Dogs on Deployment

My wife first saw a post on Facebook about DOD in early 2023. I was intrigued by this having never heard of DOD before. I went to the website and liked what I saw, especially all the pets in need. I talked it over with my wife and she agreed that we should try to recruit a pet dog. I filled out the profile and after a search we found Duke. He was an older short haired male dog which fit our interests. We have no pets of our own but had watched my sister-in-law's beagle the previous two winters for 3-4 months each time. I contacted Duke's owner and agreed to a meet and greet. I drove the 6 hours from Erie county PA to Arlington, VA to meet Duke and his owner. (My son lives in Arlington and it gave me a chance to visit him too). We met at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial. Duke came running to me when I saw them walking towards me in the park. His owner released the leash and he came right up to me and got between my legs. I bent over and rubbed his chest and petted him. His owner said she be st seen him take to anyone like that before. The meet and greet went well. So three weeks later my wife and I headed back down to Arlington. We got to see my son and daughter-in-law plus meet Duke and his owner. We transferred Duke's things to our van and with tearful globe's exchanged as headed for home. Duke loves car rides and he handled the 6 hour drive like a champ. We got home and Duke settled in very quickly. He has been a great companion and perfect fit for us and our lifestyle. We have come to love Duke and it's obvious that he loves us. He has been with us for 18 months now with four more to go on his deployment. It will be hard to give him up. He has made a priceless impact on our lives. We will treasure the memories we made with Duke forever. Plus we have made new friends with Duke's owner and the owner's mother. Dogs on Deployment is a great blessing to us and I highly recommend this program to anyone who loves dogs/cats and our nation's military members.

We love this whole organization. Making pets and their service member a priority. Helping keep unwanted babies from happening while offering peace of mind.

I am a registered boarder with DoD. Our military men and women give so, so much to serve our country. Offering to help their beloved pet when they are called into service is an amazing way to show support for ALL the military does for us. In thanks, you will get the joy of giving the service man or woman peace of mind AND a wonderful pet who loves you every day that you care for them. I urge everyone to sign up to be a boarder for DoD! The process is easy, and you are notified when a member of the military near you needs boarding assistance.

I have used Dogs on Deployment a few times throughout my military career as an active duty Soldier for the past three years. I could not think of a better community of volunteers to watch service member's animals! I would not trust anybody else! Dogs on Deployment allows military members to keep the companions that they love and have the best of both worlds.

I not only have received support from the individual volunteers in my area, but also from the organization itself. Members of the organization ensured I found a boarder for my training exercise and that we were able to follow through with the contract.

I signed up to be a boarder for Dogs on Deployment about 5 years ago. The sign up process was easy, and you receive emails to tell you if there is a pet in need in your area. It took a while to get a match as I was looking for cats only, but I am on my 3rd set of boarders now! I love being able to help the soldiers out by caring for their fur babies. Knowing they have one less concern as they are away from home is my joy and honor. Each parent has been so thankful to me for signing up. My response always is...it's the least I can do to help you serve my country! There are always some tears as they leave me to go back home, but I know they are with mom or dad and it makes the transition easier. I'm so glad I found DOD and will continue to support them, and our soldiers, for years to come.

We found out about DOD and couldn’t wait to help. We were matched up with Stephanie and her beautiful boxer named Nena. It was an honor to watch her and help out. Our second boarder was a man named Chris and his two girls. Both times were so much fun and left us hoping that we helped a soldier just a little bit. A wonderful organization and a great way to say thank you to our men and women of the US Military.

I joined Dogs on Deployment a few months ago as a DOD Boarder. I found a Military Member in need of a Boarder from St Pete. This is an outstanding organization. Their main goal is to give peace of mind for the military member that their pet is safe and cared for while they are on deployment or overseas serving this wonderful country. I would give them 5 plus stars if I could.

I watched one reunion story on Facebook and immediately signed up to be a boarder for Dogs on Deployment. Shortly thereafter I met with a gal who had 2 dogs and 1 cat that needed a place to stay for a tour of 6 months. Our meet and greet went great. I took care of them for 8 months and was able to give her a nice welcome home. I took care of some great animals and made a new friend for life. Thank you to dogs on deployment for an amazing program for veterans!

I started my journey as a boarder. After setting up my first deployed pet I realized I wanted to do more. I am now a volunteer as well as a boarder. I can't say enough positive things about DoD, what they stand for, and how they operate. It is an honor to not only volunteer for this organization, but to also help our country's heros when they need pet boarding.

Top notch organization providing a desperately needed service!

This is a great way to help support our dedicated U.S. service men and women.

Being a Veteran (sadly without pets) I can say Ive witnessed the heartbreaking situations where members have had to give up their pet because they couldn’t bring them with or find someone to watch them. There have been times where they’ve had to give up their pet overseas because duty didn’t allow them time to help their pet ease into a new environment.

With Dogs on Deployment this worry and heartbreak is eliminated. This organisation takes care of the vetting and background check of the people who will potentially be your pets fill in family. Having the added fear that your pet ends up with someone untrustworthy, with the above mentioned situations, is stress our military members don’t need. I hope to someday be that fill in pet mommy for one of my country’s protectors.

The more coverage and recognition this organisation can get the better. They take the burden, stress, and worry of “what do I do about my pet” away from our service members!

Message: Good evening! I just wanted to take a second to say THANK YOU. I just recently returned from a deployment to Kosovo. Last year when I found out I was deploying, I was in a panic. I have two fur babies, Booger and Boy. I have had my cats for 13 years; they are a part of my family, and I cannot imagine life without them. I was at a loss with what I was going to do with them while I was gone. I live alone and do not have family in the state. I went to a Yellow Ribbon event and came across this company in a briefing. I immediately came home and did some research. I admit when filling out the paperwork, I was not hopeful I would find someone to take my babies. I can honestly say within 15 min of posting my profile Kimberly contacted me and wanted to help me out. I invited her to my house to meet the babies and see their personalities. I knew the minute she walked in the door she was the one. She treated my cats like they were her own. She sent pictures and kept in contact with me. She is an angel as far as I am concerned. When we think of deployments, we often think of families. You guys remember our furbabies, and that means a lot. The ability to know my animals were safe and loved alleviated all anxiety that could have interfered with my ability to take care of my Soldier's and do my job. Deployments are stressful enough; you guys gave me the ability to focus on my job and my guys. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SSG Carissa Patterson 1-230th AHB Nashville, TN

I am currently boarding a dog on Deployment (Ellie Rose) while her mom is in the Navy. This has been a very rewarding experience and Ellie has become a part of our family. We keep in touch with her mom by facebook and text. We take lots of pictures and provide her mom access to Ellie by web cam so she can check on her and talk to her at anytime. Her mom sends Ellie bark boxes and she looks forward to opening them. It is hard on our military people and pets to be away from each other. I'm honored to help make that a little easier by being a DoD boarder.

