by Pat Gray

Created on: May 25, 2010

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets (GASP)

The men and women who serve in the various branches of the United States military leave behind family and friends. When they return, the people they care about will still be there, however, too often the pets they leave behind will not be.

The government makes no provisions for pets when service people are sent overseas. If no one can be found to care for these animals, they are frequently surrendered to animal control, shelters or rescue groups. In extreme cases, the animal is euthanised. Why should offering your life in defense of your country mean the loss of a beloved family member?

Why indeed - and so Carole Olmedo and Linda Spurlin-Dominik founded Guardian Angels For Soldiers Pet (GASP), to provide care for the pets of active military personnel and veterans. The Guardian Angels have three separate programs for helping soldiers and their pets:

~ Foster Home Program
There are many of us who have room for another animal in our homes, and foster families are the core of this program. These homes provide a safe, family environment for pets while the pet-parent is deployed overseas. Apart from veterinary care and the cost of food, this service is provided free to the service man or woman.

Short-term foster care may also be available in hardship cases for a family with a deployed spouse or for the pet of a veteran.

~ Military Pet Assistance
Unfortunately, not all pets are easily placed, and occasionally the group places pets in kennels, at considerable cost. This service is free of charge as well, although the service person may make a contribution to the cost.

GASP may also provide other assistance, including transportation, training or medical care.

~ The Military & Veterans Pet (MVP) Sanctuary Project
The Sanctuary Project will create a permanent facility to care for the pets of service personnel - active and veterans - until an appropriate foster home can be found or until the service person can be reunited with their pet. The first sanctuary will be located in Texas, and there are plans to create similar facilities across the country.

How You Can Help

~ Fostering
Foster homes are needed for all sorts of pets - if you have room and are willing to respect the owner's wishes for the care and treatment of their pet, fostering would be a great way to help.

~ Donating
Money is always a great way to help any rescue or charity.

~ Volunteering
GASP is looking for volunteers to help with fund-raising, transporting pets or for running the groups day-to-day operations.

~ Other Ways to Help
A percentage of purchases made through iGive and eBay will be donated to GASP. You can also help to spread the word by following the group on Twitter and Facebook - and please reTweet and spread the words with your followers and friends.


Men and women are willing to risk their lives defending their country. If they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, why can we sacrifice a bit of time, a bit of space or a bit of money to ensure their most vulnerable family members are are waiting for them when they come home? Please consider supporting our service men and women, as well as the veterans who have given so much for all of us by supporting Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pets.


Postscript: I know from personal experience "when funds are available" isn't very often for many rescue groups, but rather than allow a service person to loose a pet, GASP makes every effort to help, including digging into their own pocketbooks. They are a wonderful organization.

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