She-ron + Charlie

The Shelter to Soldier team welcomed Sir Charles, affectionately known as Charlie, into our program through the generous Red Star Sponsorship of Sandra Zarcades and our rescue partners at Labs & More. Not long before that, Charlie had been wandering the streets of Riverside as a stray before Riverside Animal Control brought him to safety and Labs & More took him in. From the moment our training team met him, his calm, observant presence and quiet confidence told us everything we needed to know.

She-ron served in the United States Air Force as a Staff Sergeant, specializing as an Aircraft Armament Systems Craftsman, responsible for the loading, maintenance, and repair of weapon systems on aircraft. During her service, she was stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea in 2012, and her dedication to her country was recognized through multiple commendations and service medals.

After her service, She-ron found herself facing significant challenges that followed her home. Navigating public spaces, managing sensory overstimulation, and maintaining emotional regulation outside the home became daily battles. Unpredictable episodes of dissociation, hypervigilance, and panic made it difficult to grocery shop, attend appointments, or travel independently. She described relying on her husband to accompany her anywhere she needed to go, and the weight of knowing he could not always be there.

She-ron put it simply and powerfully: a trained service dog would not only provide grounding during the hard moments, but would give her back the ability to re-engage with the world in a way that feels safe and sustainable.

From their very first meeting, it was clear that Charlie was hers. The training team saw it immediately, and by all accounts, so did Charlie. On February 3rd, 2026, the two were officially matched as a team, and She-ron has not slowed down since. Coming in for two lessons a week, she is the definition of a dedicated handler, putting in every effort to make sure she is the best possible partner for Charlie. That commitment is showing: this team is progressing ahead of schedule and it is no surprise to anyone who has watched them work together.

She-ron and Charlie will be graduating ahead of schedule on August 1st, as her family has received an incredible opportunity that will take them back to Guam permanently. While we will miss having this team close by, we could not be more proud or more excited for the life that awaits them. Charlie is ready for every step of the journey, and we have no doubt he will guide her through all of it.