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Can you imagine having to leave your furry best friend or even take him to an animal shelter because you have to move away?  If you are like me, you would be mentally assuring yourself right now that, THAT would NEVER happen!!  In most instances, I would almost rather be homeless than dog-less or take my pets to a shelter!

But, what about our military personnel?  What happens when they get orders to leave the country to defend our freedoms overseas?  Some people are callous and say that individuals in the military shouldn’t own pets, especially single adults with no family to care for their pets.  But what about divorced service members that once had an infrastructure to care for that animal?

I can definitely understand the necessity of sharing your life with a pet. I also understand that everyone’s conditions are unique and should be evaluated individually before undertaking the enormous responsibility of an animal.

Animals are not disposable!  Unfortunately we live in a world of disposable animals, and there are too many animals for good homes.  I often wish pets were like diamonds, a resource that is treated like a treasure and not like garbage.  Pet ownership should only be entered into as a lifetime commitment!  But, often our military is willing to devote themselves to a lifetime of pet ownership.

Unfortunately, sometimes duty calls and our service men and women are called to duty overseas, and although they do not want to leave their pets, they are forced to do so.  So what happens to their pets?  Hopefully they have family or friends available to take care of them.  But what if they have no resources to care for their furry family?  Often their pets are relinquished to animal shelters and rescues, where some are adopted back out, but some are simply euthanized due to lack of space.  These are not animals with behavior problems or animals that are unloved!  Either way, their once loving owner will probably never see them again.

There are organizations that have recently popped up throughout the country that offer to foster dogs and cats and other animals that belong to service members!

I know and love dozens of members of the military, and I can’t imagine the stress and sadness losing an animal compounded by the stress of going to war must have on their mental stability.  Those who fight for our freedoms and our families everyday deserve some grace and gratitude.  On a personal note, my boyfriend’s Golden Retriever, a much loved family pet was euthanized while he was at sea serving our country!  He is still devastated because there was nothing he could do about the irresponsibility of the person he trusted to care for his pet, and did not even find out until it was too late.   This is a tragedy that can be avoided!

If you have just lost an animal, or if you have any spare room in your home I challenge you to open your heart and your home to the loving

pet of a service member until they return home and can be reunited.  Can you imagine having to leave your pet?  Can you imagine the gratitude you would feel for someone who volunteered themselves and their family to care for your family member?  There are dogs to foster and cats, and iguanas, birds, ferrets, rabbits just about any type of pet you can imagine.

I am going to provide a few links to some national organizations that you can research, but you can also do a web search or contact your local military base and extend a hand of love to our service members.  You don’t even need an organization to help you institute this gift of love!  But, make a plan and come up with a contract, the American Humane Associate has good guidelines here http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals/adoption-pet-care/issues-information/fostering-military-pets/

and if you would simply like to contribute or find an organization and become a foster home click on one of the links below!

http://guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org/

http://www.netpets.org/

http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=353644087482

Think about it, talk about it as a family, and please, please, please, give back if you can!!

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One response to “Supporting Our Troops and Their Furry Family!”

1. marnie jennings writes:
   

   i would be very interested, having fostered many many anilmals over the years. i live in Vancouver Canada so I am not sure if you aallow loving willing homes out of your country.please reply. thank you.
   Marnie

   [Reply]

   @ January 19th, 2011 at 01:57

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