I fostered a wonderful dog while his mom was deployed to Afghanistan. We kept in touch through Facebook and Messenger so she always knew what he was doing. Everyone who met him loved him and he appears in my church directory. The reunion was amazing. Through all this, I gained a great friend. We are still in touch.

Amazing organization! Have had nothing but the best experiences interacting with military soldiers. These dogs are LOVED! I love my country, so this is the BEST way EVER that I could think of to give back! Thank you DOD for such an awesome idea, community and support to military fur babies throughout the land!❤

Dogs on Deployment and its volunteers give it their all to help our military members and veterans and their pets. Not only does Dogs on Deployment assist in helping find a match for boarders it helps so many in emergency situations through their Pet Chit program. So proud to be a part of it. And the organization is

Being a customer service representative for DoD, I read a lot of stories from military pet owners who are frantic about what might happen to their pet if they can't find someone to watch them while on deployment or training. It is such a great feeling when I'm able to tell them, "Don't worry, we have people who can help." Thank you to all of our DoD boarders and future DoD boarders. In helping our military in this way, you give them peace of mind. It's one less thing that they have to worry about. This organization is such a blessing to so many.

Dogs on Deployment helps many military families keep their furry members during times of Deployment or training. It also plays a large role in assisting them with financial burdens that owning a pet in the military can bring up such as shipping pets overseas. The cost can be so high that many families wouldn’t be able to afford it and would have to leave their pets behind without the assistance of DOD.

This is a vital group of people willing and able to help those in service be able to keep protecting without worry on their furry ones. I am proud to be a volunteer!

Our family fostered a DoD cat for an Army Reservist for not one, but two deployments, it was & is a joy to give back to those who serve. Being a Navy Family ourselves (married navy children, both of us, and my husband is going on 28 years in the USNR), we understand the sacrifice and dedication of all service members and it is truly a gift to US to be able to serve and give back in this way. Dogs on Deployment made it so easy and relaxed, from providing the vetting of volunteers on all sides, to offering the free "contract' that helped our family and Sgt. Morales nail down the details of the foster situation on the eve of his first deployment, I can't express enough love or gratitude for this amazing charity! We gained a friend in the process, and I can't thank them enough for putting us together!

Dogs on Deployment isn't just for dogs! Knowing that, and with our love for cats, we've taken in five total so far for deployed military members. We love that we can help them with their purrbabies in a safe and loving home so the owners don't have to worry. There's enough to worry about when shipping out to begin with.
Our family has helped out at numerous events for DoD, and it's always a good time. We've made life long friends, and will continue to volunteer. Such a great organization!

My family and I became volunteers for this wonderful nonprofit several months ago and participated in the NATO parade in Norfolk. These amazing people who keep this organization moving forward and help deploying military people find a safe home for their pets while they are gone is terrific! I said to myself, " why didn't I think of that"? You can't put a price on peace of mind when you're deployed. This organization is comprised of true animal lovers and they give their all to help our military and their animals! ❤️❤️

I had the pleasure of volunteering for this organization for the first time this summer. The team I was paired with were wonderful people. They made me feel very welcome and I could really see their dedication to this organization. Considering what our active and veteran military have done for us, I could not think of a better way to give back to them. So many people consider their pets family. DOD goes above and beyond helping our active military and veterans keep their pets, help with their pets and just really give support in a great way!

I had the pleasure of volunteering with Dogs on Deployment for the first time this summer, with the Hampton Roads chapter. This is such a well-received program, specifically in our military-heavy communities. Keep up the great work!

I have been volunteering for Dogs on Deployment for 3 years. My girlfriend shared your charity and thought this is something we could do together. I am a USMC veteran. I am always looking for ways to be involved with our veterans in our area. One of the things I like is the Pet Chit program, It is another possible way for military families to be responsible pet owner. We have made some wonderful friends while volunteering and feel we are part of a nationwide family. Even when traveling we reach out to other volunteers and tell them we will be in your area and end up meeting. We love Dogs on Deployment!

You don't need to be military to know that Dogs on Deployment is a wonderful organization that fills a big need in the military community! I cannot imagine what it would feel like to have to give up a pet if a foster home could not be found - it would be unimaginable! Dogs on Deployment is there for the military furbabies, finding them a compatible and loving home to "vacation" in while their moms and dads serve our country. Hard to put into words the comfort this must bring to those serving in the military. Check out their homecoming videos to actually "feel" what it's like to be reunited with their pets!

I am a volunteer with Dogs on Deployment with the Hampton Roads Chapter and what a great organization to be a part of! Everyone helps each other and best of all, pets are placed in loving homes for our Military men and women so they can defend our great country with ease of knowing their pets are in great hands. Our local chapter stays involved with many events on and off base to raise awareness so that Military members do not feel like they have to surrender their pets to local shelters. KUDOS to Dogs on Deployment...proud to be a volunteer!

I am a member of a Mardi Gras Krewe. We were looking for a charity to support that helped our local veterans. We were given Jacquie's name. She came out and told us how they help veterans and their pets. Since most of our Krewe are animal owners, this seemed like a great cause to sponsor. We are glad to be helping them raise money to take care of our veteran's animals!

I heard about Dogs on Deployment through social media and thought it was a fabulous idea. I registered as a volunteer foster and am currently fostering a wonderful dog while his owner is deployed. This sweet pup came to us as an emergency placement when his current foster was unable to continuing caring for him. His poor owner was already deployed overseas and so stressed out about needing to find a home for his beloved pup while dealing with limited communication abilities. He was able to talk to a coordinator at DoD and was given my number. Within two hours of talking to him for the first time, his pup was home with my family. Upon hearing that his pup was safe and happy, the obvious reduction in this young man's stress level was all the thanks I could ever ask for. Shortly after his deployment, this pup was involved in an accident that required several surgeries. Dogs On Deployment was a great support for his owner and helped with medical bills. This may be my first time fostering for this great organization, but it won't be my last. I've loved this pup like my own and, while it will be sad to see him go, it will be incredibly rewarding to see him reunited with his owner, right where he belongs.

