For nearly all his life, he’s known only rejection and isolation.  But “Charlie”, as the Schubach Aviation team has named him, is now on his way to becoming a certified service companion dog and the cherished wingman for a U.S. veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as he or she navigates the hardships of daily civilian life.

Schubach’s sponsorship will cover costs to specially train, house and feed Charlie, as well as pay for medical care, equipment, travel and grooming costs, as he goes through Shelter to Soldier’s three-step training program.

While selecting new enrollees for the nine- to 12-month program, Shelter to Soldier Founders Graham Bloem and Kyrie Baca saw potential in Charlie as a service companion dog based on his calm, relaxed demeanor and gentle disposition.  Charlie, a Wire Haired Terrier and Bulldog mix, had been found as a stray puppy in Chula Vista and taken to the Bonita location of the San Diego County Department of Animal Services, where for several months he was passed over for adoption. He was then transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, where it was hoped he would have a better chance of being adopted.  Despite Charlie’s good looks and charming personality, nobody wanted to adopt him.

“When Graham and Kyrie came to our facility in search of program candidates, I couldn’t have been more happy about their selection of Charlie,” said John Van Zante, director of public relations for Rancho Coastal Humane Society. “He is one of the sweetest, easiest guests we’ve cared for, and will make a wonderful companion for a veteran lucky enough to be matched with him.”

Recently, Schubach Aviation President Henry Schubach and his staff members got the chance to meet Charlie for the first time at the company’s Palomar Airport hangar.  He was a welcome guest among dog lovers who take pride in Schubach Aviation’s reputation as San Diego’s pet-friendly private charter service.

“Charlie is sweet and gentle, and has a special soul,” Bloem told Schubach Aviation staff members.  “He has settled in nicely with our dogs-in-training and our family and we are working on building his confidence.  We have determined that Charlie was likely abused in his early life, so we are working on desensitizing him to the objects and people he fears.  Within a couple of months, we’ll begin housing him at Fon-Jon Pet Care Center, one of our corporate partners in Pacific Beach, and continue working on his obedience training.”

Based on their diagnosis of PTSD, applicants for service dogs are carefully screened and selected by Shelter to Soldier’s board of directors to become recipients of the specially trained dogs that go through the organization’s program. The average cost to rescue a dog and put it through Shelter to Soldier’s training program before placing it with a veteran is $8,000 to $10,000.  The organization relies solely on donations from individuals and businesses to operate.

“The really great thing about Shelter to Soldier is that the dogs are being helped to overcome their past trauma as much as the veterans are being helped by the dogs to overcome theirs,” said Schubach.  “I’m sure they can relate to one another on a special level.  We feel really good about supporting an organization whose mission is to help save both dogs and veterans, two at a time.”

Schubach Aviation will be posting periodic updates on Charlie’s progress in the months ahead. You can also “Like” Schubach Aviation and Specialty Dog Training on Facebook.