Americans today have a very special relationship with their canine companions. They experience these animals on multiple levels ranging from family members to working companions for the home or in some cases detecting specific items such as drugs, contraband or weapons. Armed forces personnel are not exempt from being part of the dog loving society. They experience their canine companions as beloved pets that need care while their masters are overseas and many of them encounter the working canines in combat zones. Housing for military dogs in South California is especially important to both types of dog and their owners.
When unmarried military personnel receive orders of deployment finding a safe temporary home for their pet dog is imperative. Many are forced to give up the animal because they have no place to keep them and are faced with the possibility of the dog being put down because of this problem. Boarding the dog indefinitely is not an option because there is no way to know how long they will be gone and the cost is prohibitive.
The answer to this dilemma comes in the form of agencies that help to arrange fostering for the dog while the owner is out of the country serving in the armed forces. These agencies create internet bulletin boards for those who are able and willing to offer fostering and those in need of a foster family for their dog. The foster homes available are prepared for a long term obligation and most communicate with the soldiers regarding the well being and activities of their animal.
Many of the agencies are locally owned while others have national coverage and some are affiliated with the military for funding and cater specifically to soldiers who have been sent to combat areas. The canine troops that are found in those combat zones are in need of homes when they retire from service with the troops.
Canines have been trained for use in combat zones officially since the second World War and typically when their usefulness ended they were abandoned in whatever country they were in or euthanized. Their duties included searching for explosives hidden in the ground, finding weapons caches and protecting their handlers from attack.
Agencies have been petitioning the armed forces to return these animals to the United States after they have served their country so well. If a soldier chose to bring his dog home with him for adoption the cost to him was well over fifteen hundred dollars. The government has since begun transporting them home at no cost to those adopting them.
Many people feel that these animals deserve to live the final years of their lives in loving comfortable atmospheres. Adoption applications are numerous and there is currently at least a six month wait before an dog is available. The new owners are apprised that some additional training will be necessary while they make the transformation from working dog to pets.
Finding foster homes for the pets of soldiers deployed to combat and finding adoptive homes for our returning canine troops has become a calling for many agencies in this country. Tending to these brave animals and caring for the needs of the dog you have raised from a puppy is a perfect example of the integrity this country was built on.
When unmarried military personnel receive orders of deployment finding a safe temporary home for their pet dog is imperative. Many are forced to give up the animal because they have no place to keep them and are faced with the possibility of the dog being put down because of this problem. Boarding the dog indefinitely is not an option because there is no way to know how long they will be gone and the cost is prohibitive.
The answer to this dilemma comes in the form of agencies that help to arrange fostering for the dog while the owner is out of the country serving in the armed forces. These agencies create internet bulletin boards for those who are able and willing to offer fostering and those in need of a foster family for their dog. The foster homes available are prepared for a long term obligation and most communicate with the soldiers regarding the well being and activities of their animal.
Many of the agencies are locally owned while others have national coverage and some are affiliated with the military for funding and cater specifically to soldiers who have been sent to combat areas. The canine troops that are found in those combat zones are in need of homes when they retire from service with the troops.
Canines have been trained for use in combat zones officially since the second World War and typically when their usefulness ended they were abandoned in whatever country they were in or euthanized. Their duties included searching for explosives hidden in the ground, finding weapons caches and protecting their handlers from attack.
Agencies have been petitioning the armed forces to return these animals to the United States after they have served their country so well. If a soldier chose to bring his dog home with him for adoption the cost to him was well over fifteen hundred dollars. The government has since begun transporting them home at no cost to those adopting them.
Many people feel that these animals deserve to live the final years of their lives in loving comfortable atmospheres. Adoption applications are numerous and there is currently at least a six month wait before an dog is available. The new owners are apprised that some additional training will be necessary while they make the transformation from working dog to pets.
Finding foster homes for the pets of soldiers deployed to combat and finding adoptive homes for our returning canine troops has become a calling for many agencies in this country. Tending to these brave animals and caring for the needs of the dog you have raised from a puppy is a perfect example of the integrity this country was built on.
No comments:
Post a Comment