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A soldier facing deployment has a lot of issues to work out before his or her departure. Soldiers with pets must deal with an added issue - what to do with furry family members while they are away. Leaving your pets with friends or family is ideal, but what if no one close to you has room for animals? What if they're just not "animal people"? Luckily, there are several options for soldiers who don't want to give up their pets. Take the time to explore the options before choosing to take your four-legged kids to the shelter.

The Humane Society of the United States Web site provides service members with a checklist for deployment. First on the list, and most important, is drafting a written agreement that covers details like liability for damages and what will happen to the animal if you can't reclaim it. The site also provides worksheets for detailing your pet's personality, medical needs, feeding schedule and veterinarian information. Trusting your pet's well-being to someone else means making sure they have all of the information they need.

Before you leave, make sure your pet's vaccinations are up-to-date and that the animal is spayed or neutered (if necessary). Don't saddle your pet's caretaker with unwanted puppies or kittens in addition to your pet's care. Make sure your pet has all of the necessary tags, plus a new tag with the caretaker's information on it. Your information won't do much good if you are overseas.

When you drop your pet off, leave money with the caretakers for food, toys and unexpected medical care. You never know what could come up, so leave as much as you can. Check that your written agreement specifies what happens to the leftover money, or what you will do if the caretakers have to use some of their own money to care for your pet.

If you are looking for the perfect foster home, check with organizations like Operation Noble Foster, the NetPets Military Pets Foster Project or Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet. Volunteers across the country are opening their homes so your pet will be waiting for you when you get home. Reward such loyalty with the best possible temporary home.

Learn more about this author, Ashley McErlean.
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