Veteran works through PTSD every day with K9 Elka by his side

Air Force veteran Scott Fanelli, who lives with PTSD and a military-related brain tumor, has found daily support through his service dog, Elka, a Giant Schnauzer. Fanelli received Elka through Petland’s partnership with Heartland Canines for Veterans, after reaching out to Petland for help more than a year earlier. Recognizing the specialized training required for PTSD service dogs, Petland connected him with Heartland, whose founder, Jimmy Burgess, kept the team updated on Fanelli’s application.

Petland Charities, which has supported Heartland’s “One of Us” program for six years, helps fund veterinary care, training, and equipment for service dogs. While most Heartland recipients are in Missouri, Fanelli is the organization’s first Ohio-based veteran. Elka was purchased with funds raised by the local Elks Club in Joplin, Missouri.

Burgess said Elka and Fanelli were a natural match, and Fanelli quickly came to rely on her skills. Only weeks after receiving her, Elka alerted coworkers and protected Fanelli during a medical episode at work, keeping others at a distance until help arrived.

Fanelli says Elka has eased his daily struggles and reduced his anxiety: “Because she’s with me, I’m focused on her—and she watches me. She has absolutely made my life better.”