May 06 2009
Making Arrangements for a Military Dog
Deployment or extended training sessions are common place as a member of the armed forces. Sometimes this can be a planned occurrence while other times it can come at completely unexpected times. Some deployments last only a few weeks for training while others can last over a year for overseas deployment. Regardless of the length of the stay, arrangements must be made for the service member’s pets. Sometimes arrangements can not be made in time and these poor pets end up in shelters as their owners’ prepare to travel abroad to serve our country. This unfortunate reality can be changed if military members make arrangements ahead of time to ensure there pets will have a place to go in case of an unexpected deployment.
The first step in securing care is searching for a caregiver. If the service-person in question knows a dog-loving friend or family member that can often be the perfect situation. If the travel time is short the owner might even be able to convince a friend or family member to stay at their home while they are away. This is ideal because the dog will do better when kept as close to his current routine and surroundings as possible. Of course if the deployment period is unknown or lengthy, the friend or family member will have to take Fido into their own home. Make sure that the potential caretaker is aware of the uncertainty of the timing and that the situation could be long-term.
If friends and family are not an option there are resources that can help. The Web-based organization Military Pets Foster Project at www.netpets.org is a worldwide network of volunteers who provide foster homes for deployed service member’s pets. A similar group Operation Noble Foster at www.operationnoblefoster.org finds temporary homes for cats of service members. Another option is your local Humane Society as they often have foster care programs for a variety of situations.
Once you have decided on a caretaker all appropriate details should be discussed and put on paper in some form of a contract. While these might seem too formal and unnecessary it can protect your rights as the pet’s owner and spell out all of the important financial details regarding future care thus protecting the foster family. All of this should be worked out in advance to avoid last minute scrambling. The contract is three-fold and outlines your rights and responsibilities, the foster home’s responsibilities and pertinent information about the pet in question.
The first section should provide proof that the service member is the rightful owner of the pet and that the pet will be returned upon completion of the deployment. It should also outline that as the rightful owner the service member is liable for any damage or harm caused to property or persons. While it may seem unthinkable in the case of a long deployment the foster family might grow attached to the dog or cat and want to keep it. It is best to put ownership in writing to avoid any possible disputes. This section of the contract should also outline what costs the service member is responsible for. Any monies needed to provide food, toys or Veterinary care should be agreed upon and put into writing.
The next section should cover the responsibilities of the foster home. The length of the deployment should be included along with any specific care requirements as decided upon by both parties. Will the dog be kept inside? Will he be taken to the Veterinarian promptly? All of these details should be in writing to ensure that the foster family is aware of the type of care expected. They should know what they are responsible for and be aware of the time and commitment level involved.
The third section of the contract should contain specific information about the dog or cat in question. Basic information such as breed, age, weight and temperament should be provided. In addition there should be a detailed food schedule containing feeding time, food brand and food amounts. Any medications the pet is taking should be included with dosage, drug name and frequency indicated. Emergency contacts, Veterinary contact information and other valuable care instructions should also be included.
Always remember that a good contract will protect the relationship between both parties in the long-term. If all of the details are included and planned in advance of deployment; the process will go much smoother than if planned at the last minute. Careful planning and attention to detail will also help to prevent the senseless loss of military member pets crowding local shelters and ensure that the soldier has a loving pet to return home to.
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