Giving back: Dogs on Deployment benefits military and pets

     Pets are like family for a majority of Americans. We take them on vacation with us, we let them sleep with us, some of us even buy them clothes.

     That is why it is heartbreaking to think we would ever have to give them up. But for military service members, that is the only option once they receive orders to go to a new location. Some military personnel do not have the means to leave their dogs, cats, birds or guinea pigs with family or friends until they return or can have them shipped to the new base location. This lack of options often leads to a pet being surrendered to a shelter and leaves an owner heartbroken.

     Dogs on Deployment is an organization that was formed to keep military pet owners with their beloved. This program was designed to pair foster parents with service members who need their pet taken care of while they are on deployment or relocation. Fosters are needed for all kinds of pets, not just dogs, and for all lengths of time. Dogs on Deployment is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit promoting responsible, lifelong pet ownership by providing resources, advocacy and education for military pet owners.

     Some fosters only keep a pet for a week or maybe a month, while others might keep a pet for up to a year or longer. It all depends on the service member’s orders from the military. Dogs on Deployment serves all branches of the military. Volunteers are always needed for fundraising events and as foster parents.

     You even can choose what type of pet you want to foster. Organizers help you determine which pet best fits in with your family, lifestyle and existing pets in the home. For example, say you have two Dobermans in your home and you want to foster a Doberman. You also are a very active family with three children. Dogs on Deployment will match the right Doberman with the right temperament so everyone in the house gets along nicely. If a breed isn’t available but you are willing to foster another breed, the program matches you with what works best for you and for the dog. Some dogs might do better with big dogs while others might need to be the only pet in the home.

 As stated earlier, all kinds of pets are in this program. Are you a cat lover? Great! Dogs on Deployment has plenty of cats for you to choose from to foster.

     Military personnel serve our country and sacrifice a lot to keep us safe. The least we could do for them is to give their pets a loving home while they are away and give the owners a peace of mind knowing they will be reunited with their “family” when they return.

     For more information about this program, visit dogsondeployment.com.