Special Pet Programs for Veterans
With Veteran’s Day taking place yesterday, November 11, and the honor and love they deserve for fighting for our freedom and sacrificing their lives, many of them are left in limbo in trying to place their pets in homes. Many veterans or current military get relocated and placed in areas where pets are now allowed; therefore, this leaves them in a bind in either attempting to locate a foster or animal rescues. In some worst case scenarios, when they are desperate and can’t find suitable arrangements at all, these precious and beloved pets are sadly taken to animal control, where often they are put to sleep. ChicagoNow recently had a great blog post about a variety of pet programs that specifically aims to help veterans and active military with their pets. In April 2013, we featured one such program on our sister site, Pet Watchman called Dogs on Deployment, and that article can be viewed HERE.
Military Dog Rescue:
Save-A-Vet.org is a rescue group for those working dogs who put their lives on the line, much like our fellow soldiers. Yet, many of those dogs are euthanized or in limbo upon return from the battlefield. They work to provide rescue to adoptable dogs, make sanctuaries for those that are not. This group also provides housing for those disabled veterans caring for those dogs.
The Puppy Rescue Mission organization works to assist and fund-raise in pet rescue, fostering, and re-homing when needed, with focus being those pets of soldiers, with many being deployed in war zones.
Providing Service Dogs:
Pits for Patriots trains pitbulls to be service dogs and first responders to those in need. What a great organization to teach others that it’s not the breed, but the people that can make or break a pet. Yes, any pet can turn on you, and some have more inherent qualities than others. However, one has to respect and know boundaries with any pet, and vice-versa. Visit pitsforpatriots.org for more information.
This Able Veteran helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and mobility issues. The organization was founded by dog trainers who select and train the dogs. Visit thisableveteran.org for more details.
Rehab and therapy programs:
GuardiansofRescue.org help with the protection of well-being of all animals and to help those in distress, including military dogs and pets. In addition to Guardians of Rescue, they also facilitate Paws of War, which matches up a military pet with a veteran suffering from PTSD and other traumatic stress. They also offer Home Again: Operation Support Our Troops, which helps “returning service men and women in adopting a dog or cat from an animal shelter when they return home or bringing back a pet rescued during their deployment.”
Circle-of-change.org helps “veterans who suffer from the effects of traumatic events by providing both dog training and handling experiences in order to develop confidence, respect, and trust, thereby improving the veterans’ quality of life, self esteem and social skills.”
Pets-for-Vets.com is “dedicated to supporting veterans and providing a second chance for shelter pets by rescuing, training and pairing them with America’s veterans who could benefit from a companion animal.”
There are a variety of options to help those veterans who are looking to have a companion or to help them during their rehabilitation and therapy time. Or, if you’re not a veteran, and are a pet lover who are willing and able to foster a military pet or a pet of a military owner who is deployed or moving to a location where pets aren’t allowed.
Do you know other organizations that deserve an awesome shout-out for what they’re doing in regards to helping veterans? Let us know in the comment box below this post!
http://www.chicagonow.com/raining-cats-dogs/2013/11/veterans-day-9-special-pet-programs-for-veterans-and-active-military/