Group Supports Troops by Caring for Pets During Deployment

Leaving behind pets is just one of the many sacrifices members of the military have to make when they are deployed overseas. In the grand scheme of things, what to do about one’s canine companion may seem like a minor detail, but for some servicemen and servicewomen it is one of the more agonizing challenges they must face. Those who can’t put their pet up with family or friends are often left with only one option: surrendering the animal to a shelter.

That is exactly the situation that Dixon native Stephanie Haase-Taylor doesn’t want any soldier to face. As the California state director of the Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet Program, Haase-Taylor works to connect foster volunteers with members of the military who need someone to take care of their pet during deployment. The organization is a nationwide nonprofit that offers its services for free to troops in all branches of the military.

In California there are 200 foster home volunteers, about 20 of whom are currently watching pets. Participation in the Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet program skews toward Southern California. That’s one reason Haase-Taylor is now seeking to expand in Dixon and in the greater Solano County region so the organization can better serve troops based out of Travis Air Force Base and other regional military bases.

Soldiers and volunteers have to go through a matching process to make sure they can get along with the animal and provide the necessary amount of love and attention. If she can’t find a foster volunteer, Haase-Taylor will often take the pet under her own wing.

For some pets, adjusting to a foster home is a piece of cake. For others it’s a more difficult process.

“We’ve had some issues with the bully dogs, because they’re smart -- real smart. They don’t warm up as quickly. They wonder why they’re here,” Haase-Taylor said.

That was the case with Athena, a blue pitbull Haase-Taylor fostered earlier this year.

“I got her to my house and she was a hot mess,” Haase-Taylor said. “She didn’t know what was going on. She thought she was going to be beaten. She wouldn’t get near my roommate for months.”

Over the course of a few months, Athena finally warmed up to Haase-Taylor, getting comfortable enough to even sleep on her bed. “We treat those pets like they are our own,” she said.

Athena’s owner, Sykeshia Thurman, said Haase-Taylor and the other volunteers who watched her dogs were heroes to her.

“I know a lot of people who have given up their pets over to shelters. That’s a no-go; that’s not gonna happen with me,” she said. “My dogs are my family.”

Thurman, an officer in the U.S. Navy, said normally she would leave her dogs with her boyfriend. That was not an option on her most recent deployment, however, because he was deployed at the same time.

“Not everybody is willing to open their house and take somebody else’s dog,” Thurman said. “To me, they saved my family. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have been able to keep my family.”

The program is open to all spayed or neutered pets -- dogs, cats, reptiles, horses, even goats -- as long as a willing home can be found.

It’s completely free, although soldiers typically provide a small amount of money for pet food and other necessities. They also leave a credit card on file in case of emergencies. The foster volunteers often develop a close connection with their soldiers, sending periodic updates and photos by e-mail.

Volunteers like Michelle Hendricks of Rocklin say its a fulfilling experience. An animal lover who didn’t want to send cookies or socks in a care package, Hendricks said fostering Jack, a bull-terrier, was a gratifying way to support the troops.

“It makes you feel like you’re actually contributing,” she said.

Hendricks advised potential volunteers to be aware of a few things.

“It’s important to understand that you’re watching someone’s family member,” she said. “You want to go into it knowing you’re making a huge commitment.”

It’s not enough to simply throw food and water at a dog, she said. You have to take the time to learn about the breed and that specific dog’s temperament. You have to take the dog on at least one walk a day. But the payoff is worth it: “For anyone who loves animals and wants to help, it’s a very rewarding step,” Hendricks said.

Civilians interested in providing foster homes should visit www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org or contact Stephanie Haase-Taylor for more information via e-mail at staylor481@gmail.com