Mike + Abi

After 12 years in the military—nine of those in special operations—United States Army Veteran Mike was used to living life at a relentless pace. His role often involved coordinating logistics for multimillion-dollar missions where there was no room for error. That high-tempo, do-or-die mindset became second nature, but when Mike medically retired in 2023, he found that the same hypervigilance that once kept him sharp in service made it difficult to feel at ease in everyday life. He described always scanning his surroundings, feeling on edge in new environments, and struggling to slow down internally even when life around him had changed.

Crowds, sudden loud sounds, and even driving could trigger intense anxiety, sending him into fight-or-flight mode. Mike shared that there were days he had to sit alone in his car waiting for the anxiety to pass, or leave public places altogether. He worried that these reactions were affecting his ability to be fully present as a husband and father to his young son, and he was determined to find a way forward.

Mike first learned about service dogs after seeing another veteran with one in class at MiraCosta College, where he is currently a student. Hearing how much a service dog had changed his peer’s life made him realize that this could be the kind of support he had been searching for. With encouragement from his VA case manager, he applied to Shelter to Soldier, hoping for something that could help him feel grounded while still allowing him to stay active and engaged with his family and his goals.

Abigail’s story began very differently, but it led her exactly where she was meant to be. Abi was originally found as a stray and later transferred from Wildomar to the ranch by Labs and More Rescue, who then notified Shelter to Soldier about her potential. From the moment she arrived, her calm, steady demeanor stood out. Abi’s journey was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Red Star Sponsor, the San Diego Woman’s Club. The club has also sponsored service dogs Haru and Dug.

From the moment Abi spent her first weekend with Mike and his family, he felt something shift. “Man, I can’t even explain that weekend that I had when she was able to spend time with me and my family. It felt like what a cat does—you know, they’re there, but you don’t know they’re there. She’s almost like a stoic dog,” Mike shared. “To the supporters of Shelter to Soldier, you guys are giving me the ability to maneuver again in a society and feel comfortable. You know, I would always feel uncomfortable, which created me to be irritable with my loved ones. To everyone else, I’m looking even keel, but it’d be hard to maintain that kind of focus. That’s what Abi kind of provides for me—reassurance that someone else has my back and my family’s back. That weekend that she got to stay with us was just… bizarre. It was like finding that one left sock to the right sock. The pair. It just felt like unity. You’re truly changing my life, and this isn’t just helping me proceed through higher education, but to the next goal, to get a job. Thank you very much.”

Today, Mike is thriving and with Abi by his side, he feels more grounded and able to stay present in his daily life.

Thanks to the support of donors, rescue partners, and sponsors, Mike and Abi found exactly what they needed in each other—a steady partner, a fresh start, and the confidence to move forward together