|
Fostering-A-Pet
Our pet foster home program would not be
possible without our Guardian Angels, carefully screened, selected, and chosen
for the honor of caring for our Heroes' pets due to a deployment or an emergency
hardship. Thousands of pets each year are surrendered to shelters because
there was no other option and our mission is to provide a viable solution to
this terrible tragedy, so our Heroes won't feel so helpless. We could not
accomplish without you.
If you are blessed with the following
qualifications and want to give back, we need you:
1. A pure love of animals and clear
understanding of what is required to care for them;
2. An intrinsic need to help in some
way, support our military, and fulfill your own passion for animals;
3. An understanding that the pet you
love and care for will be reunited with its owner following a deployment or
emergency hardship;
4. The ability to honor the owner's
wishes regarding the routine of the pet;
5. All family members residing in your
home are united in providing this truly unselfish and voluntary act of
supporting our heroes.
There is no monetary compensation for
our Guardian Angels. Costs related to pet care such as food and medical is
normally covered by the owner and in some cases by GASP when funds are
available. Guardian Angels are needed for short term (up to 6 months) and
long term fostering (6 to 18 months). Pets come to you healthy with a
veterinarian issued health certificate and all current inoculations.
See our "Frequently Asked
Questions" shown below for additional information.
If you wish to be considered for
fostering a beloved pet for a Hero, please submit the information
as requested for at the following link:
"Foster Home
Caregiver Submission"
Receipt of a completed information document will be regarded as an expression of
interest, not a commitment or acceptance to serve as a foster home.
*********************************************************************************************
Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering
Even if I don't see my
state listed on your site, are foster homes needed in all states?
Yes we are always in need of potential foster homes in all states. The
actual location of a pet needing a foster home may be different from the
location/state where the pet is actually fostered.
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 term. Emergency hardship situations where a foster home is
needed can range from 1 month to 12 months.
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 5 business days (most time sooner) to discuss your
application and your desire to foster a deploying military service member's pet
or pets.
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 60+ lbs, 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 with supervision 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 placed in your home. In most cases
the pet 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 who establishes a
billing account with your veterinarian in advance of the
pet being placed in 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?
Yes in fact we have 2 types of written agreements involved.
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 3 business days to assist you.
If you need to speak with us sooner please
call (501) 760-3875 for assistance.
| 
