Military pet fostering nonprofit sees surge in requests amid Middle East deployments

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) -A nonprofit organization is helping service members find safe temporary homes for their pets as deployment requests increase amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Pact for Animals, a nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans who are deployed or going through medical treatment, has seen requests for pet foster homes double since the conflict started in Iran, according to the organization.

“And now, we’re seeing a lot of increased deployments to the Middle East,” said Gisele Fetterman, development director for Pact for Animals. “So, our requests have been, you know, really increased from everywhere. So, we want to ensure that we have that foster base ready to go.”

The Associated Press reports at least a thousand more troops are set to deploy in the coming days.

Georgia ranks high for requests

Georgia is the fourth most requested state that uses the free pet fostering service.

“And Georgia is a big military state,” Fetterman said. “So, we get a lot of requests, not only of folks being deployed, but also veterans that are now seeking mental health support, PTSD treatment, and more.”

The nonprofit was started years ago after the founder witnessed a service member’s difficult goodbye.

“He witnessed a gentleman having a very tearful goodbye to his dog, and he was about to surrender his dog to the shelter,” Fetterman said. “He befriended him and learned that he was being deployed and was leaving his dog because he had no one to watch him.”

Vetting process ensures safety

Pact for Animals aims to create successful matches between service members and fosters so military personnel don’t have to worry about their pets while they are gone.

“We do reference checks. We do virtual home visits,” Fetterman said. “If they own a pet, we get in touch with their vet to make sure that they’ve been a great pet owner and they’ve vaccinated their pets and have taken care of them.”

The organization also conducts weekly at-home video check-ins and conversations with the foster’s veterinarian.

Fetterman said it is important that services on both ends of the fostering arrangement are free.

“It’s really beautiful. And, you know, a lot of places like foster, placing a pet in boarding for that long is really not healthy for the pet,” Fetterman said. “Also, it’s very expensive. A lot of military members can’t afford that.”

Deployments can last years, requiring a significant commitment from foster families.

“Those are our favorite videos are the reunions,” Fetterman said. “So, a lot of deployments can last up to two years. So, when you’re fostering a deployed pet, that’s about a two year commitment, which is really incredible and generous and loving. And after being away from your pet for that long, there is a minute of like, am I really experiencing this.”

One service member who used the nonprofit to foster her cats said on Facebook that she was worried about leaving her cats with someone, but her foster was excellent and she was happy with her and Pact.

Link to become a foster: Operation Foster / PACT Foster Home Application

Link if you need your pet fostered: Operation Foster / PACT Fostering Pet Applications