I have volunteered with DOD for over a year. Great community for a wonderful cause!

I have been a volunteer with this organization for 5 years. I love spreading the word about all the services DoD provides to our military members and veterans. I do this through the many awareness/fundraising events we participate in around the Hampton Roads area. Our volunteer coordinator is 1 in a million. She is passionate about what we do and that helps make all of us volunteers want to do more and more with this organization. All of the volunteers I've met through Dogs on Deployment have been the BEST people to work with. We have a lot of fun while working hard.

My wife and I have been foster Mom and Dad to dozens of dogs over the last decade plus. A couple of years ago we joined Dogs on Deployment as a foster family. I'm retired Navy. We've brought several dogs into our home for DoD, and helped many military members avoid leaving their dog at a shelter. We've experienced adventures and challenges along the way, but our involvement in DoD has added new color to our life's tapestry.

I CAUTION YOU to take another review with a big grain of salt. A few reviews after this one (written October 2015) you'll see someone who gives DoD only one star. Several things about that review are completely in conflict with DoD's primary mission, and the review has a decidedly "canned" feel to it. I would ask that the reviewer please contact Dogs on Deployment, because I believe that person was in some way misled by someone not part of DoD. After having fostered nearly 50 dogs in my life, I've found DoD to be among the most well run organizations I've seen, with integrity beyond reproach. I cannot see that what the reviewer wrote can possibly be the whole story.

As a volunteer for this organization, I am impressed with their services and resources . They go to great lengths to help as many military members and veterans as they can. Great organization.

As a groomer in a military town, I hear how many of my clients need help finding homes for their pets. I am so glad that I can now refer them to DoD. I have groomed dogs being boarded and them all were in such happy and loving homes. They do amazing work.

I love Dogs on Deployment! Yes I have fostered a dog and two turtles. Happy to do so.

This organization denied me, as a medically retired veteran who is homeless for 4 weeks because my set up housing fell through. all I needed was help with my animal while I was in transitional housing, where she was not allowed for just 4 weeks. I found countless dod boarding volunteers, which I'm sure would have been a perfect fit while I was waiting for my new home. Now I have to give up my dog who I've had for 3 years because this company denied me, a medically retired veteran from getting a profile in order to talk to the volunteers around me. She will be going to the shelter in a few days now because I can't afford boarding and a deposit on a place. As a veteran, I am very disappointed in dogs on deployment, and will never recommend anyone I know to donate to this cause.

I love working with Dogs on Deployment both fundraising and boarding!

I love what your organization does! I always watch to see if you have a need in my state. I would be happy to care for an extra pup. It's the least I can do!

What a great organization! If I didn't have a temperamental shih tzu, I would gladly take in a pet. The service people serving our country need the peace of mind knowing their pets are well taken care of and safe.
I admire all the volunteers who do this.

After everything our service men and women do to keep our country safe and free, they certainly deserve to know that their loved ones will be safe while they are gone. If it wasn't for Dogs on Deployment so many more animals would have to be tragically lost because there was no one to look out for them and make sure they were housed in a safe place until their human parent came home. Keep up the great work.

I fostered a dog through Dogs on Deployment for a soldier while she was in Afghanistan. It was very rewarding. We kept in touch through Facebook. The reunion was one of the best days of my life. This organization helps keep families whole by finding fosters for deployed service members.

Dogs on Deployment is a very special agency and one I am proud to support. As a former Army wife, and as the mother of a sergeant in Special Forces, I always have a very special place in my heart for those who serve. And, as "the crazy sighthound lady", pets and their well being are especially important to me. So these beautiful people found a need and formed a group to fill it! And they're doing a wonderful job serving the military and their animals! Makes me happy to be able to be a long-term, regular contributor.

One of the best run and most needed charities in America today! Begun from real need in the community marketplace, this organization has expanded to help both service men and women as well as the companion animals they love when deployed in service for this country. Their 990 IRS form is immaculate and free of problems which plague other such charitable causes. As a non-profit development professional for over two decades I've seen a great number of nonprofits and few have the important cause matched with the integrity of this organization.

I happened to stumble upon Dogs On Deployment on Facebook after a friend had liked their page. Having come from a family with a rich military history and growing up with an undying love for dogs, it was a no-brainer to check them out. I have been an avid volunteer in the past and always struggled to find an organization that did the right thing and had a true moral compass. I did a little homework (actually...a lot of homework) and they seemed to be a great organization with a spotless reputation. The day I saw the post looking for Providence, RI volunteers I immediately knew I was meant to find these guys. Shortly after volunteering I was contacted by the RI coordinator at the time explaining that her husband was going to be changing duty stations and they were looking for a volunteer to step up and take her spot. I was so excited to be presented with this amazing opportunity. I could never have dreamed of passing it up.

I have been now been a coordinator with Dogs On Deployment since July 2014. I have volunteered for many years and have never come across an organization more deserving of my time. Dogs On Deployment advocates for a great cause that is close to my heart. It is an incredibly a well run organization run by ALL volunteers allowing the funding we receive to go directly to those in need. Our group of local coordinators function more as a family, cheering each other on through the highs and lows that come with volunteering. I have never met a more dedicated group of people who put their whole heart and soul into what they do. Aside from the coordinators, our volunteers are everyday heroes who give us their unwavering support and bright smiles during events, fostering opportunities and more. I am extremely proud of Dogs On Deployment as it grows and helps support more and more military families. I look forward to promoting such a great organization for many years to come.

Dogs on Deployment meets such a critical need! I'm on my second military foster. Sadly, when our military members go overseas, no provisions are made for their companion animals. As every animal-lover knows, pets are treasured members of the family. Several years ago, I was in PetSmart and saw a kitty up for adoption because his Dad was going to Iraq and had no one to watch over him. At that time, I had a kitty with diabetes who needed special care, so was not in a position to adopt him. When my Shadow Kitty passed away, I wanted to do my part to see that at least a few other kitties would be waiting for their families after deployment.

