The steel passageways of an aircraft carrier aren’t built for comfort. The air smells of hydraulic fluid and jet fuel, fluorescent lights hum overhead, and the unrelenting thrum of machinery never stops. But aboard USS Gerald R. Ford — home to more than 4,000 sailors — one crew member has a way of cutting through the grind, bringing calm and connection wherever she goes.
Sage, a yellow Labrador Retriever, is the ship’s certified therapy dog under a pilot program with Mutts With a Mission, a nonprofit that trains dogs to bring comfort to people in high-stress environments. On deployment, she’s cared for by volunteer handler Chief Musician Eric Snitzer, the ship’s command climate specialist. Snitzer says he knew Sage would make a difference, but he didn’t expect the effect to be so immediate — or so profound.
“You’ll see someone who looks stressed or tired, and the moment Sage walks up, it’s like watching a weight lift off their shoulders,” Snitzer said. “She doesn’t care about your job, your rank or what kind of day you’re having, she’s just there for you.”
For many sailors, just knowing Sage is on board is enough to brighten their days at sea.
“Being on deployment is almost like being stuck in a time loop; whenever I go to visit Sage, it’s as if that time loop is breaking,” said Hull Technician 2nd Class Rachel Fallet. “She brings a feeling of home to the boat. Whenever I see her, it reminds me of being home with my dog.”
Information Systems Technician 1st Class Samantha Myhre agrees. “Just knowing she’s here makes this deployment so much better than others I’ve been on,” she said. “It’s indescribable the way seeing her coming down the hall for cuddles can lift your spirits.”
Ensign Kali Truitt has seen the same effect throughout the ship. “Sage is a great reminder of home for many sailors,” she said. “She can improve morale just by playing fetch or laying by someone’s feet. I can’t overstate how much of a positive impact she’s had on each crew member, myself included.”
Sage’s days are filled with walks, fetch breaks and unplanned moments with sailors who sometimes need nothing more than her friendly presence.
“Sometimes, a sailor will just sit with Sage and not say a word,” Snitzer said. “And you can tell that’s exactly what they needed.”
Life at sea also comes with unique doggie gear requirements so Sage has her own personal protective equipment for both the flight deck and helicopter rides.
“She has silicone booties that look like Crocs, mainly for heat,” Snitzer said. “She’s got a tactical vest that I can pick her up by if I need to, ear protection that’s like a snug cap with padding, goggles for flying, and even a float coat.”
Just recently, Sage suited up to ride in a helicopter over to USS Winston S. Churchill. Trips like that are rare but important, Snitzer said, because other ships in the strike group don’t have therapy dogs of their own.
“They’re always asking, ‘When do we get a dog?’” Snitzer said with a laugh. “They probably won’t get one anytime soon while this program is still laying its roots, so getting Sage out to them when we can is important.”
Snitzer knows that the Navy is still evaluating whether therapy dogs will become a permanent fixture on carriers and across the fleet. From where he stands, it’s not a hard call.
“I would say that it’s really valuable,” he said. “Even though the return on investment is an intangible metric — we may never know how impactful just her presence is alone —it represents how well we’re caring for our sailors in a larger sense.”
For Snitzer, the payoff is visible every day. Sailors headed off to demanding jobs stop to scratch Sage’s ears and leave smiling.
“I’ve had sailors that are about to go do the most dangerous job on the planet, pass by, pet her, and say, ‘That’s just what I needed,’” Snitzer said. “If it makes them a little more clear-headed or a little lighter based on the burdens they have, the investment is well worth it.”
