PET FOSTER CARE OFFERS DEPLOYING SOLDIERS SOME PEACE OF MIND

[Regina D.-PBP Event Admin]

What is peace of mind? It is the absence of mental stress or anxiety, and the presence of serenity, calm, quiet, comfort of mind. It is a state of mind that greatly benefits Soldiers.

The Pet Brigade offers more to Soldiers than just grooming, boarding and day care. The on-post pet-care facility offers a sense of calm — at least in regard to Soldiers’ pets.

The Pet Brigade, Fort Lewis’ privately owned dog and cat boarding facility, helps deploying Soldiers find foster families to care for their pets during deployments.

“We try our best to provide Soldiers peace of mind while they are gone. Soldiers have many things going on in their lives during a deployment, so the more we can do to take some of this pressure off, the better,” said Desiree Kennedy, The Pet Brigade facility manager.

Choosing foster care rather than traditional boarding — or being forced to give up their pets — benefits Soldiers emotionally, as well as financially.

“Our goal for the foster program is to provide a safe, loving environment for Soldiers’ pets when they are deployed,” Kennedy said.

“The Pet Brigade tries to work with the military as much as possible. There’s no other kennel that understands the their special needs like we do,” said Regis Jackson, co-owner of The Pet Brigade. “When we foster, we lose money, but we would rather lose money and be able to tell clients that it’s all about your dogs.”

The staff at The Pet Brigade has developed the program considering what would be best for Soldiers and pets.

“We don’t board longterm, because dogs become institutionalized after approximately two months,” Jackson said. “(The dogs) need the caring, affection and camaraderie that comes with a household environment.

“The goal of the program is to make both the dogs and the Soldiers happy with the situation,” said Jackson. “It’s a holistic approach to care for their dogs, mentally, physically, and emotionally.”

When Soldiers are in need of foster families for their dogs, their first step should be to contact The Pet Brigade. At least two months’ notice prior to deployment is recommended to allow time to find foster families.

The dog owner should write up a short biography of the pet. This should include a description of the pet’s personality, whether or not it gets along with other animals and children, a photograph and a description of any special needs.

The biography is then posted in the Pet Brigade’s office, and the Pet Brigade staff starts contacting families who have expressed an interest in fostering pets, to facilitate a match.

Jackson suggests that Soldiers interview potential foster families to find the right match for their dogs.

They should try to find foster families with similar philosophies about training and caring for pets, so that when the Soldiers’ return, the dogs will not have to re-learn rules, Jackson added.

Once foster families are chosen, Jackson recommends that the Soldier and foster family agree on a contract to protect both parties. The contract should cover the length of time the Soldier expects to be gone, how to handle expenses, and state that the dog will be returned when the Soldier arrives home.

“It’s important for Soldiers to know that when they get back from deployment, they will be able to pick up the relationships they had with their dogs,” Jackson said.

Dogs have no real concept of time, so it’s not a matter of the dog forgetting its owner, Jackson said. An owner could leave a dog for a year and when he returns the dog will remember him, as though it was only a day, Jackson said. It’s a matter of quality of life, both for owners and pets, he said.

In addition to helping find foster homes for dogs, the pet brigade will also assist in finding homes for other pets.

“The foster program does apply to cats and all animals,” Kennedy said.

“I do not feel there are enough families available to foster pets,” said Kennedy. “We definitely encourage any families interested in offering this service to contact us.

“There are several dogs currently looking for temporary homes, and you never know which might be the perfect fit for you,” she said.

If you are a Soldier in need of a foster home for your pet, or are interested in providing foster care for a Soldier’s pet, contact The Pet Brigade at 912-4898, or online at www.ThePetBrigade.com.