the most perfect way.”
“Porter was one of the friendliest, most loving dogs we’ve ever met,” Chief Burge said. “Whether it was greeting kids during morning school detail or curling up beside a dispatcher after a tough shift, he has an uncanny ability to bring peace to whoever needs it.”
Now, Porter begins a new mission, serving Vietnam veteran John Ferguson as a medical alert dog. For John, who lives in Richmond, Kentucky, and battles systemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation, Porter is a perfect match.
“Porter is a chill fellow. It’s a perfect match,” John said. “I’ve had three AFib events I didn’t know about until afterward. That’s where Porter comes in.”
Porter is trained to respond to medical emergencies, including barking for help if John falls and activating an alert device that notifies emergency contacts when John can’t. “My heart currently pumps at 25% of a normal heart,” John explained. “So he’s going to be quite a value to me.”
John’s search for a dog who could detect subtle medical changes led him to 4 Paws for Ability after other agencies told him such training wasn’t possible. “The first two said, ‘We can’t train for recognition of blood pressure changes.’ But 4 Paws didn’t forget me,” John said. “Us veterans have a little motto, we say, ‘never forget.’ I’ll never forget 4 Paws for their generosity.”
At the Yellow Springs Police Department, Porter’s presence left a lasting impact, not only on officers, but also on the entire village. From attending council meetings and holiday parades to helping children overcome fears of dogs during Safety Village programs, Porter served the community in ways both visible and deeply personal.
“There are so many moments,” Chief Burge recalled. “But I’ll never forget a rainy afternoon when morale was low. A dispatcher sat down beside Porter, then laid on the floor with him. For the first time that day, she smiled. Moments like that weren’t rare, they were Porter’s specialty.”
Morgan Miller, the department’s dispatch supervisor, also shared a personal connection. “One of my favorite memories was taking Porter to Rural King,” she said. “There were so many distractions; chicks, ducks, crowds… but he stayed focused and earned himself a new toy that day.”
But Porter’s next chapter means even more to her.
“My own father was a Vietnam veteran,” Morgan said. “He passed away from a heart attack. Knowing Porter will now be helping John with AFib alerts, and can even call for help in an emergency. It feels deeply personal. It brings me peace knowing this dog, who brought so much joy to us, might help save a life from the very condition that took my dad.”
For the Yellow Springs Police Department, saying goodbye to Porter is bittersweet, but filled with pride.
“John, we can’t think of a better match than you and Porter,” Chief Burge wrote. “He’s strong, loyal, intuitive, and full of love, traits we know you share. You’re now part of our 4 Paws family, and part of ours. Thank you for trusting him, and thank you for your service.”
Now, the Yellow Springs Police Department is proudly fostering service dog in training, Zurg, and hopes to see another life changed thanks to their dedication to our mission.
Service Dog Porter is the ultimate reminder that it truly takes a village to change a life. If you’d like to be part of this life-changing journey, consider becoming a volunteer foster, supporting our mission, or sharing our story. Together, we can help more dogs like Porter bring independence, hope, and joy to those who need it most.