Jermaine + Sally

The Shelter to Soldier team adopted Sally from Labs & More under the generous Red Star Sponsorship of Jack and Nanci Simkin! Sally caught the attention of our training team with her large stature making her a great candidate for a mobility assistance dog. 

US Army Veteran Jermaine discovered our organization through a news outlet. After his service, he struggled with PTSD and anxiety, which created significant challenges in public due to his heightened hypervigilance. He often felt uncomfortable with people standing behind him and would frequently withdraw from situations where he was surrounded by others. Even everyday tasks like grocery shopping could trigger intense anxiety attacks. These mental health struggles also led to frequent nightmares, disrupting his sleep and affecting his quality time with his family. Determined to improve his life for the sake of his wife and two young children, Jermaine decided to apply for our program.

From the moment Jermaine met Sally, it was clear to our team that the two would quickly form a strong bond. Throughout the program, Jermaine thrived under the guidance of our training team. On July 31st, 2024, Jermaine and Sally successfully passed the Public Access Test. We are thrilled to see how far Jermaine has come—he now enjoys outings to baseball games and has even experienced full nights of restful sleep. Having Sally by his side has made a profound difference in his life, a change that everyone around him can see.