Shelter to Soldier
Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues dogs from shelters and trains them over 12–18 months as psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans with PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships and delivered at no cost to veteran recipients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersOceanside, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shelter to Soldier does
Shelter to Soldier is a California-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 by Graham Bloem and Kyrié Bloem, headquartered at the Wings of Freedom Campus in Oceanside, CA. The organization rescues dogs from local shelters and animal control facilities (San Diego Department of Animal Services, Rancho Coastal Humane Society, Labs & More Rescue, Calexico Border Paws) and trains them over a 12–18 month program as psychiatric service animals for post-9/11 combat veterans diagnosed with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. All services are provided at no cost to the veteran recipient; dogs remain on campus during training and graduate through a handler-training phase culminating in a Public Access Test.
The operating model is a portfolio of four core programs: the flagship Psychiatric Service Dog Program, an Emotional Support Animal Program (up to 10 one-hour private lessons plus AKC Canine Good Citizen testing), the Canine Ambassadors Therapy Dog Team (no-cost community visits to military families and installations), and a Morale Dog Program supporting first responders and active-duty personnel. The organization is accredited by Animal Behavior College, the National Association of Dog Instructors, the International Association of Canine Professionals, the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, and American Red Cross canine first aid, and holds the GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency and Patriot's Initiative accreditation.
Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropy rather than fees for service. Streams include individual donations, a monthly recurring giving program (starting at $5/month), corporate Red Star Sponsorships at $12,000 per sponsored dog, grants (notably $33,250 from Petco Love in 2023), annual fundraising events (14th Annual Be the Light Gala, Salute to Paws 5K, golf tournament), and merchandise sales. Backbone operational support is provided pro bono by founding partners Specialty Dog Training (training labor) and Goodsell & Company (accounting, office space). Distribution is direct-to-veteran via online application and VA/military community referral, with primary service geography in Southern California.
Shelter to Soldier firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shelter to Soldier
- Legal name
- Shelter to Soldier
- Website
- https://sheltertosoldier.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Shelter to Soldier is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit that rescues dogs from shelters and trains them over 12–18 months as psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 veterans with PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma, funded by donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships and delivered at no cost to veteran recipients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shelter to Soldier industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Veteran Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (812910)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF)
Keywords
Where Shelter to Soldier is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oceanside
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Shelter to Soldier business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Primary revenue source from individual donations, corporate sponsorships (Red Star Sponsorship at $12,000 per dog), and grants from foundations like Petco Love, David C. Copley Foundation, and others.
- Fundraising Events: Annual events including Be the Light Gala, Salute to Paws 5K, and golf tournament generate significant revenue. The 2023 gala raised $287,177.
- Monthly Giving Program: Monthly recurring donations starting at $5 per month providing sustainable funding.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded apparel, accessories, and merchandise through the organization's shop.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free psychiatric service dog placement for eligible post-9/11 veterans |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Free emotional support animal placement for veterans and active-duty military |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Red Star Sponsorship for one dog through full program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly giving program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Shelter to Soldier product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shelter to Soldier rescues dogs from local shelters and trains them over a 12-18 month program as psychiatric service animals for post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma. All service dogs and emotional support animals are placed with veterans at no cost, with handler training and AKC Canine Good Citizen certification included.
Product overview
Shelter to Soldier is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of dog-assisted support programs for veterans and active-duty military. The core offering is its Psychiatric Service Dog Program, which rescues shelter dogs and trains them over 12-18 months as psychiatric service animals for post-9/11 veterans. Complementing this are the Emotional Support Animal Program (delivering up to 10 private handler lessons and AKC Canine Good Citizen certification), the Canine Ambassadors Therapy Dog Team (providing no-cost community visits), and the Morale Dog Program (serving military and first responder communities). All programs are offered at no cost to veteran recipients. The Red Star Sponsorship program allows donors to underwrite the full cost of one dog's journey from shelter adoption through graduation, serving as the primary funding mechanism across all programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Canine Ambassadors Therapy Dog Team: A team of certified therapy dogs and volunteer handlers providing no-cost visits of love and comfort to local military personnel, veterans, and their families.
- Morale Dogs
Products and services
- Psychiatric Service Dog Program Shelter to Soldier's flagship program that rescues dogs from local shelters and trains them over 12-18 months on the Wings of Freedom Campus as psychiatric service animals for post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and other invisible wounds. Dogs are paired with veterans through a 6-9 month handler training program culminating in a Public Access Test graduation. All services are provided free of charge to eligible veterans.
- Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Program Places trained emotional support animals with active-duty military and veterans. Students complete up to 10 one-hour private lessons weekly until they and their dog pass the AKC Canine Good Citizen test. ESAs reside on campus until graduation. Provided free of charge to eligible participants.
- Canine Ambassadors Therapy Dog Team A team of certified therapy dogs and volunteer handlers that provide no-cost visits of love and comfort to local military personnel, veterans, and their families at community events, military installations, and VA facilities. The team consists of 5 active certified therapy dogs.
- Morale Dog Program Deploys certified therapy dogs to provide comfort and emotional support to active-duty military and first responder communities through visits and community engagement activities.
- Red Star Sponsorship A corporate and individual sponsorship program covering the full $12,000 cost of adopting a dog from a shelter, housing, training, and caring for the service dog trainee through the 12-18 month program, matching with a veteran, handler training, and graduation. Sponsors receive naming rights, training updates, and invitations to the graduation ceremony.