My first two kitties were guests at what my friends call Disneyland for Cats for 20 months. My current furry companions will be with me around 30 months. The kitties are a Joy – as are their families!

I am so pleased with my experiences that I have entire albums on Facebook about how to foster with DOD as well as my feelings – including returning the kitties to their families. It’s a bit tough, but very rewarding!

Dogs on Deployment is one of the absolute best non-profits in the world! The good they do for our military members in truly invaluable. My husband and I are taking care of our 3rd pet while a wonderful young man is deployed. Since the dog is a pit bull mix, it's unlikely anyone would have been able to take care of him. I'm so grateful to this wonderful organization because they allow me to feel good about the help I can provide.

Please help them if you can!!

Lisa Buck

My husband and I are both Veterans and understand how difficult moves and deployments are on families. When we had the opportunity to provide a temporary home for Sarge while he waited for cooler temps so he could fly to be with is Dad in Italy, we were honored. Since then, we have volunteered in different capacities at various events in the Phoenix area to bring awareness of the program to the community. Our Service men and women make so many sacrifices, the least we could do is help them out with temporary housing for their pets while they are in transition, training, or deployed. We have been really blessed working with DoD!

Volunteering for this organization is always so much fun! Great people, great pet and a great cause! I'm happy to be a part of it!

As a military Brat we couldn't have dogs growing up because of quarantine rules going overseas. If we had had dogs we would have had to give them away every other year which would have been heartbreaking! I'm so glad Dogs on Deployment has made it possible for our soldiers to know their dogs are well taken care of and will be waiting for them to come home!

Dogs on deployment is an AMAZING organization. How wonderful to help our military members and often times their forget about family members (pets).

I'm highly impressed with this organization. They have helped my fiancee with vet costs and were very supportive and communicated well during the episode.
Thanks to this, I now volunteer with the group! I have been impressed on the volunteering end as well. Everyone is professional and friendly.

The first thing that attracted to me to this charity was that it melded military members and pets into a necessary and worthy alliance. The service is free to military members and boarders (no fees) and creates a realistic possibility of soldiers being able to keep their pets, and their financial assistance program for active and retired military is very helpful in easing the financial burden military members face when trying to take care of their pets. As a coordinator of a major American city, working with this charity has been fun and exciting, and the responses I receive when spreading the word about the work they do have been phenomenal.

A soldiers has enough to deal with, and the idea of losing a pet just because of a deployment or training assignment has, no doubt, a huge impact on a soldier's psychological and emotional health. Volunteer, board, support, and donate so we can help more of them keep their pets when they come home.

I am the National PR Director for Dogs on Deployment and I've been in several positions over the last two years. Dogs on Deployment is easy to be dedicated to as a volunteer because they have a mission and vision that is easy to be passionate about. We are growing and making a difference each day and I am excited to see what the future has for us. If you're not volunteering or contributing to Dogs on Deployment in some way, you're missing out on an amazing group of people and a national following of dedicated volunteers.

I am a Local Coordinator for Dogs on Deployment. This has been one of the best experiences I have had working with this organization. All the people I have met and the positive response from the general public has been awesome.

Being a former Navy wife and also in the Army National Guard myself, I know the trials of being in the military. This one small thing that we do has such a major impact with our military members. Having your pet waiting for you when you get home is such an emotional comfort.

Our volunteers and boarders are the best out there!

When my son joined the Marine Corps, I knew I wanted to serve our military is some way. Dogs on Deployment is perfect for me in that it allows me to serve two of my favorite things- our military and pets! They're organized, professional, and have been so very patient with me as I learn to navigate the world of volunteering. I'm honored to be a part of this great organization as the Dallas Coordinator.

I absolutely LOVE this organization and what it stands for. Its heart is as big as our nation-wide volunteers, all which share the same love and passion to help our troops and their pets! I am honored to be a part of this amazing organization for nearly 3 years.

Have been volunteering with Dogs on Deployment for almost 2 years now. I find it a service that is greatly needed and one that is so not known by those we serve. I enjoy meeting people and telling them about all the ways we help service personnel and their pets. If you've ever seen 1 reunion video, you know that what we do makes a difference. It's important. It's needed. We validate peoples feelings that their pets matter. Pets make our lives more whole. If someone is willing to put their life on the line for my freedom, I'm willing to help them come home to everyone they love.

Great organization to volunteer for, not only do they help other, they also guide you and mentor you on all the aspects of being a non profit

An organization that truly cares and wants only the best for those it serves!

After hearing the sad stories of so many military members having to place their beloved pets in the pound while on deployment, it thrills me to see Dogs on Deployment changing this and making sure the pets are in a loving home environment. God bless Dogs on Deployment. :) Kimberly Leamon - Independent Handler with For Tails Only (www.fortailsonly.com/#Kimberly)

Dogs on Deployment provides such an important service for our military families. Pets are family members and it's such a great stress for our soldiers when they don't have options for their pets while they are in service to our country. Dogs on Deployment fills a vital need, keeps animals out of kill shelters and relieves worry and stress for our military families. People are always saying "Support Our Troops" Dogs on Deployment does just that. Every time I share one of their posts or give a donation, I feel am giving to those who give so much to all of America. Dogs on Deployment saw the need and they are working to fill it every day. They are heroes to me, just as our soldiers are.

I fully support Dogs On Deployment. It gives the American public a way to support our military while they protect our freedoms. Pets are often beloved members of our families and if we can offer our military members peace of mind that their pets are safely and lovingly cared for while deployed, we can, in a small way, say thank you for their service to their country.

I wish there was some way for more of our troops, to learn about this organization and the wonderful help they give when someone is being deployed and needs a caregiving person for their pet until they return.

This is an opportunity to reach out and support our military in a most unusual way. Imagine the stress and heartache of leaving a beloved dog or cat behind. By fostering these animals, while our dedicated service personnel perform their duties on our behalf, we can give them a chance to come home to the joy of the animal that means so much to them. Why not help out now! Foster an animal, make a donation, volunteer to support a local fund raising event.

I don't have a personal story, but i do believe 100% in this organization. They help find boarders for out military members while deployed and this allows our uniformed personnel NOT worry about their family member and can concentrate on the Mission.

I think they are offering an invaluable service. There is a need and they are filling it!

