Homeland Magazine June 2022

Page 32

Shelter to Soldier Matches US Navy Veteran with Rescued and Trained Emotional Support Animal Sponsored by Logomark by Eva M. Stimson The non-profit mission of Shelter to Soldier (STS) is to pair eligible US veterans suffering from PTS, TBI and/or MST, (Military Sexual Trauma) with trained dogs from shelters and rescue organizations to help heal psychological wounds. This service is provided at no cost to veterans who qualify for the program. In keeping with the philosophy of “Saving Lives, Two at a TimeTM, STS adopted a 2.5 year-old male German Shepherd from LA-based I Stand With My Pack (ISWMP), a rescue partner of STS. Scout was carefully chosen as a potential candidate to serve as an STS service dog that would ultimately be partnered with a wait-list of eligible veterans in need of STS services. STS President Graham Bloem remarks, ”Scout has charming energy…he is relaxed, but eager to learn and train. In his initial evaluation, Scout appeared to be a great candidate for the STS psychiatric service dogtraining program. Scout promptly began the training schedule where his foundational work was going well, and his handler focus and desire to please were stellar traits. Over a short period of time, Scout was presented with orthopedic challenges. The training team at STS noticed instability in favoring his front right leg while training and in off-duty play. X-rays revealed he needed surgical treatments to remove bone fragments from his elbows, which was thankfully underwritten by Logomark.” According to Clive Goldberg, Chief Operating Officer of Logomark, “We are so grateful to be in a position to support Shelter to Soldier and proud to help build awareness of the commitment to ‘Saving Lives Two at a TimeTM ”. Despite Scout’s diagnosis and surgical procedure, he healed and remained in great spirits, eager to do good work. Thankfully, he met the standards for an STS Emotional Support Dog and was “career changed” to this important role. He resumed his training program and was ultimately matched with US Navy Veteran, Adam Fleener. Adam served in the United States Navy as a Mineman for nine years and was deployed to Bahrain from 2013-2014 and in Japan from 2014-2017. Adam is over the moon excited to add Scout to his family and STS is thrilled that Scout has found such a lovely family. Adam elaborates, “Scout has been a great 32

WWW.HomelandMagazine.com / JUNE 2022

Scout with Adam Fleemer

addition to me and my family. I am so happy that I was able to find Shelter to Soldier. We are grateful to have Scout in our lives.” Everyday, 20 US veterans on average commit suicide and approximately 1,800 dogs are euthanized. These staggering statistics inspire the entire STS team to do all they can do to support those served by the STS program, both canine and human. Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that adopts dogs from local shelters and trains them to become psychiatric service dogs for post9/11 combat veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Military Sexual Trauma (MST). To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, visit their website at www.sheltertosoldier.org or call 760-870-5338 for a confidential interview regarding eligibility. To discover more about other Logomark Cares give back programs, visit www.logomark.com/cares.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

Careers in Law Enforcement

1min
pages 54-59

Inside the Monthly Columns

3min
pages 60-64

National Veterans Chamber of Commerce

3min
pages 46-47

War Widow of Green Beret

4min
pages 50-53

Off-Base Transition Training

3min
pages 44-45

Veterans in Business: “Silver Rocket”

2min
pages 40-41

Legal Eagle: When is an Employer Liable

4min
pages 42-43

Guide Dogs of America

1min
page 33

Successful Transitioning Stories

3min
pages 38-39

What’s Next: Suck It, Up Butter Cup

4min
pages 34-35

Caregiving TLC - Informal Caregivers

2min
pages 30-31

Shelter to Soldier - Supporting Veteran

2min
page 32

The Expressive Arts Institute

5min
pages 28-29

Learning to Come Home

2min
page 7

Warrior Manages PTSD

7min
pages 13-15

Real Talk: Seeking PTSD Treatment

3min
pages 10-12

Telehealth is a Lifeline for Veterans

3min
pages 20-21

Time Marches On

2min
page 6

The Stigma of PTSD Treatment

4min
pages 22-23

PTSD - Message to Veterans

4min
pages 18-19

Bob Parsons - I’m finally home

7min
pages 16-17
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.