From shelter to service: CampV, SPCA of East Texas and K9 Connections pair veterans and rescue dogs

Published 6:00 am Friday, March 6, 2026

A partnership aimed at supporting military veterans — while also giving rescue dogs a second chance — officially launched Tuesday as CampV unveiled its new service dog training facility. The collaboration includes SPCA of East Texas and K9 Connections, creating a program that trains rescue dogs to become service animals for veterans, free of charge.

“This is a program we’ve been doing for three years, pairing dogs from our rescue program with veterans in East Texas,” said Emily Heglund, executive director of SPCA of East Texas. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to finally have a real, physical home for it.”

The new facility at CampV includes a barn and stables where veterans train side by side with their service dogs.

“Service dogs are integral to a lot of veterans,” said Travis Gladhill, executive director of CampV. “They provide a specific service for that military veteran — for PTSD, anxiety, balance issues, issues with diabetes or cardiology-type issues.”

About the organizations involved

CampV
CampV — short for Community Assisting Military Personnel and Veterans — is a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 that supports veterans through connection, service, and hope. The organization averages nearly 700 veterans served each month, offering programs and resources to address both physical and mental health needs.

“Our goal has always been to meet the needs of veterans in a way that’s practical and life-changing,” Gladhill said. “Service dogs are just one way we help them regain independence and confidence.”

SPCA of East Texas
Founded in 2010 to combat the high rates of overpopulation and euthanasia among homeless dogs and cats in East Texas, the SPCA of East Texas operates as a foster-based rescue in Tyler. The nonprofit provides adoption services, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, and community programs aimed at improving the welfare of animals across the region.

Through its partnership with CampV and K9 Connections, the SPCA now also helps prepare rescued dogs to become service animals for veterans, pairing the mission of saving animals with the goal of supporting those who served.

“This program has primarily been run out of the SPCA with Alison’s guidance, and we’ll continue doing what we’ve always done—providing rescue dogs to veterans to help improve their lives,” Heglund said.

K9 Connections
Founded in 2007, K9 Connections trains and places service dogs for people with physical and mental health needs, with a focus on veterans.

“It started as a pipe dream — to make sure we could get service dogs to people and train them,” said co-owner Alison Tuttle. “I’ve been a trainer for 35 years, and my papa always said, ‘If you can help even one veteran, do it.’ So I took that and ran with it.”

Based out of Jacksonville, the organization’s mission is rooted in personal experience — Tuttle saw firsthand how a dog could help a veteran reconnect with life, inspiring her to create a program that transforms both dogs’ and veterans’ lives.

“This trifecta allows us to rescue dogs, train them, and pair them with veterans who need them most,” she said. “Together, we’re giving both veterans and dogs a second chance.”

How the program works

The program takes rescued dogs from SPCA of East Texas and prepares them for service through careful temperament testing, basic obedience training, and pairing with veterans. Once matched, the veteran and dog undergo approximately 200 hours of joint training at CampV, guided by K9 Connections.

As a behavioral specialist, Tuttle oversees the training and placement of the dogs. “It takes the village — my team, the SPCA, CampV — to make this program work,” she said.

The process begins when veterans obtain a prescription for a service dog from their physician. CampV processes their intake and connects them with SPCA to select a dog that has already received basic training and health care, including spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and deworming — all at no cost to the veteran.

Gladhill, who has a service dog himself, knows firsthand the difference they can make for veterans. “The dog not only performs vital functions but also serves as a companion, staying by your side and ready whenever you may need it,” he said.

The training ensures that dogs are prepared for service, and that veterans gain the skills and confidence to rely on their new companions. By combining the efforts of CampV, SPCA of East Texas, and K9 Connections, the program accomplishes two goals: it provides rescued dogs with loving homes and gives veterans the support they need to manage physical and mental health challenges.

“Dogs connect with us without judgment. They see us as we are, and that bond is what allows veterans to regain confidence and independence,” Tuttle said.

With 34 veterans having been matched since the start of the program, organizers plan to expand the program each year, continuing to rescue and train more dogs while serving more veterans.

“This is a program that truly changes lives,” Gladhill said. “When we join forces and get out of our little boxes, there will be no veteran left behind.”

From isolation to independence

For many veterans, a service dog can be the difference between isolation and independence, offering a sense of safety and a renewed connection. Navy veteran Gary Nince, who served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, knows that firsthand.

“I used to have groceries delivered. I would never go anywhere — I was basically a hermit,” Nince said. “Now, I have the safety of her to watch my back and everything… She makes my life so much easier. She’s just not a pet — she’s a companion, a working dog — everything I could ask for.”

Traveling more than six hours from his home in Mississippi, Nince makes the journey to train with his service dog through K9 Connections.

“They’re a godsend,” he said. “I honestly probably wouldn’t be around today to talk to you if I didn’t have my dog. She gives me independence and someone to rely on when I need it most.”

For more information on the program, veterans can reach out to CampV through the website, www.campvtyler.org. To find out how you can support the programs, visit SPCA of East Texas or K9 Connections.