I saw a news article yesterday about two reservists, husband and wife, who are having to leave their children behind with grandparents because they have been called to active duty. Snit happens, and that's a part we don't often think of but can understand.
However, how many of you have thought of the fact that both married and unmarried soldiers have pets -- cats, dogs, birds -- that are having to be left behind? Pets don't ask to be born, and as a consequence I feel we owe them a chance to live in relative security and comfort. But no soldier can afford to board an animal for two years -- not at $15 to $35 a day, and no one wants his/her pet to be a prisoner in a cage for a number of years. What options are left? Turn the animal loose to fend for itself? Euthenasia? Find a new owner who might also be shipped out, or about whom you know little or nothing? I will admit I hadn't thought about this aspect of war, and I'm a pet owner and even work when I can with a pet recue group. Luckily, I have a friend who does think such things are important and who found out about options for those pets left behind. If you care, or know of someone who might, please act upon or share the information she sent to me: ----- Forwarded message begin ----- How about helping spread the word about Operation Noble Foster (pets) to help the people fighting for our country: NetPets Foster http://www.netpets.org/netp/foster.php Better yet, maybe sign up as a foster for a pet or two?? Maybe we can help do something to help our military people keep their animals. Many are having to leave their pets behind as they deploy for the Middle East. Yes, they should have thought all this over long ago, but many need help now. ------ Forwarded message end ------ If you're from outside the USA, but likely to have people from your home country facing the same types of problems when it comes to beloved pets, consider seeing what needs to be done to set up something similar. I'm sure the people at NetPets.Org, and other links on their site, would be glad to help you as much as they can. Thanks for bearing with my OT post[s] l.d. P.S. Before anyone starts to get up in the air about caring more for pets than kids... Please be aware that (unless things have changed drastically) single parents and married couples with children -- who are active duty or reservists subject to being called to active duty -- are required to provide the military with "letters" or other documents from someone who is "on standby" to assume guardianship of minor children in the case of overseas deployment to a "non-accompanied" assignment, whether in a war zone or other special duties. Those persons who cannot provide such care for their children are given discharges [type dependent upon circumstances]. I am certain that if someone lied about being able to have their children properly cared for during an unaccompanied assignment would face more than just discharge ... the U.S. military has been very pro-active on the welfare of dependent children for decades now. -- Arachne V1.71;UE01, NON-COMMERCIAL copy, http://arachne.cz/
