KANNAPOLIS -- A North Carolina veteran is speaking out after he says he continues to get comments about his certified service dog around the Cabarrus County area.

Veteran Joshua Cook says his service dog, Barracus Albert, has helped change his life as he deals with epilepsy.

“Whenever you have people like that who look up to you like a superhero and then you come back and now you’re just this piece of broken material and you can’t even get a civilian job. It’s demoralizing,” Cook says.

Cook was hit by an improvised explosive device while serving in Baghdad.  Not only does he suffer from seizures, but he also has post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. While medicine helps, he says his pit bull, who is trained to spot oncoming seizures, helps more than a pill can.

Before getting B.A., Cook says he hadn’t left his home for two years.

Since then, things have changed and he now gets out more.

Cook says everywhere he goes, his family gets harassed for having a pit bull around.

“I get treated really bad. I either get ‘ew it’s a dog’ ‘why does he need a dog’, he don’t look like he need a dog.  I think he’s lying or I get cursed at,” Cook says.

He says it’s hard to even do the simplest things like shopping.

His most recent incident was at Carolina Mall in Concord. He says that a security guard cursed at him for having a service animal.

"Not all medical devices are inanimate objects. Some medical devices have feelings. This is my baby. And I wouldn’t be able to do anything without him,” Cook says.

Cook hopes by sharing his story, less people will judge those who prefer doses of furry companions over pills.