Campus News

Media Contact: Rita Elliott, 815-226-3374

Rockford, Ill. – Rockford University will host guest speaker Lon Hodge and his service dog Gander for the presentation, “Dogs not drugs: Service dogs and PTSD”. Mr. Hodge will talk about his journey with post-traumatic stress disorder and his upcoming book “Fetch: Travels with Gander”.
Mr. Hodge served in the Army for six years in the medical corps and as an instructor at the Army’s Academy of Health Sciences. After leaving the military, he taught university classes on military bases as a literature and psychology professor. Since 1973, he has counseled and mentored fellow PTSD sufferers.
Before PTSD put a halt to his life, Mr. Hodge was a certified employee assistance professional (CEAP), hospital clinical director, National Education Association Fellow in poetry, and a professor of psychology and literature. Since acquiring Gander from Freedom Service Dogs he has returned to writing and poetry. Gander has been trained to help with PTSD, anxiety disorders and autoimmune arthritis. Together, Mr. Hodge and Gander travel the country collecting stories for “Fetch: Travels with Gander” and advocating for the use of service dogs in the treatment of PTSD among other conditions.
The presentation will be held Tuesday, October 20 at 4 p.m. in Severson Auditorium, Scarborough Hall, 5050 E. State St. and is free to attend.