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Check out the latest news about our organization across the country - In The News Our Mission:Supporting our
military service members, veterans, and their beloved pets to ensure the pets are
reunited with their owners
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"Fostering A Deploying a Military Service Member's Pet or Pets" Fostering a pet or pets for a military service member preparing to deploy outside the continental United States is another way for us here at home to "Support our Troops" by opening our homes to care for a pet or pets of a military service member deploying and has been unable to locate a caring, loving, and safe environment for their beloved furry companion or companions. Prior to Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet, the military service member if unable to find a friend or family member to care for the pet had few options left to them, which mainly left them with only one option and that was turning the pet or pets over to a Humane Society Shelter, Animal Shelter, or a local Rescue Group. This usually means that the military service member has to relinquish their ownership and the beloved pet or pets would not be waiting for their safe return home from deployment, unless the shelter has possible fosters willing to care for the pet for him/her. Being a "Guardian Angel" (Foster Home Caregiver) for a military service member's beloved pet or pets requires the love of animals that so many of us have and a desire to help "Support our Troops", no matter what an individual's personal opinion is about our government's involvement outside our shores or the war on terror. See our "Frequently Asked Questions" shown below for additional information. If you would be interested in opening your home to these beautiful "kids" by becoming a potential "Guardian Angel" for Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet, please submit the information as requested for at the following link: "Foster Home Caregiver Application"
Applications submitted by residents of Minnesota or Mississippi will be
forwarded to
Applications submitted by residents of other states (including AR) will be
handled and maintained out of
All
applicants will be assessed Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering How long would the pet or pets need to fostered? 6 months to 24 months depending on the military service member's branch of service and their deployment tour. What if I am unable to foster a pet for 6 months to 24 months, can I become a "Short Term Guardian Angel" for Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet until a "Guardian Angel" can be found to fulfill the full time? Yes you can still submit your information via our "Foster Home Caregiver Application" and let us know of your wishes by providing this information in the "Other Pertinent Information" section at the end of the application. We are hoping to expand our foster home caregiver program/service to our veterans who have a pet that may need a temporary caring, loving, and safe environment due to be hospitalized for tests. As a Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet "Guardian Angel" what am I required to do? There are basically three things: (1) opening your home to the pet or pets; (2) ensure that the pet or pets under your care remain in a caring, loving, healthy, and safe environment; and (3) relinquish the pet back to its rightful owner when he/she returns safely home from deployment. Am I obligated to foster a military service member's pet or pets by submitting the "Foster Home Caregiver Application? No you are not obligated at the time of submitting the application. Following receipt of your submission of the application, you will be contacted within 3 business days (most time sooner) to discuss your application and your desire to foster a deploying military service member's pet or pets. If you are located in the state of Arkansas, Minnesota, or Mississippi, arrangements will be made for a Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet "Foster Home Interviewer" to visit you at your home to go over your application and answer additional questions that you may have. If you are a resident in a state other than mentioned above you will be contacted by phone to discuss the application with you. What type of dogs do military service members have? Military service members dogs are of medium to large in size, breeds may be Shepherd, Lab, Collie, or a mix breed, weighing between 35lbs to 60lbs, and in most cases rescued themselves through an animal shelter or rescue group. The dogs are usually inside pets but will require a fenced-in yard or have a regular walking/exercise schedule. What type of cats do military service members have? Military service members cats are usually small to medium in size, mixed breeds, may or may not be declawed, with an average weight of 8 - 20 lbs. They are usually inside pets and taken in by the military service member from an animal shelter or a rescue group. Are these pets spayed/neutered and current on shots? Yes the pets must be spayed/neutered and current on shots before they are brought to the "Guardian Angel". The military service member is required to provide a copy of the pet or pets veterinarian records (including shot records) and name/address/phone number of the pet's current veterinarian, so the veterinarian where the pet will be registered during foster will have complete records about the pet or pets. If the pet has not been spayed/neutered, we request the military service member have the pet or pets spayed/neutered before the pet or pets is placed in a foster home. The cost for this will be the responsibility of the pet/pets owner. Will I be responsible for costs related to the caring of the pet? Pet related expenses are negotiated between the pet owner, foster home caregiver, and Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet prior to the pet being brought to your home. In most cases the pet/pets owner will cover related costs (food, grooming, medical when needed). Foster home caregivers currently fostering a military service member pet or pets through our program have covered the cost of food for the pet or pets, which can be tax deductible on your tax return as an "In-Kind Donation" which will be discussed with you by our organization. Possible medical and grooming related expenses are usually covered by pet owner by establishing a billing account with the Foster Home Caregiver's veterinarian in advance of the pet being brought to your home. In addition, Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet has established a "Pet Related Cost" reserve fund that contains donations from the general public to assist with these costs where possible. What happens if during the fostering time something happens beyond my control that I would no longer be able to foster the pet or pets? You would contact Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet and we would begin making arrangements to move the pet or pets to another "Guardian Angel". We recognize that though we hope that the pet or pets will remain in the same home during the military service member's deployment, that things will happen such as the "Guardian Angel" becomes ill, may have to move to another state, may need to move to another location where either their is a "No Pets" rule or conditions would be different that would not allow the pet or pets to remain in a healthy and safe environment. This possible matter will be discussed in more detail prior to your agreement to foster a military service member's pet or pets.
Will there be a written
agreement between the pet owner, Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet, and myself? One written agreements pertains to when the military service members' beloved pet or pets is fostered with a GASP approved "Guardian Angel" located in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Mississippi, which is signed by all 3 parties involved (pet owner or authorized representative, foster home caregiver, and a Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet authorized representative). The second is for a military service member and a "Guardian Angel" where Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet has assisted in bringing the military service member and foster home caregiver together, but will not be able to monitor the foster home during the foster time because the pet is being fostered in a state where we do not have a GASP "Affiliated" Chapter. The military service member and foster home caregiver would complete the agreement with the specifics of the fostering, sign the agreement, and forward a copy of the signed document to Guardian Angel's For Soldier's Pet national office in Arkansas to the address appearing on the written agreement. Both written agreements were created based on the Humane Society of the United States recommendations about having a written agreement between the parties involved with the fostering arrangements and the needs of Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet and all other parties involved. Sample "Military Service Member/Foster Home Caregiver/Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet" written agreement for your viewing is available HERE Sample "Military Service Member/Foster Home Caregiver" written agreement for your viewing is available HERE If you have a question or need for additional information that may not appear on this page, please email us at info@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org or fostering@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org and we will get back to you within 36 hours to assist you. |
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Copyright © 2005-2008 Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet
and Affiliated Chapters
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