Kevin + Indy

The Shelter to Soldier team adopted Indy from Labs & More under the generous Red Star Sponsorship of Westlake Realty, their first dog for our program!

Kevin dedicated 22 years of service to the United States Navy, serving during the Gulf War and 9/11. His time in the military left him with severe ailments, requiring ongoing medical care. During his treatment, Kevin experienced firsthand the life-changing support of therapy dogs, leading him to realize the profound impact a service dog could have on his daily life.

When Kevin first completed our program, he graduated with Annie, the first dog in the Shelter to Soldier program trained in mobility assistance, retrieval, and psychiatric service. Annie was adopted from the San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter, and her housing, care, training, and placement with Kevin were generously sponsored by Red Star Sponsor Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Brentwood Office and Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Charitable Foundation in Los Angeles.

Tragically, Annie was diagnosed with cancer and had to be euthanized. Her loss was heartbreaking for Kevin and the entire Shelter to Soldier family. When Kevin was ready for a new service dog, we were honored to support him once again.

A few months later, our training team found Indy—a perfect match for Kevin. Having already been through the program with Annie, Kevin moved through the training process smoothly. On January 30, 2025, Kevin and Indy passed their Public Access Test with flying colors and graduated on February 22, 2025 amongst family and STS staff. We’re proud of you Kevin!