This is a great service.....any military member has enough on their mind protecting and serving our country. Our animals are part of our families and these deployed owners need to have a safe place to care for their family member while deployed. THIS ENABLES THAT TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN!

DOD is an amazing organization bringing peace of mind to those who are serving our country. Too many of our members of the military have to give away their beloved pets when they are deployed, never seeing them again, never knowing their fate. It is widely known that most animals that are listed on Craiglist "free to a good home" or given away through similar ads in other publications often don't go to a loving home, but are used as bait dogs for fight rings, or otherwise abused. Deployment is a stressful time for both owner and pet and through DOD's nationwide network, loving foster homes are found so that our military personnel are free to focus on their mission and not worry about their pets. They know that they will be reunited at the end of their deployment.

awesome group supporting our Military members! I am the mother of a marine and love dogs! Hoping my son does not ever have to use this group but grateful that they are here if he is called to leave and serve

Military members have so many responsibilities and the one overlooked the most is their beloved pets. This is the best organization reaching out to help our Military and their pets! I don't know of any other program dedicated to helping our military with their pets. A great big thank you goes out to the Dogs on Deployment program!

I find it hard to leave pet behind just to go on vacation. I can't imagine being deployed and having to worry about my pets care. Pets are family to most people and this organization is helping ease the minds of our soldiers that are out protecting our country and our freedom!

Volunteering for DoD has been such a joy, and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I started doing this last year as a way of coping with the unexpected loss of my Greyhound, Roman, from osteosarcoma. I wasn't ready to adopt a new dog, but needed some "dog presence" in my life. So, when a friend told me about DoD (I think she heard about it on NPR), I leapt at the opportunity to get my dog "fix" and also help out the military folks who are serving our country overseas. I got my first two Deployed Dogs, Athena and Cheech, just a month after losing Roman and I took care of them for a month while their family (who PCS-ed here from FL) got settled in their new home. I had a couple months by myself before my next Deployed Dog, Lucky, came to the house in March. While none of those dogs can ever replace Roman, their love and companionship brings such joy to my life and reminds me of the wonderful relationship that I had with my own dog. Helping service members keep their pets in the family is so important. Doing this has helped -- and is still helping -- me heal.

Thanks to you for starting DoD, and thanks to DoD for giving me this opportunity to serve those who serve our country!

I am very thankful for Dogs on Deployment. My husband was injured in Afghanistan and was send to the Washington DC area. Had it not been for Dogs on Deployment I would have never found the Adiar Family in the Fort Drum, NY area to help me with my dogs. It was nice to be able to leave them with someone and know they where taken care off, it helped ease my mind & let me take care of my husband better. Thank you so much Dogs on Deployment for all you do for our Military members in need.

Shortly after our own dog, Bella, was put to rest, our home was missing a piece that completed it. The thought crossed my mind about being a boarder but I wasn't sure if we were ready to have a dog, especially one that wasn't our own. A couple months went by and I kept perusing the DOD site and my heart broke every time reading all the profiles and pleas for help. At that point, I knew the most unselfish thing we could do was become boarders. This has been the most REWARDING experience our family has been through! We're currently boarding Kaegi, whose owner will not return from Afghanistan until next September and we've also shared our home several times with Chara and Rafael while their owner attends periodic training exercises. A couple of times we've had all 3 dogs which is complete chaos sometimes but we wouldn't have it any other way! We're very proud to tell people what we do. We take care of these dogs as if they were our own and while they don't understand what is happening to them, we make sure to open our hearts and homes unselfishly while providing an invaluable unselfish service to our service members. What an honor!

My journey started back in April when my husband & I decided to get a dog after moving 1200 miles away from our family. He is active duty military and I didn't want to be home alone when he was going to training. The problem was, we couldn't decide on a breed! A friend suggested Dogs On Deployment. So we signed up and within 48 hours we had a "hit!" So a couple days later, we met with Bruno & Kevin. Kevin was being shipped to Korea for a year and thought he had "friends" lined up to take care of Bruno, his 3 year old boxer that he had had only a couple months. Things weren't working out and the vet suggested DoD to Kevin. So our "meet & greet" went great and 3 weeks later, Kevin left for Korea & Bruno came to live with us! That was over 6 months ago and I can't imagine my life without Bruno or Kevin in it. Kevin has gone through a lot over the last 6 months and he says to not have to worry about Bruno has been one of the most amazing gifts anyone could have ever given him. We love him as ours and treated him as such when he needed emergency surgery while Kevin was on a field mission and we had to make life-saving decisions that were thankfully discussed due to the contracts that DoD offers to every client! Since becoming a boarder/foster, my husband and I have attended several events to talk about DoD and get the word out. So much so that I've made it my personal goal to notify as many people as possible living in a military town with 5 military institutions (1 ARMY post, 2 Air Force Bases, 1 Air Force Academy & Norad). Thankfully being a military spouse myself gives me an easier access to many soldiers deploying. My husband is assigned to a unit that deploys a lot so it gives me lots of oppurtunity to get the word out and that's what I plan to do!

DOD is a great organization. The service they provide allows our service men and women to focus on what is important and not worry about their beloved pet(s). Our service men and women do more than their share to help keep our freedoms free. It is great to see an organization that helps our military.

Thank you for all you do for our military service members and for their pets. Without your organization's help, I know many of these pets would have uncertain futures as our Soldiers are fighting for our country. THANK YOU!

My husband has been active duty Navy for 16 years, and we have known many people in the past that had to give up their pets because their backup fell through when it was time for deployment. It was heartbreaking. To some of these single sailors, their dog can sometimes be their only support system. I've known sailors who desperately wanted a pet, but was too afraid of what would happen should they be deployed. I really believe that Dogs on Deployment not only saves some of these sailors from having to surrender their best friends but helps the moral of the Navy overall. Now our sailors can have the love and companionship of a dog and go onto deployment with piece of mind knowing that their best friends will be will be safe while they are gone and waiting for them when they return! Thank you so much DOgs on Deployment!!! I really believe that you have significantly improved Navy life!!

