Dog Tales: Meet Tommy & Moose

Moose is a 7-year-old pit bull mix and certified therapy dog on the Shelter to Soldier Canine Ambassadors therapy team. The STS Canine Ambassadors provide visits of love and comfort to local active duty military, veterans and their families. The goal of this team is to spread the joy that dogs bring to our lives to others in the community, particularly those of military backgrounds.

Shelter to Soldier originally adopted Moose from San Diego Department of Animal Services Bonita Shelter and trained and graduated him as a psychiatric service dog for a United States Marine Corps Veteran. Some personal circumstances in his veteran’s life changed, leaving his handler unable to care for and work with a psychiatric service dog. Moose was lovingly returned to our program in hopes of finding a job to help others.

Chief Petty Officer Thomas Moore (Tommy) and his wife, Shelter to Soldier Director of Training & Operations, Nicky Moore, adopted Moose and transitioned his training to therapy work knowing that Moose had so much love and service to provide. Tommy says of Moose,”Moose is my heart dog. Everyone in the world has one dog that was meant to be with them and Moose is mine.” Moose joins Tommy and Nicky in many community volunteer activities with Shelter to Soldier such as welcoming guests at Sunday home games as part of the San Diego Padres “Paw Squad”, providing visits to PTSD support groups at the Chula Vista Veterans Center, and supporting recruits on their way to bootcamp with the USO at San Diego International Airport, among others. Moose also goes to work with Tommy at the Naval base and Tommy shares “The impact he has on my guys at work is apparent as soon as he walks into the room. The entire mood shifts and people are just…happier. He brings so much joy to so many people.”

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LOVE, IT’S WHAT MAKES SUBARU, SUBARU.