Dog who raised awareness about PTSD and veterans with service dogs has died

It’s not often that the death of a dog makes the news, but Tuesday was a very special dog. Tuesday was the subject of several books written by former U.S. Army Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan, who lived with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 13-year-old Golden Retriever died, fittingly, on Tuesday in Burlington, Connecticut alongside Gordon Shafer, the man he was currently assisting.

 

Montalvan, who served in the United States Army for 17 years, was diagnosed with PTSD in 2007. His anxiety was so extreme that he found it impossible to leave his home that is until he met Tuesday in 2008. The two became inseparable as the dog, who almost didn’t make it as a service dog, assisted Montalvan in more ways than one.

“Tuesday kept him calm, kept him so he could function,” Dale Picard, co-founder and executive director of Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, said. “He began to participate in life again. Before this story, not a lot of veterans were receiving service dogs, because it wasn’t well known how much benefit they would be.”

Montalvan and Tuesday toured the country and raised awareness about PTSD and veterans with service dogs. The decorated veteran also wrote four books about Tuesday, one of them which was a memoir that told his story about living with PTSD and Tuesday.

In 2016, Montalvan was found in a hotel room in El Paso, Texas. Officials ruled that he had died by suicide. Tuesday was not with him at the time, the dog was previously left with a family member.

Following Montalvan’s death, Tuesday was placed with Gordon Shafer, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. The Golden Retriever continued his life of service by Gordon’s side, and ECAD, the organization that placed Tuesday with Montalvan, maintained a weekly tradition of sharing Tuesday updates every Tuesday.

Until September 17 ECAD revealed it would be their last #TuesdaywithTuesday. Two days earlier the 13-year-old dog had been brought to an emergency vet where it was revealed he had a mass in his stomach. While it was operable, Gordon was advised against it because it wouldn’t prolong Tuesday’s life.

Tuesday died on September 24, a Tuesday.

“With a heavy heart, I send you the news that Tuesday met Luis at the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ last night at approximately 10:00 pm. Gordon expresses that his passing was sad for him, but a joyful reunion for Tuesday,” ECAD shared on Facebook. “Tuesday passed peacefully in Gordon’s arms lying on his bed.”

My heart aches for Gordon. Tuesday was such a lovely service dog who brought so much joy to everyone he interacted with. He also helped spread awareness for veterans with service dogs.

Share this so Tuesday will never be forgotten.