Shelter to Soldier Alumni Reunite at MCASD
June 22, 2026
On June 19th, 2026, five Shelter to Soldier veteran-dog teams gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) in La Jolla for our monthly alumni meetup—a mid-morning of reconnection and community.
We were thrilled to welcome USA Veteran Janiece and service dog Jasper, USA Veteran Becca and service dog Gail, USA Veteran Mike and service dog Abigail, USN Veteran Aaron and his successor service dog Murphy, and USMC Veteran Shane and service dog Buddy. Family members joined in as well: Shane’s daughter, Aaron’s son, and Mike’s son and wife. A beautiful reminder that the Shelter to Soldier mission reaches far beyond the veteran alone.
After meeting out front, our teams explored MCASD’s current exhibitions, including Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys and Prospect 2026, a compelling showcase of work across sculpture, photography, video, installation, and painting by five contemporary artists being considered for the museum’s permanent collection.
The galleries were comfortably busy, as rooms held around 15 visitors at a time, and every veteran and service dog navigated the environment with confidence and composure. It was a genuine reflection of the dedication these teams bring to their training every single day.
One of the most powerful aspects of our programs is watching our graduated teams thrive in real-world settings. Museums, crowded spaces, and new environments are exactly where the partnership between a veteran and their service dog is put to the test, and our June teams did incredibly well!
For USA Veteran Mike and service dog Abi, the day turned out to be more than he expected:
“I really truly appreciate it. This definitely aligns with what I’m about. It’s great — we literally talked about this a couple months back; we were trying to get to this… Put me on stuff like this.”
— Mike, Shelter to Soldier Alumni Veteran
That kind of feedback is exactly why we do this. Alumni meetups aren’t just social events. They’re opportunities for our veterans to continue building lives that feel full, connected, and meaningful alongside their service dogs.
We are so grateful to everyone who joined us this month, and we look forward to seeing even more familiar faces at our next alumni meetup.