Chelsea + Bodie

When Chelsea first came to Shelter to Soldier, she had a simple goal for her future service dog: she wanted to feel like she could get back to living a more “normal” life.

As a United States Marine Corps Veteran, Chelsea is used to being independent and staying active. She loves hiking, running, traveling, and spending time outdoors. But crowded places had become difficult. Chelsea described always feeling like her “head is on a swivel,” constantly aware of the people around her instead of being able to relax and enjoy where she was.

She hoped a service dog could help her feel safer and more grounded, while giving her the confidence to get back to the things she loves. Then she met Bodie.

Bodie came to Shelter to Soldier through our partnership with Wags and Walks and was adopted by the STS training team with the support of a generous Red Star Sponsorship from Vulcan Materials Company. That sponsorship gave Bodie the opportunity to begin his journey toward becoming a service dog and, ultimately, the chance to find his person in Chelsea.

Over the past several months, Chelsea and Bodie have spent countless hours learning how to work together. Their training has taken them through stores, the mall, and other busy public environments, giving them opportunities to practice the skills they would eventually need to rely on outside of training.

One of their early outings at the mall stands out. It was crowded, and Chelsea was understandably nervous about being surrounded by so many people. As she and Bodie continued through the outing, she began to feel more comfortable with him beside her. At one point, she recognized that she was becoming overwhelmed and told her trainer she wanted to take a different direction. It may have seemed like a small moment, but it was an important one. Chelsea was recognizing what she needed, communicating it, and continuing to move forward with Bodie at her side.

At the same time, Chelsea has worked just as hard on becoming Bodie’s handler. Learning to work with a service dog is a partnership, and while Bodie was learning his task cues and public access skills, Chelsea was learning how to communicate with him, read him, and confidently guide him through unfamiliar environments. With each lesson, that communication has become more natural, and the two have grown into a team.

Chelsea is also looking forward to one of the things she has missed most: running. She hopes Bodie will eventually be able to join her for a few miles, giving her a four-legged running partner and another reason to get back outside.

Now, after months of training, Chelsea and Bodie have reached a major milestone. Chelsea successfully passed her Handler Test, followed by the Public Access Test, demonstrating that she and Bodie are ready to navigate the world together as a team. With both tests behind them, Shelter to Soldier is now coordinating their graduation.

Their journey is a meaningful example of what this partnership is meant to provide. Chelsea came to Shelter to Soldier hoping to feel more comfortable and confident in the world around her. Today, she has Bodie beside her as she steps into busy stores, crowded spaces, and the activities she has been working toward returning to.

We are incredibly proud of Chelsea and Bodie and cannot wait to celebrate their graduation and everything they have accomplished together. We are equally grateful to Vulcan Materials Company for their Red Star Sponsorship, which helped give Bodie the opportunity to begin this journey in the first place.

Soon, Chelsea and Bodie will officially graduate as a team. And from there, the real adventure begins.