I am in no way involved with Dogs on Deployment, other than sharing their Facebook postings when I know that one of my friends can share to the area where help is needed. However, I remember back at the beginning of the war in Iraq, shelters across Southern California were flooded with military pets. The Shelter closest to bases could not handle the numbers, so sent the dogs and cats on to other shelters rather than begin mass euthanasias. The military pet owners had no options if family could not take their animals. I'd like to see DoD's methods deployed in helping seniors and others with medical crises find proper fosters to care for their pets for a day, a week, a month. One of the leading causes of the elderly and people with chronic conditions ending up in the ER is because they delayed seeking medical care because they had no one they trusted or willing to care for their pets for little or no cost.

I found out about Dogs on Deployment through a local news channel and immediately "Liked" them on Facebook. Just before deploying to Afghanistan in 2008, I struggled to find someone to watch my dog for me and eventually settled for my Grandmother's house as a last resort but she only did it as a favor to me. If I had been aware of Dogs on Deployment back then my dog would have been much better taken care of and treated more like family. Fast forward to 2012, I heard about a story through the Dogs on Deployment Facebook page about a Veteran in need and he had two dogs. Through Alisa Johnson, the Founder of Dogs on Deployment, we made the appropriate arrangements. Alisa has personally gone above and beyond to ensure that animals of all kinds are placed into happy homes while their loved one is deployed. She has even helped promote transport of pets from overseas and across the country just to make sure that a deployed military member is at ease with having to leave their beloved pet. I have nothing but good things to say about Dogs on Deployment and happily keep up with their Facebook page!!!!! Thanks Dogs on Deployment for all you do, service members of all branches of the military greatly appreciate your services, dedication, and hard work.

Dogs on Deployments is committed to making a difference in the life's of our military members.

Fantastic, smooth volunteer experience! This is a nonprofit that is well run and just frankly needs more exposure in the community as it is well received by those both wanting to help and those helped.

Dogs on Deployment helps military members find temporary foster homes for the pets when they are deployed, moving, training, etc. What a wonderful organization! After following the very active and inspiring DoD Facebook page, I volunteered at one of their events to help spread the word. I lost count of how many soldiers came up to the booth saying something like, "Wow, I had no idea this existed! I and/or someone I know someone could've used this in the past... I'll definitely keep this in mind in the future!" There is clearly a need for this organization in the military. I am happy to support DoD to help our service members, human and canine alike. Spread the word!

I met these ladies at an animal convention, a couple weeks ago. and I thought they were very polite, informative and had an upbeat attitude. I think this non-profit is a great extension to military families.

I love what Dogs on Deployment stands for, and how it aims to help our veterans and their furry family members. I have been following their efforts for many months now, and when I saw the opportunity to volunteer to help their mission, I jumped at it! This organization is AMAZING and goes above and beyond to help those in need, and you can come to admire and support their mission very quickly. That is why I am honored and PROUD to volunteer for this fabulous organization!! God Bless DoD and all those that help their mission!!!

I worked as a Pediatric Nurse on an Army Base and I can tell you that the care soldiers families receive definitely impact their ability to serve. Many military families and single soldiers have pets and consider them family. This is a unique nonprofit that provides a critical service for our military personnel. I am glad to rate them as TOP FLOOR for all their hard work.

Since finding out about DOD I have been an avid follower waiting for my turn to help a member of outr armed forces know that their fur kid is taken care of while they are taking care of us!

I heard about DoD through facebook and immediately fell in love with what they do!! I've heard and seen way too many have to give up their pets to shelters because they have no one to care for them while they are deployed or moving/PCS. We have 3 dogs of our own and we could not even imagine having to give them up! Pets are apart of some many families and it's not fair for our troops to have to sacrifice their families! This is such a great cause, I am now volunteering at their events to help educate the commnunity on the sacrifices our troops to have to make!

Not much else to say that hasn't been said, but they do the most incredible selfless acts for our Military members and their beloved pets, OF all kinds!!! Being deployed is hard enough but not knowing if your pet is safe and cared for would be devastating!! this outfit helps with that and helps put their minds at ease.
I wish I could help them out more, financially and physically but.....they are the only charity I do give to when I can give. This foundation was stated because of a need that wasn't met and they met it! I am so happy to give them a major thumbs up!!

This organization helps keep families together - our pets are family too. Nobody should have to lose a family member while serving their country - thank goodness for Dogs on Deployment.

I have been following DOD for several months now and am so pleased about what they are doing to help service members and their pets! Being in the military means being gone a lot and not being able to always have your pets with you when you are in transition. This service helps to make sure that those transitions don't lead to lost pets. I am looking forward to being able to foster an animal for this organization soon!

This is a much needed service. I am former military and a current defense contractor that deploys overseas. I may need their service one day.

This is an amazing organization helping people who fight daily for our freedoms. What better way to help them than by helping their family. For soldiers, being deployed is incredibly difficult but coming home and being reunited with loved ones is what keeps a lot of them going. If they had to come back to a home not complete because they had no one to watch their pet, that would just be devastating.

I am currently volunteering by housing a dog whose mom is deployed. Without this wonderful organization, sweet Ginger may have been put in a shelter and euthanized. This organization is wonderful for anyone looking to support our troops or anyone serving our country who needs help with their pets. I have recommended this organization to all of my friends, and several have signed up! Even after Ginger goes home to her own family, I plan to volunteer my heart and home to another pet through Dogs on Deployment.

We have not had an opportunity to foster a dog yet, but love seeing the successful stories on their page !

Dogs on Deployment is a fantastic organization helping military personnel find temporary loving homes for their beloved dogs while they are away fighting for our country.

My husband is in the military and several years ago we were faced with a short notice overseas move. We had to find temporary homes for our two dogs until we could make arrangements to have them join us. At the time i was unaware of any organization that could help us. It was awful and heartbreaking and we received hateful comments from people who have no idea how difficult it can be to own pets in the military. I am so thankful this group exists! We all love our pets, but when duty calls sometimes we need help. Looking forward to the day we can foster a dog and help out! This is such an important project!! I hope no other family ever has to experience what we did. This organization is brining peace to military members and pets! Thank you!!

Dogs on Deployment is a true blessing to our military personnel. Not only do they help with placing military personnel animals while they are deployed, but they also help them with financial support for emergency care, spay and neuter initiatives, vaccinations and micro chipping and so much more.

I came across your Facebook page through a friend of mine. I thought it was an excellent idea and couldn't wait to sign up and volunteer. I am an Army brat and remember having to give our dog away I PCS to Germany. I would love to help those families and soldiers. Fantastic idea and organization.

