Looking out for Fido
Caring for service members’ dogs helps those defending the nation
Would you like to have a meaningful way to thank our men and women in uniform, something that goes beyond a perfunctory “Thank you for your service”? Consider volunteering to provide a foster home for dogs while their owners are on deployment.
When their duties have them living here in the Hampton Roads area, service members usually try to live as normal a life as possible. Most of them enjoy a life outside of work that’s much like that of their civilian neighbors.
For many, that life includes a dog.
When a deployment looms, dog owners who are single and couples who both serve can find it tough to find and afford a good home for their dog for a lengthy stay. Boarding costs can soar to thousands of dollars if the deployment lasts several months. The average length of a Navy ship’s deployment is six months — if nothing unexpected happens.
But world events can quickly result in a deployment that extends longer than anticipated. A case in point is the Norfolkbased USS Gerald Ford strike group. Those ships and the troops on board were due back in November, but when the Middle East conflict erupted, they were ordered to extend their deployment.
In today’s volatile world, it’s also not uncommon for someone who is stationed here now to be unexpectedly deployed with only a few days’ notice. Service members may have little time to make arrangements before shipping out. Sometimes, they see no alternative but to surrender their beloved dog to a shelter. Worry about the future of a cherished pet only adds to the stress of leaving home.
Alisa Johnson knows the problem first hand. She was in the Marines and her husband in the Navy when they learned that deployment and training schedules would have them away from home at the same time, leaving no one to care for their dog. They were fortunate to have family nearby who were willing to help, but Johnson realized many others have nowhere to turn.
That experience led her to launch Dogs for Deployment to help other military dog owners. The national nonprofit group recruits volunteers to take in dogs while their owners are gone.
The group screens prospective participants and keeps a database of dog owners and of volunteers willing to board dogs for free. It’s up to the owners to connect with a volunteer. Owners are responsible only for the cost of food and veterinary care.
Contractors working with the military, veterans receiving inpatient treatment and those at the Federal Bureau of Investigation Academy also are eligible.
In late November, the network had 47 volunteers within 50 miles of Norfolk, and needed temporary homes for three more dogs. Since the program started, Dogs on Deployment has made it possible for nearly 1,000 dogs nationwide — more than 400 in Virginia — to board with volunteers.
The Johnsons, those who work with Dogs on Deployment and the volunteers who step up are helping the men and women in uniform who own dogs. They are helping the dogs, and they are also helping our already overcrowded animal shelters.
More help is needed. The Middle East crisis already has prompted larger deployments for uncertain stretches of time, making the need for volunteers even greater than usual.
If you’re a dog lover and are able, check out the website at dogsondeployment.org and learn how to get involved. If you want to help but can’t take a dog for an extended stay, consider a donation.
Helping Dogs on Deployment is a practical way to thank our men and women in uniform for their service. It makes their load a bit lighter while also helping their pets.
It’s heartening to see neighbors helping neighbors. Dogs on Deployment offers a hopeful sign that yes, maybe we can get along despite society’s bitter divisions. Maybe dogs, with their unconditional love, have a lesson or two for us.