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Dustin + Nigel
“If it wasn’t for Shelter to Soldier, I don’t know if I would still be around. My service dog, Nigel, helps me live a normal life by mitigating my Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) symptoms. Shelter to Soldier saved both of our lives.” Nigel, generously sponsored by UNITE Hair, graduated with his veteran, Dustin Potash, US […]
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Shawn + Wilson
“With Wilson, I’m still hesitant [in public] sometimes, but when I look at it I see I’ve gone back out to live. I go out now; I go into areas where there are crowds, which is something I wouldn’t have done before. I get a lot of anxiety even while driving in traffic and he […]
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Henry + Penny
Henry Cordero, US Army and Penny completed our Emotional Support Animal (ESA) program on January 15, 2020. Penny was originally rescued by a Good Samaritan on the side of the freeway in Riverside, CA. She was taken in by a foster, who connected with our program to find Penny a greater purpose than the life […]
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James + Pepper
Pepper is a young, vibrant girl that we adopted from Labs and More Rescue out of San Diego, CA. She loves to train, she’s very affectionate, and attentive to her handler. She graduated our program in 2020 as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) with her veteran handler.
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Tony + Lola
Lola went home with her veteran handler, Tony Medina, USN in December 2020 as an Emotional Support Animal (ESA)! Lola is beaming with pride for the good girl she knows she is! Thanks to her sponsor The Charitable Foundation San Diego (of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services) for sponsoring her adoption from San Diego Department of […]
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Brendan + Thistle
Thistle is a 2 year old Golden Retriever Mix we adopted from Labs & More Rescue under the generous sponsorship of Rennie Gabriel and Three Dog Bakery Encino. Thistle graduated our program with her veteran handler, Brendan Moaratty, US Navy, in August 2020.
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Alonso + Glory
Glory graduated our program with USMC Veteran, Alonso Ruiz, on Veteran’s Day 2020! Glory is a 2 year old shepherd mix who is just as sweet as she is spunky. This hard-working girl wants nothing more than to have a job, and we are so thankful that she found our program! Rennie Gabriel, in partnership […]
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Lito + Halia
Halia is a 2 year old pit mix we adopted from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter. She is gentle and cuddly, but still energetic and focused enough to really enjoy working. She has a really great smile that lifts us all. Halia’s adoption, care, housing, training and future placement with a veteran […]
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Brandon + Cooper
Cooper is a 2 year old Corgi-Shepherd mix we adopted from Baldwin Park Animal Care Center in Los Angeles under the generous Red Star Sponsorship of the Los Angeles Rams. Cooper graduated with his veteran handler, Brandon Shelton, US Army, in August 2020. He even got to be the best man in Brandon’s wedding! We […]
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Grumman
Grumman has been such a light in our program. His eagerness to work was a treat for our team to work with, and his new veteran dad absolutely adores him. Grumman‘s handler is active duty in the US Navy and wishes to remain anonymous. He is thrilled to have Grumman by his side officially! The pair graduated […]
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Ben + Lima
Lima is a 2 year old black lab mix adopted from the El Cajon Animal Shelter. She has a very sweet temperament and enjoys her training. She is confident and eager to please. We are so thrilled that we found this sweet pup for our program! She graduated our program with STS Veteran Recipient, Ben […]
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Matt + Julio
Julio is a 4 year old pit bull mix we adopted from (the former) San Diego Department of Animal Services Central Shelter. After adopting Julio, we learned he had Parvovirus. He healed in our program, and went on to do big things! On August 20th, 2020 he graduated our program with his veteran handler, Matt […]
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Billy + Sophia
Sophia is a 2 year old chocolate lab mix we adopted from Labs and More Rescue in San Diego, CA. She is a ball of spunk and energy and loves to work. In September 2020, she graduated our Emotional Support Animal (ESA) program with her veteran handler, Billy Cosby, US Army Ret. She was generously […]
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Kendrick + Kai
Kai is a 4 year old husky mix we adopted from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita shelter under the generous Red Star Sponsorship of American Society of Military Comptrollers Professional Development Institute (PDI). In 2020, Kai changed careers to an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) and was placed with USMC veteran Kendrick Thimothee. The […]
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Troy + Millie
Millie is a 4 year old pointer mix we adopted from Labs and More Rescue in San Diego, CA. She’s a total love, and she was destined to support someone who really needed her. Sponsored by Dianne Merryl, Millie was given the chance to live a life of purpose after being a homeless pup. She […]
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Rey + Keeta
Rey Canonizado, USN Ret. and his service dog Keeta recently graduated our Shelter to Soldier service dog training program on Thursday, July 9th. The team has worked hard together over several months, enduring the hardship of a 3-month-long pause in handler training due to COVID-19 to complete their handler training course. Rey was joyfully joined […]
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Benny + Tyler
Benny the Emotional Support Dog and Tyler Phillips, USMC graduated our program on March 27, 2020. They are enjoying many adventures together, and we are so thankful Tyler has provided Benny such an exciting life, and that Benny has provided Tyler the emotional support he deserves post-service. Benny’s journey through our program, from adoption at […]
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Kiowa + Marlow
On March 10, 2020, Kiowa Wolfe, USMC Ret. graduated our service dog training program with his service dog, Marlow! Marlow is a lab mix adopted from Labs and More Rescue here in San Diego. She is a fun girl who likes to learn and give lots of love. Marlow’s adoption, care, training, and placement with Kiowa […]
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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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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.