Our men and women fight for our country every day. Without Dogs on Deployment, these service persons would suffer even more. Just knowing that when they come home not only are they greeted by family and friends but also their pets. Our Dogs are a big part of helping us cope with our issues of returning home from war.

I love that this program allows deployed military members the opportunity to come home to the unconditional love of their furry family members. I was able to help a Vietnam Vet by providing a furever home for his two beloved dogs when he fell on hard times. Their story was cross posted on DoD and with the help of some local rescues and fosters, these dogs ended up in my heart and in my home. Now I volunteer for DoD to help spread the word about this amazing and fulfilling program.

I am so happy this organization exist! Our pets are family and no member of the military should ever have to surrender a family member while they are on active duty.

My company, Halogen Designs, has been working closely with Alisa and Shawn from Dogs on Deployment to improve its website. Dogs on Deployment has definitely stretched every dollar that they receive in order to make the most impact for the deployed military pet owners. I have had the pleasure of helping DoD temporarily fix its current site while the new one is put into place.

I am writing today to confirm what many others have said: that DoD is a very good steward of the donations that it receives and that the money that is donated turns into real, tangible results. If you are considering donating to DoD, either time or money, you can know that your donations are improving the lives of military pet owners.

Service members have enough to worry about. They don't want to 'dump' their treasured animals. Dogs on Deployment helps find loving homes to keep these pets safe until their owners return from stepping up and doing their best for this country. As a DoD retired civilian, I know what provisions are made for human military family members. I also know that there are no provisions made for pets. Please help our service members know their pets are safe and loved in their absence.

This group is an amazing group helping our real life hero's and their four legged family members

It is so great to see an organization like this give our military members being deployed a little peace of mind knowing their pet will be well taken care of. I have heard of many of our military members giving their pets up because they could not find anyone to take care of them. Now through this organization they can be deployed knowing an important family member will be there for them when they return! Right now I only cross post for them in hopes of helping to find fosters because I have 4 rescues already, but if possible I will foster in the future. Good job DOD!

The least I can do for members of our military fighting for our freedom! We're not ready yet since our dog just passed away, but what a great way to serve our country and fill a void left by losing a furry soul mate.

The people of Dogs on Deployment are God's angels on earth. They support the love of our men and women in uniform and their families keep their pets safe while they are on deployment, whether for training or in harm's way.

As a recent retiree from the United States Navy, I can relate to all these stories. I served half of my career overseas and I was lucky enough to have friends back in the states to take care of my fur babies, but if not for them I would have been heartbroken. I commend your site and ALL the volunteers willing to help our Service Members. Thank you so much!

I've seen so many examples of DoD helping pets and their military moms and dads.

I am a military member and a dog mom. I am so grateful that this organization exists so that I don't have to choose between having my wonderful animals or serving my country.

About 15 years ago we had to give up a dog due to a move overseas, everybody told us it was hard to find a good home for our two kids with a dog, even though we found a good home for him State side it was not something we wanted to do, if we had this organization in place at that time we would have send for our dog. As a spouse of an retired USAFE member and mother of an USAFE member I can not think of a better service for our military members and their beloved pets and I'm more then willing to spread the word. This organization will get military members with their pets in contact with a large network of people who all want to help out by either sharing posts, donating funds (what will be used to help out incase of emergencies), transportation and fostering pets. so glad keep up the good work D.O.D.

D.O.D. is such a great idea and I have seen how it has saved many pets from ending up in shelters. These families value their pets like family so really, D.O.D. is caring for a service member's loved one while they are out protecting our country. What a blessing that is.

As a military wife of a naval servicemember, I am honored to spread the word about this amazing organization. So many of us have witnessed our fellow servicemen/women having to leave their pets behind while on deployments; we were fortunate that I was home to take care of ours, but others aren't as lucky. People who support Dogs on Deployment do more than put a bumper sticker of "support the troops" on their car; they back it up with actions!

I love what they do for our military personnel!! I share whenever I can. Everyone needs to know what a great charity DOD is. Thank you very much

This organization is desperately needed for a cause so few know about. Until I heard about DOD, I didn't realize how large scale of a problem deployed military personnel have with their pets. DOD is truly serving these wonderful people and their pets while they are deployed.

This organization was started and is still lead by an active duty military married couple. Having helped to start a 501c3 org for animal rescue myself, I know the time and dedication it takes to make this work!
Dogs have an amazing ability to heal the mind, body and soul; who on this planet deserves a dog more than a member of the military? Anyone who will put their life on the line to make my family's lives better deserves every advantage to stay healthy and "whole" that we can give them in return.
The organization has some amazing volunteers that help keep everything going; just as with any other small non-profit, they are essential and unpaid personnel.
If you can give even $1, please donate to this cause.

Most amazing and inspirational charity, and so needed. I spread the word wherever I can, I think everyone needs to know about this service, it puts minds at rest for those working hard to keep the country safe and I hope it grows to other countries too.

As the mother of an Airman I appreciate everything Dogs on Deployment does.

Having served more than 20 years in the USMC, I more than understand the tearing emotions one has when orders send you away and you pet(s) can not accompany you. It is like losing your family. It is losing your family. This organization is long overdue. They are doing great and needed work. Bless them all.

Great Organization..doing a great service!! This is a life changer for so many people!

What a wonderful organization, keeping pets safe for their military owners.

This is a great organization, helping both servicemen, women and their pets.

Amazing organization, amazing people doing amazing things!

So excited to be a part of this wonderful organization! We have been patiently waiting for quite awhile and it looks like we are finally going to match up with a deploying soldier to take care of his beloved dog while he heads to Afghanistan. These brave warriors have enough to worry about back home without stressing over who will watch their pets. What a great opportunity to match up folks who want to "support our troops" by doing something so important for them back home!

This organization is phenomenal! I'm thrilled to be able to help deployed military by boarding their animals. We've only boarded one but it's been great. And we had a wonderful time representing them at a booth in Ohio!

Amazing organization who helps those who often get left behind due to the requirements of the military. As a military spouse with 2 dogs, I 100% support this organization and its cause.

Great organization that fills a need those if us in animal rescue have seen for years. As a military family ourselves, we are looking forward to having our own DoD border to help out. Great job, DoD!!

