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= PACT for Animals =

PACT for Animals is a nonprofit organization based out of the Philadelphia area, is dedicated to championing the human-animal bond and finding temporary in-home foster care for the pets of United States Military Service Members and local hospital patients. PACT stands for People + Animals = Companions Together, and offers free temporary foster programs that personally connect and support the Military Personnel, hospital patients, and Foster Homes involved.

Growth
The concept of PACT was conceived by Buzz Miller in early 2010. Buzz had been rescuing animals for 30 years, and had worked with most of the animal shelters in the Delaware Valley. In 2010 he started noticing that more and more people in the armed services were forced to surrender their pets to a shelter when they went on deployment, and would never see their beloved companion animals again.

Across the country, military service men and women are deployed everyday, however their companion pets still need to be looked after in a safe and caring environment. Without a close family member or friend to care for them, military pet owners are forced to surrender their beloved pets to animal shelters or rescue groups. These pets will be either adopted to strangers or more likely euthanized due to overcrowding in animal shelters. Even today, 50% or more of the animals that enter a shelter are euthanized.

PACT was founded in 2010 as a nonprofit that would be able offer these animals free, quality, foster care, while their owners are deployed as a member of the armed forces. The owners would then be reunited with their pets when they returned from military service. In 2011, PACT’s first operational foster year, they recruited 6 Foster Families and placed 4 animals in foster homes.

In 2012 PACT’s foster network experienced substantial growth, and was able to place 40 animals in foster homes, 80% dogs and 20% cats. In the Fall, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)’s social workers approached PACT about fostering an animal for a young boy who needed major heart surgery The boy's family planned to stay at Ronald McDonald House (RMH) to be near him during his life-threatening ordeal, but felt they had no choice but to surrender his dog, Baby Powder, to a shelter, since the RMH did not allow animals. PACT was able to place Baby Powder in a wonderful foster home, and the boy’s operation was a success. This began PACT’s relationship with CHOP, the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and relationships with the Ronald McDonald homes in the Delaware Valley.

In 2013, PACT started reaching out to military families around the country that needed temporary foster care for their pets. Program participants began driving their animals to PACT Foster Families in the Philadelphia area from areas as far away as Florida, South Carolina, Missouri, and Illinois, as well as flying in their pets from even further away. Satellites of PACT were formed in Colorado and Arizona. PACT receives an average of 5-6 Foster Animal Applications a week, and has placed animals in foster homes in as little as 3 hours when emergencies arise. As of November 2013, they had placed over 90 animals in loving foster homes since 2011.

Foster Programs
PACT works directly with military service members to match their companion animals with perfect foster homes that will give them the care and love they need while their military owners are deployed. PACT has both owners and foster families fill out a written contract that outlines the terms of the relationship and protects the interests of all parties involved.

During the foster term, PACT remains in close contact with the foster home to ensure the pet is in a loving and safe environment, and continues to work with the foster home caregivers regarding any issues or concerns that may arise. Their foster programs are free, however PACT requires all animals be up to date on vaccinations and flea medication, and asks that pet owners cover their animal(s) necessary expenses (food, grooming, veterinarian costs, etc.) while in foster care.

While the military owner is deployed, the foster family provides owners with regular updates – at least one per month – on their pet’s well being, recent activities, and care in the fosters home via emails, texts, photographs and/or video- sometimes even Facebook ! When the owner returns, PACT facilitates the reunion and is present whenever possible. PACT Foster Families have a right, included in the Foster Care Agreement, to occasionally visit with their Foster Animal after they have been reunited with their owner. This helps ease the transition process for both Foster Family and Foster Animal, and builds community between the Fosters and returned Owners.

PACT accepts any companion animals into their foster care program that can be safely and legally transported and housed. This includes, but is not limited to; dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and horses. PACT does not offer foster care for fish, invertebrates, or any aggressive or illegal animals.

Eligibility and Requirements
PACT requires that the owners of animals applying to be fostered be:
 * Unable to care for Foster Animal due to hospital intake or military related reasons,
 * Have a specific end date when Owner will be able to resume care of Foster Animal- minimum of 2 months away, less than 2 years.
 * Exhibit true attachment to Foster Animal
 * Exhibit ability and desire to cover monthly costs of Foster Animal’s food/medical bills while with Foster Family
 * Exhibit ability and desire to resume proper care for Foster Animal upon completion of Foster Agreement
 * Have checked with all friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors before applying to PACT, and have the only remaining options be surrendering Foster Animal to a shelter or unacceptable home
 * Be able to transport Foster Animal to the provided Foster Family
 * Be able to provide clear digital picture of Foster Animal for application

PACT requires that all Foster Families be:
 * Able to provide a vet or reference that will vouch for their ability to care for said animal
 * In a home or apartment that allows animals
 * Willing and able to keep Foster Animal away from other aggressive animals
 * Willing and able to keep Foster Animal mostly indoors and treat it as a member of the family
 * Willing and able to take Foster Animal to the veterinarian in any emergency
 * Willing and able to pass a personal home check by a PACT Home Visit Volunteer

Education
Seminars

Building the human-animal bond starts with understanding the issues facing companion animals. By way of free seminars and humane educational programs, PACT educates the public about important animal issues confronting them today. PACT for Animals seminars cover:


 * No-kill shelters
 * Breed-specific legislation and prejudice
 * Puppy mills
 * Horse slaughter and rights
 * Importance of spaying and neutering
 * Championing the human-animal bond

Childrens Programs

Through free educational programs, workshops and student-run projects, PACT expands children’s knowledge of companion animals, their needs, and how humans can help them. Young adults are an integral part in PACT’s mission of championing the human-animal bond. PACT for Animals educational programs provide:


 * Free, age-appropriate lectures and workshops
 * Consultation on student-run projects
 * Distribution of donations collected via student-run projects to shelters
 * Organized activities, gathering and events for children
 * Reading + book-review programs