Service dog gives Goodyear veteran a sense of purpose

She gives me a sense of purpose.”

— Ed Runge

Ed Runge was anxious when he arrived at Perryville Women’s Prison to meet a potential service dog.

Then came Lizzie, a German shepard who immediately nuzzled up to him and let him pet her.

“We had an instant connection,” Runge said.

Today, the dog, who Ed renamed Thea, retrieves his medication, checks on him during the night and gives the retired Marine Corps and Navy veteran a reason to get out into the community.

Runge and Thea graduated training together from Soldier’s Best Friend, a Peoria-based nonprofit. They were also recognized through Fulton Homes’ Operation K-9 Companion, a partnership with BIG 94.5 FM and the nonprofit that highlights veterans and their service dogs.

Runge served 22 years in the Marine Corps and Navy, working in field artillery and later in aviation. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020 and sustained a traumatic brain injury during his Navy service.

A former squad mate recommended Soldier’s Best Friend. Runge and his wife Amy attended a community event before he applied for the program.

Runge worried that a service dog would be too expensive, but learned the nonprofit, which serves veterans with military service-related post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries, charges no placement or training fees. 

Emilio Driscoll, an Army veteran and the organization’s development manager, said matching a veteran with a dog involves assessing the veteran’s needs and living situation, along with the dog’s temperament and size.

The Perryville partnership provides another source of support. Incarcerated women work with the nonprofit’s trainers to teach dogs basic training before they go home with veterans. Driscoll said that preparation can help veterans whose health or mobility makes the early training difficult.

That was true for Runge, who has chronic back and leg pain. The handlers also encouraged him as he and Thea continued learning together.

“I grew up with a German shepherd as a boy, and it kind of brought that connection back to my childhood,” he said.

Thea, a shelter rescue, now helps him with tasks throughout the day. Runge said she can retrieve his medication and touch his hand during tremors, reminding him to check his medication schedule. She also sits between his legs to help him feel calmer.

Driscoll said sharing partnerships like theirs can help veterans learn about available support from someone with similar experiences.

“It alerts other veterans that there are programs out there that can help them,” he said.

Runge, who moved to the West Valley in 2023, now has regular Tuesday outings with Thea. Working with her gives him a reason to keep moving and make plans.

He eventually wants to take her on a flight, starting with a short trip to San Diego before trying a longer journey.

“She gives me a sense of purpose,” Runge said.

Residents interested in supporting Soldier's Best friend can through donations, dog supplies or volunteering. Information is available online at soldiersbestfriend.org.

Noah Flug
Reporter | Litchfield Park and Goodyear

nflug@iniusa.org

Community: Litchfield Park and Goodyear

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University

Random Fact: I only have one biological cousin.

Hobbies: Watching movies and TV, spending time with my friends, aspiring stoic.