Celeste Henry-Kemper, a former National Guard member and 9/11 responder, has shared how a service dog named Titan has profoundly impacted her life. Henry-Kemper, 66, worked at Ground Zero for two weeks after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, assisting with supply distribution and aiding in the clearing of the Church Street Post Office near the World Trade Center site. She also made trips to the morgue.
Two years after 9/11, Henry-Kemper was deployed to Kuwait for a year, serving in a similar capacity to support supply lines during the invasion of Iraq. She described the scene at Ground Zero as "horrible" with "debris everywhere" and looking "like a war zone." During this period, she managed a mild form of lupus that worsened, leading to hair loss. The mental and physical toll of her service also contributed to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and required two hip replacements. She also experienced chronic sinusitis and acid reflux, becoming increasingly reclusive over time.
A fellow veteran's positive experience with K9s For Warriors, an organization that provides trained service dogs to veterans at no cost, inspired Henry-Kemper to apply. In 2024, she was paired with Titan, a poodle, through the program. Henry-Kemper credits Titan with saving her life and transforming her well-being. She now takes Titan everywhere, finding his presence therapeutic and a catalyst for social interaction.
Titan is trained to act as a buffer during panic attacks. Henry-Kemper can lean on him for support to stand up from a seated position and hold onto him until she calms down. "I'm able to hold him, rub him and pass through the panic attack," she said. Before Titan, she avoided crowded places and limited her social interactions to familiar individuals. Her ability to socialize has expanded significantly, even enabling her to take Titan on a cruise ship.