Operation Foster keeps military personnel, veterans connected with their pets during deployment, long-term medical care

The impact of military deployments on Iowa National Guard families is often seen in heart-wrenching videos of loved ones tearfully hugging before departure.

Often, there are additional family members who are not always seen but will be affected when someone leaves to serve their country: beloved pets. When National Guard troops are deployed, they often leave behind dogs, cats and other pets. When no one can take care of those pets, they are often surrendered to Animal Control.

The Freedom Foundation, a local nonprofit that supports military personnel and families, wants to avoid that scenario. Partnering with PACT for Animals, a national organization, they hope to help veterans and active duty servicepeople find pet fostering options through Operation Foster.

Being deployed is only one reason military personnel might need to find care for pets. Extended medical treatment sometimes takes people away from their home and pets.

“You go to the hospital and you don’t know how long you’ll have to stay,” said Mary Seely, executive director of the Freedom Foundation.

A veteran who falls in the home might need medical treatment at a hospital, followed by physical therapy at a residential facility. Someone else might need residential mental health care. If family or friends can’t step in, who will take care of that person’s pet(s) during treatment?

“It was something people had never really talked about here before. Everybody just dealt with it privately,” Seely said.

But the Freedom Foundation in Cedar Rapids is perfectly positioned to determine the needs of military personnel and their pets.

“The Freedom Foundation is a safe place for military personnel to go,” Seely. said.

The building, located on Center Point Road on Cedar Rapids’ northeast side, has a pool table, card tables and free coffee, pop and snacks. They serve a free lunch every Thursday.

Mostly, it’s a place for camaraderie. On a recent Friday morning, the usual group of Vietnam veterans stopped by for coffee and conversation.

“We have about 13 or 14 gentlemen sitting here now, and two more just pulled in,” Seely said at the time.

Although most just enjoy catching up with one another and playing a round of cards, sometimes the conversation gets serious. Sometimes the office dog, Moose, comes out for a visit.

“Vietnam vets don’t usually talk about their time in the service, but here, they do,” Seely said. “They can open up about it. They feel safe.”

Freedom Foundation clients felt safe discussing their pets’ needs, too.

When Seely discussed the impact of deployments or prolonged medical treatment on their pets, she said Freedom Foundation clients told stories of separation and loss. Cats and dogs were too frequently surrendered to Animal Control because there was no one to take care of them during a deployment or prolonged medical treatment.

And from working with military men and women, Seely knew that surrendering a pet could be a painful loss.

“Pets are so important, especially to those who live alone. They’re someone to come home to,” Seely said. “(Active duty military personnel) are out there serving their country. If they lose their pet, that’s a huge loss.”

National nonprofit PACT for Animals understands that loss, and their mission is to prevent it. According to their website, their goal is “having no companion animals unwillingly submitted to animal shelters due to a temporary military deployment or medical crisis.”

PACT offers a nationwide fostering program, Operation Foster, that connects pet foster homes with veterans or active duty personnel who need temporary care for their pets.

“We work in all 50 states. We’ve placed a few pets in Iowa,” said Giselle Fetterman, [title]. Collaborating with the Freedom Foundation in Iowa made sense. “We wanted to work with an organization that is local and respected.”

Because Freedom Foundation staff already assist their clients with finding resources, they are well-positioned to determine their needs and connect them with PACT for Animals resources, too. Seely and other staff can share information about PACT’s program and are ready to help the clients who need a foster home for their pet fill out the online application form.

“On the application, we want to know about the pet,” Fetterman said. “For example, can they be around other pet? How large are they?”

Other questions ask about the pet’s energy level, how long they can be left alone, and whether they are spayed or neutered. Pets are required to be spayed or neutered to be part of the fostering program. In addition, the person seeking assistance is required to provide food and medicine for their pet.

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The questions help PACT staff make a good match with available foster homes. They then assist the pet owner and foster home in transferring the pet and keep in contact with both parties throughout the fostering period.

Foster families and pet owners also connect regularly to show the pets are being cared for.

“There’s a man who’s been deployed to Japan. He gets photos every week,” Fetterman said. “His foster family took his dog to see Santa Claus during the holiday and they sent a photo.”

Although any military serviceperson can access PACT’s applications online, collaborating with Freedom Foundation means that more Eastern Iowans will find the resource and get assistance in filling out the application.

In addition, Seely hopes to recruit more pet foster homes from among the people who visit the organization.

“Every Thursday we serve a meal. There were 120 veterans last time” Seely said. “We can talk to them and ask them, ‘Do you know someone who could foster pets?’ Maybe a veteran here who is lonely will take in a pet.”

Offering to foster a pet can be rewarding for animal lovers. It’s also satisfying to support those who are serving our country.

Those interested in fostering can fill out an application on the PACT for Animals website that will help make appropriate matches to pets who need care. PACT also conducts virtual home visits to make sure the home is safe and appropriate for pets.

It might worry a pet owner to hand their beloved animal over for a period of weeks or months. Will they remember them when they return?

“It may take them a while, but the pet always does remember,” Fetterman said. She recommends checking out PACT for Animals YouTube channel to see some happy reunions.