Building a Strong Foundation for Guardians of the Homefront
Building a Strong Foundation for Guardians of the Homefront
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to launch Guardians of the Homefront as a safe, dependable, and responsibly managed foster program for pets whose owners are away on qualifying active-duty deployments.
Temporary pet fostering requires more than finding a caring home. Each placement must be supported by proper screening, veterinary preparation, food and supplies, reliable transportation, insurance, emergency planning, ongoing monitoring, and a clear reunification process.
This funding plan is designed to help Pay It Fur-Ward begin the pilot responsibly while protecting every pet already accepted into the program. Of the total campaign goal, $20,000 will be maintained as a board-designated emergency reserve. The remaining $30,000 will support the direct services and operating needs of the pilot.
How the $50,000 Will Be Used
$20,000 — Board-Designated Emergency Reserve
The emergency reserve will help protect pets already enrolled in the program when an urgent or unexpected situation occurs. Approved uses may include emergency veterinary treatment, hospitalization, emergency boarding following a foster-placement failure, safety relocation, disaster evacuation, missing-pet recovery, and other extraordinary placement needs.
This reserve is an important safeguard. It helps ensure that an unexpected emergency does not leave a deployed service member’s pet without appropriate care.
$8,000 — Food, Litter, Medication, and Supplies
These funds will help provide the everyday essentials pets need throughout their foster placements. Depending on the individual pet, this may include food, litter, prescribed medication, crates, bedding, bowls, leashes, collars, identification tags, enrichment items, and other necessary care supplies.
$6,000 — Insurance and Legal Review
Responsible foster care requires appropriate protection for the pets, caregivers, participants, volunteers, and organization. This allocation will support insurance costs, coverage review, legal review of program documents, risk-management planning, and other professional services needed to operate the pilot responsibly.
$5,000 — Routine Veterinary Preparation and Care
Before entering a foster home, a pet may require an examination, vaccinations, preventive care, medication review, health documentation, or treatment of a routine medical concern. These funds will help prepare pets for safe placement and support necessary non-emergency veterinary care during the pilot.
$4,000 — Long-Term Foster Support
Active-duty deployments can last for several months and may sometimes be extended. This funding will help support foster caregivers during longer placements by assisting with approved care expenses, replacement supplies, specialized needs, and other costs associated with providing consistent care over time.
$3,000 — Transportation and Emergency Boarding
Pets may need safe transportation to a foster home, veterinary appointment, backup caregiver, or reunification location. This allocation will also help cover temporary boarding when an approved foster placement is unexpectedly interrupted and a suitable backup home is not immediately available.
$2,000 — Recruitment and Outreach
A successful program depends on qualified foster caregivers, trusted community partners, and awareness among eligible service members. These funds will support foster recruitment, printed and digital materials, community presentations, application outreach, and connections with local veterinary practices, businesses, and military-family organizations.
$2,000 — General Contingency
Even with careful planning, a new pilot program will encounter needs that cannot be predicted precisely in advance. The general contingency provides limited flexibility for reasonable program expenses that fall outside the other operating categories. These funds will remain subject to Pay It Fur-Ward’s financial controls and approval procedures.
Every Contribution Strengthens the Safety Net
Each part of this budget supports the same goal: keeping pets safe, healthy, and connected to the service members who love them.
Donations will be managed by Pay It Fur-Ward and used to support Guardians of the Homefront in accordance with the organization’s charitable purpose, financial policies, and any expressly accepted donor restrictions. Actual expenses may vary as the needs of enrolled pets and foster placements become known. Pay It Fur-Ward may adjust operating categories when necessary while maintaining the protections established for the emergency reserve.
By helping us reach the $50,000 campaign goal, donors will give Guardians of the Homefront the foundation it needs to accept its first placements responsibly—and the resources to stand behind those pets until their families return.
Keep Their Pets Safe Until They Come Home
Guardians of the Homefront provides safe, temporary foster care for pets whose owners are away on qualifying active-duty deployments. Your support gives service members peace of mind while helping keep pets with the families who love them.
$0 raised
0 donations
No days left
0%
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$20
$50
$100
$200
Other
0/100
Comment (optional)
Become a Guardians of the Homefront Foster
Give Them Peace of Mind While They Serve
When a service member deploys, they already have enough to worry about. Finding a safe, loving place for their pet shouldn’t be one of those worries.
Guardians of the Homefront connects deploying military members with approved foster families who can provide temporary care for their dogs or cats while they are away. This is not a surrender or adoption program. These pets already have families who love them and are counting the days until they can come home.
By becoming a Guardian foster, you’re giving a service member something incredibly valuable: the peace of mind that their beloved companion is safe, loved, and waiting for them when they return.
We Need Foster Families in the Colorado Springs Area
With thousands of military families calling our community home, the need for reliable deployment foster homes can arise at any time. We are building our network now so that when deployment orders come, we are ready.
Guardian fosters may be asked to care for a pet for several weeks or several months depending on the service member’s deployment. Before placement, we’ll work to ensure the pet is a good fit for your household and that you understand their individual needs, personality, routine, and expected length of stay.
As a Guardian foster, you provide a safe home, daily care, affection, exercise, and the stability every pet deserves. Pay It Fur-Ward remains involved throughout the placement to support both the foster family and the deployed service member.
You Don’t Have to Be Military to Serve Those Who Are
You just need a safe home, a compassionate heart, and the willingness to temporarily make room for someone else’s best friend.
For a deployed service member, knowing their dog is still chasing a ball in a backyard or their cat is curled up safely on someone’s couch can make an unimaginable difference thousands of miles from home.
Their family serves our country. You can help protect a piece of their home until they return.
Ready to Become a Guardian?
Complete our Guardians of the Homefront Foster Application to join our network of approved foster families in the Colorado Springs area.
[SIGN UP TO FOSTER]
There is no obligation to accept every placement. When a pet needs care, we’ll contact appropriate approved fosters with information about the animal and expected deployment period so you can decide whether the placement is right for your home.
Love Without Judgment. Compassion Without Limits.