Shelter to Soldier - Supporting Veteran

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 Time , STS adopted a 2.5 year-old male German TM 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

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.