Southwest Florida nonprofit pairs veterans with PTSD with free service dogs

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WINK)—A Southwest Florida nonprofit is helping save veterans' lives by pairing them with service dogs for free.

Canines for Heroes has served more than 40 veterans and first-responders across Southwest Florida, and it is a foundation created to address those veterans who are falling through the cracks in their communities.

About 6,400 veterans die by suicide every year, roughly 17 per day. Many veterans come home with physical or mental scars from combat and live with PTSD, making it difficult to adjust to civilian life.

Canines for Heroes provides service dogs to struggling veterans at no cost. Luna, a service dog from the organization, has become part of Duane Zitta's family.

"Oh she's part of our family," Duane Zitta said.

Zitta served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years, enlisting in 2003 shortly after the attacks on 9/11.

"I just wanted to do something," Duane said. "I wanted to make a difference and get back at the folks who did bad things to us.

A turning point in Duane's life came in 2010 while responding to the earthquake in Haiti, saving dozens of Haitian lives in the weeks after the disaster. He says he didn't come home with pride but with images seared into his mind that he'll never forget.

"It changed the way I viewed, literally everything around me," Duane said. "I saw things there that I've never seen in my life."

Coming home wasn't easy. Zitta found a passion in ultra-endurance sports and thought he was doing well, but his wife, Michelle Zitta, noticed a change.

"He just seemed a little withdrawn, and didn't seem to enjoy things he used to enjoy," Michelle said.

Michelle says it was extremely hard, knowing she couldn't fix what her husband was going through.

"He just kind of became someone that I didn't know or recognize," Michelle said.

The couple had one of the hardest conversations of their marriage when Michelle confronted her husband about the changes she noticed.

"She pulled me aside and said hey I don't know what's going on with you, but you're not the man that I married, and you know I immediately sought help that day," Zitta said.

Zitta says growth has been anything but linear. Overcoming stigmas and trauma is a constant fight. He connected with Canines for Heroes in 2024. Sandra LaFlamme, one of the founders, says these dogs are changing people's lives. 

LaFlamme explained how service dogs can help a struggling veteran. She says that these dogs can often sense an episode before it happens and develop a deep connection with their owners.

"Everything about your demeanor, your emotions, the things that are brewing on the inside of you, the dog can smell it before it comes out," LaFlamme said. 

Zitta has a message for veterans battling silent battles.

"Make the call," he said. "Call me, call anybody, you just have to start somewhere."

He also praised his wife, saying he wouldn't be where he is without her.

"Without Michelle, I probably wouldn't be here," he said. "She's the only reason I got help."