Haru + Lindsey

Meet this iconic duo, Lindsey & Haru!

The Shelter to Soldier team met Haru, a beautiful German Shepherd, at the San Diego Department of Animal Services Carlsbad Shelter. Luckily for us (and Lindsey!), we were able to adopt her under the generous Red Star Sponsorship of the San Diego Woman’s Club!

Lindsey was introduced to Shelter to Soldier by another veteran recipient of our program, Lito – Halia the service dog’s Dad. Lindsey is a US Marine Corps veteran who bravely enlisted after the 9/11 attacks. During her time in the service, she was a radio operator and had volunteered to deploy to Iraq as a driver, but ended up being assigned as a gunner and assistant convoy commander. Unfortunately, she developed PTS and suffered a TBI leading to anxiety and physical ailments. Luckily for Lindsey, she had Haru to fall back on when they officially matched on April 21st, 2022.

Together, Lindsey and Haru learned everything they needed to know to prepare as a team for the Public Access Test and they learned a lot about each other during the handler training process. On June 27th, 2023, they officially graduated our program in an intimate setting around loving friends and family in Oceanside, CA. 

Lindsey, Haru, and her family currently reside in Virginia as her husband is still actively serving in the military. We receive regular updates on Haru’s journey and we can’t wait to see them again in the future!