Joe Worley

Joe Worley, a U.S. Navy hospital corpsman third class who served as a field medic, lost his left leg and suffered damage to his right leg when he stepped on an IED in Iraq in September 2004. He was rushing to assist soldiers in another vehicle that had been hit by an IED when he was injured. Joe underwent numerous surgeries for an entire year before an experience with a facility dog named Duce from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center introduced him to the capabilities of service dogs. The experience led Joe to apply for a dog with the organization America’s VetDogs, which provides trained service dogs to veterans at no cost, thanks to donations. He has since become a volunteer for America’s VetDogs after seeing all the positive effects the animals can have on veterans with physical disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder and more.