University of Denver Autumn 2025

While the focus is on the veterans, the dogs are being examined, too. For the first time, the study will explore a long-standing question: Do dogs enjoy being service animals? And more importantly, how does this role affect their own health and well-being? “There’s almost nothing known about how being a service dog affects the dogs,” Morris says. “The goal is to identify biomarkers that correlate with their health and behavior status so we can optimize the protocols the dogs work under.” Williams’ deep relationship with Montana also underscores this mutual care. She stays in touch with his puppy raisers and now advocates nationally for service dog access. Their connection shows how healing can move in both directions. “For me and Montana, we get the opportunity to use my veteran experience and his service dog experience to build

awareness about the incredibleness of service dogs,” Williams says. For Morris, who used to work in the biotech and drug development space, this work is deeply personal. “I’ve never seen an intervention as broadly effective as our relationships with other animals can be. If you’re developing a drug, it’s for a symptom of one disease. Pet dogs can affect four to five different health issues a person has. We see profound positive impacts of human-animal bonds at the individual, family, and community-wide level,” Morris says. Next year, IHAC will celebrate its 20th anniversary. What began as a certification course at GSSW has transformed into a powerful research center dedicated to advancing an understanding of the human-animal bond. Today, it’s working to unlock healing that medicine alone can’t always reach, striving to improve lives on both ends of the leash. 

 Service dogs offer strength, comfort, and independence to veterans. Photos courtesy IHAC partner America’s Vet Dogs.

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | AUTUMN 2025