For many people, fostering pets might seem overwhelming on both an emotional and financial level. It also might seem like something that happens with pets that are abandoned or left at a shelter; while that may be true, there is another segment of the pet population needing fostering volunteers: the military. When servicemembers are deployed, finding care for their pets can be a top priority and if they don't live by family, it can be a real challenge.

Many foundations even cater to this issue on a national level, in hopes of providing deploying servicemembers with some peace of mind regarding their pet's wellbeing while they are away.

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet works to recruit foster homes across the country willing to open their homes to provide a loving and safe environment for these pets until the servicemember returns. The service is provided at no cost and those interested in fostering simply need to visit, www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org, and provide the required information. Placements are made through the state specific chapters using the non-profit's Foster Home Agreement, which outlines the terms of the relationship and protects the interests of all parties involved.

Short term fostering (up to nine months) is available on a case-by-case basis for pets of active military, military families with a deployed spouse and veterans experiencing a qualifying emergency hardship.

Many states with a high concentration of military, like Hawaii and Kentucky, offer a program through the Humane Society to deal with this problem on a much more local level. Within the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community, there is also a venue trying to assist pet owners who are going TDY or deploying.

"We didn't intend to start fostering," explained Genevieve Kennedy, public relations manager for the Pet Brigade. "But there was a need among our clients."

So, in response to the requests, the Pet Brigade put up a corkboard on which people could post a photo and information about the pet they needed foster care for. There is no cost for posting an ad and though the Pet Brigade acts as a medium to bring the parties together, they are not involved in any of the specifics, be it the actual fostering agreement or the financial aspect.

Justine Heigl, the Pet Brigade's Doggie Daycare Director, recently became a foster parent to Ellie, an 8 year-old chow-mix whose owner was deployed to Afghanistan for a year in May.

"At first I was pretty nervous about it," Heigl admitted. "But it's been a great experience and honestly, I recommend doing it to support both the dog and the servicemember."

Heigl began by taking the dog in for a trial weekend, something she can't recommend enough, to see how her own two dogs would react. Then she and the owner worked out an agreement, covering things like what to do if something happens to Ellie, what to do if something happens to the servicemember and even which veterinarian to use and what food to buy.

"The most important thing is to reassure the soldier that the dog is still theirs," Heigl advised. "We acknowledge that we are just her temporary family. I'll miss her next May, but she definitely already has a mom who loves her."

To take a look at the fostering board and see if there's a dog or cat you could help, or to post your own ad for foster care, stop by the Pet Brigade at 04907 Pendleton Dr. on JBLM North, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.