Quantifiable outcome
- Veterans report reduced suicidal ideation and improved daily functioning with service dogs
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shelter to Soldier
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Shelter to Soldier technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Shelter to Soldier partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Specialty Dog TrainingcoreFounding Partner that contributed profits to start and support Shelter to Soldier. Trainers volunteer time to work with dogs in training. Founder Graham Bloem is CEO of Specialty Dog Training.
- Goodsell & CompanycoreFounding Partner and accounting firm that donates pro-bono accounting services, expertise, office use, and makes direct contributions. Co-Founder Krys Holc serves as Treasurer.
- Labs & More RescuecoreRescue organization partner that provides dogs for the program including Indy, Walden, Wilson, and Grace.
- San Diego Department of Animal ServicescoreMunicipal shelter partner providing dogs for the program including Annie from Bonita Shelter and Tank from Central Campus.
- Rancho Coastal Humane SocietycoreShelter partner that transferred Charlie to get fresh exposure for adoption before STS adopted him.
- Calexico Border PawscoreRescue partner that helped rescue Forrest from El Centro and recognized his potential for the program.
- Foundation for Women WarriorsmajorVeteran organization partner co-hosting the annual Sisterhood of Service event for women veterans.
- PupLidminorProduct collaboration with Encinitas-based dog hat company. 20% of camo cap sales donated to STS when code STS20 is used.
- 91X RadiominorSan Diego radio station that promoted Forrest and the STS mission on air.
- Magic 92.5minorSan Diego radio station that helped secure funding for Tyberius and supported veteran James Norvell.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shelter to Soldier competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities): Nonprofit that trains service dogs for veterans and civilians with disabilities, with a specific veteran service program. Comparable mission, comparable training timeline, and direct competition in the Northeast for veteran placements and corporate sponsorships.
- Hero Dogs: Maryland-based nonprofit that breeds, raises, and trains service dogs for veterans with PTSD and other disabilities. Operates a similar donation-funded model with a comparable training timeline, competing for East Coast applicants and foundation grants.
- K9s For Warriors: The largest nonprofit provider of service dogs to U.S. military veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and MST. Operates a rescue-to-service-dog model highly comparable to Shelter to Soldier, with a longer track record, larger scale, and broader geographic reach from its Jacksonville, FL headquarters.
- America's VetDogs: National nonprofit that trains and places service dogs with disabled veterans, active-duty personnel, and first responders. Operates a comparable mission of pairing trained dogs with veterans at no cost and is a direct competitor for both donor dollars and veteran applicants.
- Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs: Nonprofit that pairs rescue and donated dogs with veterans and first responders suffering from PTSD, TBI, and other disabilities. Closely comparable rescue-to-service model with a national applicant pool and active corporate sponsorship program.
- Patriot Service Dogs: Nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs specifically for veterans with PTSD and TBI. Closely mirrors Shelter to Soldier's dual-mission (rescue + veteran service) approach and competes for similar corporate sponsors and foundation grants.
Broad incumbents
- Canine Companions for Independence: One of the largest and most established service dog nonprofits in the U.S., placing trained dogs with people with disabilities (including veterans). Operates breeding-based rather than rescue-based training, but is a major incumbent competing for similar grant pools and veteran applicants.
Others
- Petco Love (Petco Foundation): Major funder of Shelter to Soldier (over $33,250 in grants) and the broader animal welfare nonprofit ecosystem. Acts as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor, but is a key strategic partner for corporate fundraising pipeline development.
Emerging players
- Pets for Vets: Nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as companion and psychiatric service dogs for veterans. Overlaps with Shelter to Soldier's dual-mission and dual-segment marketing, though generally operates at smaller scale per chapter.
- DUO (Dogs United with Others) / Operation Delta Dog: Smaller New England nonprofit that rescues shelter dogs and trains them as service dogs for veterans with PTSD. Closely comparable rescue-to-veteran model, with partial overlap in donor segment but a more regional focus than Shelter to Soldier.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shelter to Soldier social profiles
Digital presenceShelter to Soldier financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shelter to Soldier leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Shelter to Soldier funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shelter to Soldier M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shelter to Soldier
What does Shelter to Soldier do?
Shelter to Soldier rescues dogs from local shelters and trains them over a 12-18 month program as psychiatric service animals for post-9/11 veterans suffering from PTSD, TBI, and military sexual trauma. All service dogs and emotional support animals are placed with veterans at no cost, with handler training and AKC Canine Good Citizen certification included.
Is Shelter to Soldier a public or private company?
Shelter to Soldier is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shelter to Soldier founded?
Shelter to Soldier was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shelter to Soldier based?
Shelter to Soldier is headquartered in Oceanside, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shelter to Soldier make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are fundraising Events, monthly Giving Program and merchandise Sales.
Who are Shelter to Soldier's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ECAD (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities), Hero Dogs, K9s For Warriors, America's VetDogs, Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs and Patriot Service Dogs. Canine Companions for Independence is listed as a broad incumbent. Petco Love (Petco Foundation) is listed as an others. Emerging players are Pets for Vets and DUO (Dogs United with Others) / Operation Delta Dog.
Does Shelter to Soldier have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shelter to Soldier.
What industry is Shelter to Soldier in?
Shelter to Soldier's product category is Veteran Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAIAA, Animal Shelters & Adoption Services, with a secondary code of BPAIAHAL, Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services. Its NAICS code is 812910 and its SIC code is 8300.