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Teri + Riddler
Riddler is a 5 year old yellow labrador retriever we adopted from Labs & More Animal Rescue in San Diego, CA. He is a huge cuddler and loves to train, which translated beautifully into his work as a psychiatric service dog. Riddler recently graduated with his US Navy veteran handler, Teri McConnell in January 2020. […]
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Jessica + Kai
Kai is a 3 year old husky mix we adopted from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter. He is a very special pup who has truly excelled in our service dog training program and met his fullest potential with his US Navy veteran, Jessica Castro. Jessica and Kai graduated our program in January […]
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Adam + Bash
Adam Cunningham, USMC and his service dog Bash graduated our program on November 13, 2019. Shelter to Soldier adopted Bash from Labs & More Rescue out of San Diego, CA under the generous sponsorship of The Wintercreek Foundation. We are so thankful that these two found one another through our program. The pair are already […]
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Joseph + Cheeto
Joseph Boring, USMC and Cheeto graduated our program on October, 24 2019. Shelter to Soldier adopted Cheeto from the San Diego Department of Veteran Services Carlsbad Shelter. He evaluated beautifully, but he was a bit on the larger side for our program. We made the exception because his temperament was wonderful. When Joseph interviewed and […]
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Richard + Seth
Congratulations to Richard Slack, US Army and his new service dog, Seth. To date, Seth was the quickest pup to venture through our program, graduating in October 2019 after being adopted in only January 2019. Shelter to Soldier adopted Seth from Labs & More Rescue out of San Diego, CA. He is a 2 year […]
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Joel + Duke
Joel Brambila, USMC and his service dog Duke graduated our program on August 22, 2019. It was an amazing ceremony, particularly because it was held on Duke’s 3rd birthday! These two are incredible ambassadors for our program, and we are so proud of their hard work and dedication to one another. Duke was adopted from […]
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John + Ace
John Schulte, USMC and his service dog, Ace, graduated our program in May 2019. They have gone on to attend many Shelter to Soldier functions, including our 7th Annual Be the Light Gala! Ace and John are not only best friends, but have saved one another and continue to do so everyday. Ace was adopted […]
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Jaimie + Moose
Jaimie McAfee, USMC and his service dog, Moose, graduated our program in May 2019 and have been loving their journey together ever since. Moose was adopted from the San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter and was generously sponsored by Petco Foundation through their Helping Heroes grant. “More like ‘Angels to Soldiers’ because that is […]
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Seth – Career Change
Seth is a young shepherd mix adopted from Labs and More Rescue here in San Diego. He is a fun, energetic young pup who is eager to learn and loves to give affection. Unfortunately, Seth did not make it through our 90 day evaluation period, as our team found that he is better suited for […]
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Aaron + Liberty
Lady Liberty was adopted from the San Diego Department of Animal Services in Carlsbad. She was there for a little over a month and had already been adopted and returned because she was pestering livestock. This energetic pup was just in need of a job to keep her out of trouble! She loves people and […]
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Evan + Bandit
Bandit is a spunky cattle dog mix adopted from the San Diego Department of Animal Services Central Shelter. The staff at the shelter thought Bandit would be a good fit for Shelter to Soldier™, and after evaluating this adorable pup, training director, Graham Bloem, agreed. Bandit is a happy, social guy and is definitely the […]
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Angel + Jax
Jax is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois adopted from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter in September 2016. Jax is full of spunk and life, and we are thrilled to have him in our program. He is very affectionate, enjoys going for walks and loves playing ball as a training reward. Jax has […]
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Dave + Thursday
On November 15th, 2016 our Shelter to Soldier™ service dog training team visited the San Diego Department of Animal Services on Gaines St. in San Diego. There, we met many great dogs – but fell madly in love with this sweet puppy, affectionately named Thursday by her Red Star Sponsor, The Thursday Club Juniors. Thursday […]
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Jeremy + Luna
Georgia
On June 28th, 2017, US Marine Veteran Jeremy Engle and his service dog, Luna, graduated our program! This goofy girl had a hard start to her journey with STS. She was found by a friend of Shelter to Soldier™ as a stray on the streets of Tijuana, suffering from severe mange and malnutrition. Once Luna […]
