FAQs

Q:  Who are we?

A: “Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet” is an all-volunteer, 501c3 nonprofit organization that supports our troops involved in the global war on terrorism by ensuring that the service members does not have to relinquish their pets in order to serve our country during a deployment or hardship situation.  They can serve with peace of mind that their pets are being cared for by a loving and responsible foster family.   The founders and the volunteers ardently feel that this is too great a sacrifice to be made by those ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Q:  What is Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet’s mission?

A:The mission is to support our military, veterans and their beloved pets, to ensure the pets are reunited with their owners following a deployment to fight the global war on terrorism (in combat,  peace-keeping or humanitarian missions) or an unforeseen emergency hardship impacting their ability to retain their pet ownership rights.

Q:  How is Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet different from a rescue/shelter group?

A:  Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet reunites the pet(s) with the military service member upon his/her return from deployment or resolution of a hardship situation.  The ownership rights of the service member are preserved by the pet’s or pets’ temporary placement with volunteer families who agree to relinquish the fostered pet(s) back to the service member.  With shelter or rescue groups, the service member must surrender all ownership rights to their beloved pet(s) for adoption.  Often times, the service member will never learn the fate of the pet(s) that have been surrendered to rescue/shelter groups.  With Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, the service member and foster family can be in contact, as deployed conditions will allow; and, the service member maintains financial responsibility and ownership of the pet(s) throughout the duration of the foster term.

Q:  How do we accomplish our mission?

A:Through programs we have established, such as Home Foster Programand  Military Pet Assistance Programplus major projects such as Military and Veterans Pet (MVP) Sanctuary. The organization is continually expanding programs as they see new needs.

Q:  How does the organization accomplish its goals?

A:1) By establishing a network of foster homes, consisting of individuals and families interested in opening their homes to these pets. 2) Establishment of our National and State Management Teams. 3) Contributions from direct public support (monetary and in-kind donations) and in-direct public support (through Mission Fish and Network for Good).

Donating
 

Q:  How do I make a donation to Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet?

A: Visit our "Contribute" page or click on “Donate” (right-hand sidebar).  Donations can be made on line with a credit card or Pay Pal account, or by sending a check or money order to our address provided on that page.

Q:  Is my donation tax deductible?

A: Donations to "Guardian Angels For Soldier's Pet" are deductible as allowed under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code (Federal Tax ID: 20-2229425).  Donations to our Minnesota Chapter 32 are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the Internal Revenue Code (Group Exemption Letter #5352).  Please contact your tax advisor to see how these deductions may apply to you.

Q:  How is my donation used?

A: The allocation of donations can be found on the "Contribute" page.  You may make a general contribution to our organization or earmark your donations for one of our programs.

Submitting a Pet
 

Q:  What conditions qualify to submit my pet(s) for fostering by a volunteer with Guardian Angel for Soldier’s Pet?

A: Most pets are accepted for fostering due to an expected deployment of your unit.  Where resources are available we will attempt to assist with fostering due to emergency situations (such as medical health issues) while the solider is resolving the situation.

Q:  How long are pets fostered by the volunteer families?

A:Foster terms involving a deployment average 8 to 13 months – depending on your branch of service.  In unforeseen emergency situations foster terms can average 3 to 9 months depending on the situation.

Q:  Will the foster home be located in my home base area?

A:We try to keep travel to a minimum and place your pet(s) with a family as close to your area as possible.  However, various considerations factor into this decision, including availability of foster families and a good match between your pet(s) and the foster household. Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet wants the experience to be a positive for you, your pet(s) and the selected foster family.

Q:  How do I start the process to have my pet fostered through Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet?

A:Click on the Submit a Petlink and choose the appropriate form(s) for your pet(s) – one submission per pet. 

Q:  How far in advance do I submit my application?

A:When possible, we request that you submit the form(s) 30 to 60 days prior to the date a foster home is needed. This allows us to find the best fit for your pet(s) with the appropriate foster home and establish the care plan with the host’s veterinarian.