SUP Pups & Service Dogs
June 5, 2026
This past May, our Shelter to Soldier alumni teams traded their service dog vests for life vests and took on something a little more adventurous: stand-up paddleboarding on the beautiful waters of San Diego Bay near Liberty Station. As with our past alumni gatherings at the San Diego Zoo and the Navy SEAL Museum, this morning was made possible by the generous heart of Rita Smith, whose ongoing sponsorship continues to give our veteran teams the space to connect, unwind, and simply enjoy life together.
We were joined by four incredible veteran and service dog teams: USMC Veteran Stephanie and Phoebe, USA Veteran Becca and Gail, USN Veteran and Successor, USN Veteran Karen with Grace, and USN Veteran Chelsea and Thistle. From the moment everyone arrived, the energy was warm, relaxed, and full of the easy camaraderie that makes these gatherings so special.
Our host for the morning was Sam from SUP Pups, and we cannot say enough about the experience she created for our teams. Sam went above and beyond from the start, welcoming our alumni with a chalkboard sign and setting up a puppaccino station for the dogs to enjoy later. Her thoroughness and patience shone throughout the morning as she worked with each veteran and service dog team individually, making sure everyone felt confident and comfortable before heading out onto the water.
And out onto the water they went. Watching these teams glide across the bay together was a sight none of us will forget. Every team had the same expression: those wide, unstoppable grins that tell you something really good is happening. These are veterans who have carried so much out on the open water with their dogs, just living.
A huge thank you to Sam and the entire SUP Pups team for making our alumni feel so welcomed and so seen. We are already looking forward to the next adventure!