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Kevin + Annie
San Diego, CA
On Friday, October 6th, 2017, Shelter to Soldier™ hosted the graduation ceremony of US Navy Veteran Kevin Justice with his service dog, Annie. Annie was the first dog in the Shelter to Soldier™ program trained in mobility assistance, retrieval and psychiatric service. She was adopted from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter and […]
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Jayson + Miesha
San Diego, CA
Miesha is a 2 year old pit bull mix adopted from the County of San Diego Animal Services Bonita Shelter. She was shy in the kennel and spent about 7 months there waiting to be adopted, but she blossomed in the training yard, where we noticed her drive to work, her sweetness with other dogs, […]
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Vic + Mia
San Diego, CA
In early 2017, Veteran Advocate, Vic and Training Director/Co Founder Graham Bloem, made the decision to retire Vic’s first service dog, Kira, as she could no longer perform in her role as a psychiatric service dog. Although it was difficult for Vic to picture himeslf without Kira, he knew that he would still need a […]
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Jonathon + Berkeley
On Veteran’s Day 2016, we hosted a very special and intimate graduation ceremony for US Army Veteran Jonathon Marroquin and his service dog, Berkeley. Berkeley’s adoption, care, housing, training and graduation were generously sponsored by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Los Angeles Charitable Foundation and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Calabasas Office. Berkeley was rescued from a […]
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Liz + Charlie
Schubach Aviation Private Hangar
On October 29, 2016, Schubach Aviation generously hosted the graduation of veteran recipient, Liz Carmouche, and her Shelter to Soldier™ service dog, Charlie, at their beautiful, private hangar. Schubach Aviation was our first Red Star Corporate Sponsor and they have continued to support our mission for over three years. Through their continued support, Schubach Aviation […]
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Karen + Seven
Wow, what a team! We are so happy to announce that Karen and Seven graduated our service dog program on July 11, 2016! They are an amazing pair and Karen attributes her new found confidence to having Seven. “I am finally finding myself wanting to go places now and get out of my house…by myself. […]
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Mason + Griffin
San Diego, CA
Mason Crosslin, US Army Ret. is an OIF veteran who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress. For years, he had the support of his service dog, Chase, who helped him cope in society and heal from the wounds of combat. Chase tragically and suddenly passed away from lymphoma in September last year, and Mason reached out to […]
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Ricky + Plato
San Diego, CA
On Wednesday, February 17th, 2016, SGT Ricky Mendez, USMC, graduated the Shelter to Soldier™ program with his new service dog, Plato. Shelter to Soldier™ CoFounders, Kyrié and Graham Bloem, adopted Plato from a rescue group in the LA area in February 2015 under the corporate sponsorship of Plato Pet Treats and their philanthropic program, Plato Wags […]
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Chris + Jade
San Diego, CA
Shelter to Soldier™ adopted Jade from Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas in November 2014. She is a 2 year old golden retriever/shepherd mix with a very kind soul. She is mature beyond her age but still playful and spirited. Jade craves affection from her human friends and handlers, an amazing quality for a service dog. Jade […]
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Tom + Sandy
San Diego, CA
Sandy came into our program in 2013 through the sponsorship of Ranch & Coast Magazine. Tom applied to our program in early 2014, but because of his diagnosis and things he was working through at the time, he took over a year to complete his application process.
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James + Tyberius
San Diego, CA
Jagger & Kristi at Magic 92.5 were working on helping Ty and his mom before she passed away and reached out to our founder, Graham Bloem, to help Ty.
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Vic + Kira
San Diego, CA
Kira is a loving 4 year old female labrador/pit mix. She was rescued just in time to allow her the opportunity to live a happy, loving and purposeful life.
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James + Calver
San Diego, CA
Calver is a 3 year-old, male standard schnauzer. His dad, James, applied to Shelter to Soldier™ and was approved to be a recipient due to his diagnosis of TBI (traumatic brain injury) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
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Ben + Tank
San Diego, CA
Tank came into our program in June 2014 through the sponsorship of The Wintercreek Foundation. Ben applied to our program in the Spring of 2015, and was perhaps one of our most driven applicants.