An absolutely wonderful organization that I am so glad to be a part of. Giving service men and woman peace of mind that their four legged family members will be cared for while they are deployed, helping with medical expenses and so many other things. Top notch in my book.

We are a military family and there are so many details and moving parts to consider when managing a deployment, or even a PCS (permanent change of station), and it's absolutely wonderful to know there's an organization like Dogs on Deployment that's focused on keep our fur family members happy, healthy, and well cared for. Thanks for all you do!

Our family has been military for generations and having a service like this is something I highly recommend. They are doing a great job helping others in the service and there pets. Giving military members the relief of knowing that there pets are cared for by loving people while they are protecting our country. Sure makes a tough time a lot easier.

DOD is an organization close to my heart as a military spouse, pet parent, volunteer and student in the field of veterinary medicine. DOD provides military personnel and their families with valuable information and help when faced with time constraints, living constraints or not having someone to help with our furry family members. I am so glad DOD is here to lend a "Paw" and bring awareness to military families, our pets and the situations that we face. Our dogs are our family, it's as simple as that.

What an amazing organization. I'm in the military and have 2 dogs. It's great knowing this organization exists should I ever need to utilize it. My dogs are part of my family and it gives me comfort in knowing they would be loved while I'm gone.

I love that there is an organization that helps those that are serving in the Armed forces. Helping families when they are relocating, recuperating , or on deployment . Making sure that their 'four legged family' members are safe and well cared for. They have enough to deal with and taking one thing off of their plate to ease their commitments is great

Dogs on Deployment is such a wonderful organization, they do more, go farther, care better and love much. :)

I just love the impact on the lives of our soldiers and their beloved pets. Such a blessing for the animals and their "parents," whose hearts would otherwise be sorrowful while they are off working on our behalf all over the world. What a simple idea that provides SO MUCH value. A truly wonderful organization.

I love all animals and this organization not only helps animals but our service men and women who need all of us to support them

Excellence! This is a much needed service that was nearly non-existent. They have stepped in to provide relief to both service members and their beloved pets. Who doesn't win with this?

As an animal lover, daughter of a career military man, and supporter of many nonprofits, I was drawn to the mission of Dogs on Deployment as one that dearly touched my heart. Our service members deserve our gratitude and support. When deployed, all their immediate family members are affected by their absence. That includes their canine and feline family, too. Let's not have those serving our country worry about those left at home. DOD offers a much needed and worry-aleviating service.

This is an incredible organization. We sometimes forget just how much our service members sacrifice for our country. But Dogs on Deployment helps to remind us and gives us an opportunity to show our support.

Wonderful Organization! Helping our Military Service Members keep their pets, keeping loved pets out of the shelters and with their original family!

Such good work they do! I am an Army Mom who volunteers at a shelter and fosters my soldier daughters dog.. The ability for military to know their pets are safe, is HUGE ! Love the mission of DOD! They. Are. Awesome!

We are new DoD Boarders and just love the new temporary member of our family. He is happy, healthy and adjusting well. We are so happy and proud to be able to support a member of our military forces in this manner. They do sooo much for us each and every day and being able to help him and his family is a blessing. To hear a soldier say "Thank you so much for doing this for us! It is such a relief to know our dog is being taken care of and we don't have to worry about him". What better thing can you do for a military member than give them some peace of mind? All it takes is heart, and that is just not hard to do at all.

Thank you Dogs on Deployment for offering this network and service!!

What an amazing service this organization provides - can't want to be a boarder soon!! For the military members, this has to be a Godsend.

Helping our Military members, and their animals, has to be the most noble group out there. I salute their efforts, and will continue to help spread the word.

A great service to the military members. As part of the military family and living near a military post, I see so many pets come up for adoption due to deployment. The soldiers or families just cannot carry the burden alone for the 1+ years of deployment. Thank you so much for this wonderful idea and thanks to all the fantastic volunteers that step up and take care of the pets until their owners come home.

Probably the finest Not For Profit on the planet. They have successfully placed over 320 military-owned pets in the homes of qualified DoD Boarders during their owner's service commitments which reduces a great deal of stress. They have supplied nearly $6000 in 2013 for financial assistance to military pet owners for help with their pet's care during emergencies... Imagine being a military hero about to be deployed, and not knowing what to do with your best bud? (Veteran Military with 2 Active duty children)

As I am a member of a military town, I understand the plight of those military members that have furry members of their family. Having to be away from them for months on end is hard. Making sure they are taken care of when family and friends cannot help is even harder. This group goes to great lengths to educate the public about long-term fostering for military members. This keeps families together and fur kids out of shelters or worse. They have helped so many who have needed it.

Awesome group with a much needed service. I have interacted with them by passing on needed adaptions. If there is a chance to help in my area, I will be there to help.

So glad DOD promotes proper pet care and training along with there very needed service of placing military pets. Lets not forget DOD has also been able to help members with emergency vet expenses. DOD is an amazing and very needed organization. Thank you for all the hard work you guys do!

I found this group online, in my opinion this is a fantastic idea to keep families together, less stress on service person knowing their fur family is safe while they protect and serve the USA.....Less burdens on shelters, you save a life, a animal cant help they are homeless, a lot, meet death because of it..this is a great organization and deserves and earned a applaud......from us all...Bless them and support them.

Hi everybody my name is Julie and I have 3 DOD borders in my home now, They might not be dogs but DOD didn't care about that and their owner was allowed to put her 3 ferrets on the site. Well it did not take long for word of it to get to me, I'm a ferret lover to say the least. I now have 3 beautiful little girls borders from DOD, who if it was not for DOD the owner was getting ready to have to surrender them. I personally think DOD is one of the very best programs set up lately to help military members and their beloved pets. I would recommend The DOD to any military member who needs to find a temporary home for their pets while they are deployed. I have the girls until May of 2014 and I have enjoyed every moment so far. Thank You DOD.
Julie Brammer
Foster Mom

The service that Dogs on Deployment provides to our active military members and their families is an important one. The challenges our military families face are difficult enough without having to worry about permanently losing a much loved and important member of their family. They can rest assured that their pet is being loved and cared for until they are able to return home to the family.

I am a boarder for DOD. I boarded my first dog a few months back and it was a great experience! I was able to help a fellow service member family as well as give my dog a playmate for a few months. Looking forward to boarding my next dog soon!