The little dog barking the biggest barks. Not for fun. For fear. Because his Dad had slumped to the side. And here he was, ten pounds at most, standing guard over the man he loves. A man tilted sideways on a park bench.

Something wasn’t right.

But what could have been worse was not. The man had narcolepsy. And falling asleep was not uncommon for him. But he said it usually happens when he is at home. When they are safe. And he cried telling me that his dog, his Yoda, his only family, is the only reason he lives each day.

And to know that his dog was so scared that he barked like a Rottweiler made him sad. And proud.

But he was so thankful that such loud barking caught the attention of passersby. It only lasted a second. He woke up on his own. And things ended well.

But this man, soon as he woke, this man with the looks of a grandfather and the eyes of Paul Newman, immediately began singing to his dog in some sort of Irish brogue that both he and his dog clearly understood.

I don’t know the words. But whatever they were this brave little giant quickly calmed down and resumed his perch coiled in his Dad’s lap.

As they left some folks remained behind. A couple of them lived in the same building and shared some stories. To be respectful they shall not be shared here. But they contained both moments of joy and pain. For this man’s life had become one of challenge.

Challenges so consistent that they had become woven into his daily life.

Another proud American Veteran pounding forward through life. Just as he had done decades earlier. No complaints. Just living from one day to the next.

With a little dog who has his back. Two soldiers together. There for each other.

The Pongo Fund did not play a role in this moment. It was all about the little dog hero. He did his job.

We just happened to be there to see it. We also got to pet the little guy too. He was cool.

And a reminder that bravery comes in all sizes.

Sit. Stay. Eat. Live. Serve. thepongofund.org

(Photo is a stock image for reference only, not the dog and man in the park).