Because the military lifestyle can involve frequent
uprooting and transferring from one state—or country—to another, one might
assume that keeping a dog in those circumstances is counterintuitive.
Relocation costs can be expensive—thousands of dollars, in some cases—and the US
military does not cover expenses for relocating family pets.
But dog ownership offers countless therapeutic benefits and having
to give up a beloved family pet—particularly if the reason is related to
budget—can be devastating. To help keep military families intact—including the
furry ones—the international arm of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals (SPCA) has launched Operation Military Pets. Individuals serving in
all military branches, and relocating within the United States or anywhere in
the world, are welcome to apply for Operation Military Pets grants to help
offset the costs of bringing their pets with them.
There has been a tremendous response since its February 2013
launch, says Stephanie Scott, SPCA International’s Director of Communications,
who notes that in one month, there have been almost 40 requests for help and
the group has already begun disbursing financial aid.
Although the military enacted in 2009 a rule that
“aggressive or potentially aggressive” dogs, including pit bulls, are not
allowed in US
military bases, Operation Military Pets offers assistance to anyone serving in
the military, whether they live on or off base; thus, there are no breed
restrictions for eligibility. Those forced to live off base because of their
dog’s breed may need the most help, in fact. “We understand that off-base
housing is more costly and just one more example of why our animal-loving military
personnel are forced to shoulder a heavier burden as they are relocated,” Scott
says.
Visit
Operation
Military Pets for more information about the program—including how it got started—and to find out how you can support this important program. As Scott says, "With so many families facing transportation costs of thousands of dollars, we need the public's support to ensure we can help every single military family that needs it."
