HAVOC K9 TRAINING CENTER

Raising awareness about the "other" victims of PTSD

By Teresa Bitler

For more than 25 years, Havoc K9 Training Center founder Kelli Collins has dedicated herself to preparing dogs for law enforcement work, narcotics and explosives detection, and service for those with special needs. Havoc K9 even offers obedience training, from basic commands to onand off-leash work with distractions.

“I do a little bit of everything,” says Collins, a former police officer who is bringing Havoc K9 to the Phoenix area. But now, she adds, she’s also passionate about helping those she feels are often overlooked when it comes to service dogs: the victims of crime.

Like members of our military and law enforcement or anyone that experiences a terrifying or dangerous event, people traumatized by crime can suffer post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), too. While many trainers dedicate themselves to providing dogs who can help military and law enforcement handle the flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety associated with PTSD, Collins believes they usually forget about people like Angela Gill Nelms.

“She wouldn’t be where she is today if it weren’t for Kuba,” Collins says.

Angela’s story

Collins first met Nelms when she trained a service dog for Nelm’s daughter, who has a rare brain disorder that made tasks like walking up the stairs difficult. Through working with the dog and Nelms’ daughter, the two women became friends, and subsequently, whenever she could, Nelms helped Collins with Havoc K9 and the dogs she was training. But everything changed for Nelms in August 2020.

At the time, Nelms was dating a man she had met through an online service, and when she tried to end the relationship, he kidnapped her and held her for five days until she was able to escape. To compound the trauma, the police wanted to build a case against the man, so they didn’t arrest him. That left Nelms living in constant fear that her assailant would reappear and kidnap her again.

“I went from being afraid of nothing to being terrified to do anything,” Nelms says, adding her self-made hashtag had been #BeBraveBeBadass prior to the kidnapping. Before, she had started businesses, completed marathons, competed in IRONMAN competitions, and traveled the world. After those five traumatic days, she felt too afraid to go anywhere…except to visit Collins.

Collins convinced her to drive from her home in Atlanta to North Carolina, where Collins and her dogs were at the time. But even getting there proved a challenge. Nelms panicked when she stopped at a rest area and a truck came speeding into the parking lot. She was convinced her assailant had found her. Once in North Carolina, though, she brainstormed with Collins how she might be able to feel safe again, and they agreed she would benefit from a dog who could offer protection and help with her PTSD.

Life with Kuba

Because Nelms needed a dog for protection and security as soon as possible, there wasn’t enough time for a puppy. Collins began searching for an adult dog that could learn quickly and would bond well with Nelms. Normally, she would never look for a dog that could offer protection, but she made an exception for Nelms since she was familiar with Shepherds and handling dogs through her work at Havoc K9.

Collins says the “planets aligned perfectly” when she found Kuba. Not only could he protect Nelms, but she was able to train him to block and to sweep a room to make sure no one was in it before Nelms entered. Kuba put his blocking skills to good use when Nelms boarded public transportation in Atlanta and he determined another passenger was a potential threat. To protect her, Kuba circled Nelms, putting himself between her and what he thought could be a threat.

In addition to sweeping and blocking, Kuba lies on her feet when she becomes anxious (deep pressure therapy) and sleeps by her bed to comfort her when she has nightmares.

Having Kuba has made all the difference, according to Nelms. He’s allowed her to go back in public even though her assailant is still out there, and he’s allowed her to live her life again. Ultimately, he has given her freedom.

“Basically, I lost so much of my life in just a few days,” she adds. “Kuba has made all the difference.”

“I don’t let people pick their dog,” she says. “I pick the one that’s best for their needs.”

Collins explains she is looking for a dog that can go anywhere and still be focused on their person while someone who tries to choose a service dog for themselves may pick one based on other criteria. Depending on your needs, she might choose a puppy, a rescue dog, or an already-trained dog who needs instruction on how to adapt to your situation. In general, the dog should be social, confident, and focused, and breed doesn’t matter.

How long it takes to train a dog depends on several factors. A puppy could take a year or two to train while an adult would be ready much sooner. And of course, a dog that needs to perform many complicated tasks will take longer to train than one that helps solely with anxiety.

Costs can vary quite a bit, too, but a trained service dog can easily cost several thousands of dollars. A rescue dog will cost less than a pedigreed puppy, and one that requires minimal training to do his job will obviously cost less than a highlytrained one like Kuba. Most families hold fundraisers to come up with the necessary funds, according to Collins.

Making a difference

Helping others with PTSD

Currently, Havoc K9 trains 10 to 20 dogs every year to assist those struggling with PTSD. Collins would like to see those numbers increase, especially when it comes to dogs for survivors of crime, and she encourages anyone interested to reach out to her on the Havoc K9 website, through Havoc K9’s Facebook page, or by phone at (844) 428-6259.

Whether you are looking for a dog to help with PTSD or special needs, the process begins with completing a questionnaire about your specific needs. Collins follows up with more questions so she understands exactly what you are looking for. Then, she picks the dog, just like she did for Nelms.

Nelms says that for her and for her daughter, the expense was definitely worth it. Just think of how life-changing a service dog could be for someone who has seizures, she adds. That person might not be able to leave their home for fear of having an incident in public, but having a dog that can warn them of a seizure opens the world. It’s worth the expense.

It’s the same for victims of crime, and that’s why Collins feels so passionate about helping them. A service dog can help them feel safe enough to return to work, go to the grocery store, or stay alone in a hotel.

“Law enforcement and military get all the attention when it comes to PTSD,” Collins says. “I don’t want to lose the Angelas.”