Angel served three tours to Iraq and one in Afghanistan. He was in direct combat during each deployment, against enemy combatants. Sgt. Alvarez was in the initial first deployment incursion into Iraq, while serving as Team Leader and Squad Leader with “F” Company, Second Battalion 1st Marine, 1st Marine Division Fleet Marine Force (FMF). During his second deployment to Iraq, while serving with Weapons Company 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, he hit multiple IED’s in a short period of time. In 2006, while in a high-speed pursuit of a High Value Target in the Iraqi/Syrian Border territory, Sgt. Alvarez, his Platoon Commander, Light Armored Vehicle Crew and Infantry Scout/Assault team hit an unexpected dry riverbed and the light armored vehicle flipped over and rolled several times. During the accident, Sgt. Alvarez’ right shoulder was dislocated and he received a brain concussion, losing consciousness for an extended period of time. In July of 2007, Sgt. Alvarez was honorably discharged from duty with medical conditions for PTS. While on an out-of-state retreat to alleviate his PTS symptoms, he met Shelter to Soldier graduate, Ben Kilhefner and his service dog, “Tank”. He witnessed firsthand what a significant difference a service dog made in Ben’s quality of life, and after a lengthy discussion, Angel decided to enlist the help of Shelter to Soldier. According to Sgt. Alvarez, “I’m utterly grateful to Graham Bloem for the opportunity and to the training staff at Shelter To Soldier for their patience and dedication in paring and training Jax and I into a Service Dog Team.
I knew the minute I met Jax that he was the one for me---our bond moment was immediate! I’m much more at ease in crowded areas when he’s with me, and he definitely brings my stress level down. He makes me a happier person as my life-long service companion.” Every day on average, twenty (20) U.S. veterans and one (1) active duty service member commit suicide (Department of Veteran Affairs) and every day, 3200 dogs are euthanized in the U.S. Studies estimate that one in every five military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering from PTSD. The services Shelter to Soldier provides for free to veterans and their commitment to adopt dogs, fulfills the mission of this organization by “Saving Lives, Two at a Time”. Andrew Dale, CEO and Founder of UNITE Professional Salon System notes, “We’ve been a long-time advocate of the Shelter to Soldier program through our on-going donation program from our ‘Doggy Poo’ dog shampoo product line and we’ve raised additional funds from our global salon owners to sponsor Jax as a companion dog for Angel. We’re thrilled that Angel and Jax graduated this year and additionally pleased to announce that we’ve raised substantial funds through the sale of “Doggy Poo’ shampoo via our vast network of international salon locations. Year to date, our financial contribution from our product line exceeds $20,000, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with Shelter to Soldier. We appreciate everything Shelter to Soldier does on a daily basis for our veterans----those guys (our veterans) deserve our support and whatever we can do to help makes our contribution worthwhile.” Visit www.unitehair.com for additional information and to purchase “Doggy Poo” in support of Shelter to Soldier. Shelter to Soldier will be hosting their annual fundraising gala, “Be the Light” on Saturday, August 25th at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. Sponsorship opportunities are available and silent and live auction items are currently being accepted. Contact Kyrié Bloem, Shelter to Soldier Co-Founder and Director of Operations for additional information at kyrie@ sheltertosoldier.org.
Angel and Jax A life-long service companion.
Shelter to Soldier is a gold participant of GuideStar and accredited by the Patriot’s Initiative. www. sheltertosoldier.org. They recently relocated their headquarters to the Pacific Pet Resort and Dog Training Center located at 2909 San Luis Rey Road in Oceanside, CA, to better serve the increasing number of veterans in need of their services. To learn more about veteran-support services provided by STS, call (855) 287-8659 for a confidential interview regarding eligibility.
HOMELAND / August 2018 15