Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet Announces 2018 Board Members

All volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit military and veteran service organization cares for soldier’s pets.

Gatesville, TX – Effective January 1, 2018, Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet announced the 2018 Board of Directors for the organization as follows:

President: Linda Spurlin-Dominik
Vice President: Victoria Scott
Secretary: open
Treasurer: Major Nancy Emma, US Army (Retired)
Director: Tonya Phipps
Director: Major Randall Baucom, US Army (Retired)

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet© Board of Director members (officers and directors) primary responsibility is providing overall governance to the organization, representing it to the community, and accepting the ultimate legal authority for the organization.

About Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet:

ALL volunteer 501c3 nonprofit “Military & Veterans Service Organization” (MVSO) supporting our active duty  Military, Wounded Warriors,  homeless Veterans, and their beloved Pets to ensure the pets are reunited with their owners following a deployment  related to a combat or peace-keeping or humanitarian mission  or unforeseen medical and/or homeless hardship  situation through various programs/services/projects.  For more information on providing a foster home, becoming a volunteer, or making a donation to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, please visit www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org.

Media Inquiries:  media@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org

Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet Featured on the Hallmark Channel’s show “Home and Family”

The Hallmark Channel‘s show “Home and Family” will be presenting info about Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet via our Celebrity Spokesperson, Lucas Hoge. The show will start with Lucas with singing several of his latest hits and rest of the show will be about Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet. Our sincere thanks to Larissa Wohl (Hallmark Channel representative pictured), Lucas Hoge (pictured), Kim & Tim Kuen, Randall Baucom, and Nancy Emma in helping to make this segment a reality.

The show will air twice:

Monday, 4 December 2017 – 9 AM Central Time
Tuesday, 5 December 2017 – 11 AM Central Time

Help Us “Raise the Roof” and Build a National Office

Since Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet began in January 2005, our “day-to-day operations” have been handled in the CEO’s residence (55-60% of home). Now in 2017 it is time we are working toward establishing an official “national office” to handle these operations with an actual volunteer “Admin Staff” to assist the organization’s CEO.

Today though we are waiting from an estimated cost for a 14’ x 30’ Leland “Chisholm Trail Cabin” from what we know we feel we are at the point that we can officially establish an official “Capital Campaign” to make this project a reality in order to raise $35,000.

Besides being able to have an “Admin Staff” having a separate building, we can meet with other volunteers involved with fundraising in Central TX for the other MVP Sanctuary projects; meet with members of the military and veteran communities and other interested parties. In addition we can plan for activities/events at the MVP Sanctuary.

Full details can be found on our website, including how you can get involved.

Make a donation to the Campaign, by clicking here.

Looking for a few Great Women (and men) Coordination Volunteers

We are looking for individuals who wish to become part of the Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet mission as a Foster Coordination Liaison (FCL) involved with working with our service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and families of our fallen warriors who need assistance via our Foster Home program, which also includes vetting and interacting with those individuals and families who have registered as potential foster homes through our organization.

Primarily at this time we are looking for at least 4 new FCL volunteers to cover the states of Maryland, North Carolina/South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia/West Virginia within our Southeast Region.

NOTE: Not required to reside in a specific state shown above since you would be working from home via the Internet and phone.

This is a virtual volunteer role where your efforts can be accomplished via the phone and Internet (emails) in your home during the evenings and Saturday (depending on your available time) and includes the following criteria:

• A passion to help our military service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and families of our fallen warriors.
• Interact and maintain communication with our registered potential foster homes, plus work with others (inside and outside the organization) as required
• Be a self-starter, has excellent organizational, interpersonal, and management skills, plus able to work independently and as a “team” player.
• Understand and agree to follow and adhere to the Organization’s mission, purpose, operating procedures, and organizational policies/guidelines.
• Comfortable using and access to MS office (such as Word, Excel), communicate via the internet, phone calls, and email.
• Previous customer service, volunteer nonprofit managerial and animal related coordination/placement experience helpful
• Help promote the organization, its mission, and programs with others via sharing our flyers, brochures, and other items as requested by the organization’s National office.
• Able to commit at least 1 year in this position
• Provide the required monthly reports (coordination activity and volunteer service hours) by the date as determined by the organization’s National office.
• Estimated Volunteer Time per Month: averaging 25-30 hours – Please be advised actual hours per month is variable on a state by state basis.

 

Those interested in learning more about the volunteer positions or to apply, visit HERE.

In Memory of Cherie Nicole Boudreaux

(July 5, 1974 – February 23, 2016)

Volunteer for Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet as
National Treasurer,
TX Warriors’ Angels Coordination Liaison,
South Regional Director,
TX Director, and
TX Foster Coordination Liaison
between
September 19, 2011 and February 23, 2016.

Nancy Emma: How Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet gave her peace of mind

Nancy Emma, who now serves on the board of directors for Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, was once a recipient of the organization’s programs.

According to Nancy, a Major in the Army at the time, she was on her second tour in Afghanistan when she was notified that her dogs were being abused by their caretaker.  “She’d keep them caged up all day, go overnight with some guy.”  Upset and furious Nancy began looking for help right away.   “I had to do a lot of research.  I didn’t know about Guardian Angels back then. I e-mailed everybody in the world.”  Shortly after sending out her e-mail, a friend of hers back on base in Fort Hood, TX gave her Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet name.  Nancy contacted the organization explaining the situation and was elated by the response she got.  “Within two days, somebody was at my house to get the dogs.”  Pedro, Loretta and Snowball were immediately placed in foster homes approved by Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet.  Snowball was eventually taken in by Linda Spurlin-Dominik, CEO, herself.

When asked how she felt once her dogs were safe Nancy said, “I was truly relieved.  Happy.”  Another benefit of fostering with the organization was the contact she received from each of the foster families.  “I loved seeing the pictures of the dogs.”  Nancy became especially close with Linda whom she said, “Acted like a mother to my dog.”

Obviously pleased with the care her dogs received with Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, Nancy fostered her dogs with them again for her third and final tour.

Now Nancy has become one of the organization’s biggest advocates.  When asked if she has recommended Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet to anybody else she told me, “Everybody.  Everybody.  I used to hand out fliers at Fort Hood at the vet’s office.”  She also told me, “I’d do anything for Guardian Angels.”  And she does.

As part of the board, Nancy now helps come up with ways to raise money for Guardian Angel’s various programs.  She also donates money every month as a way of paying back the organization that helped her so much.

Nancy also feels it’s important to spread the word about Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet.  “We’ve got to let people know that there is someone out there to help them.”

Nancy also has a message for all of the volunteers with Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet.  “For the people who volunteer, like the ones who took my dogs, all I can say is ‘thank you’ and God bless them because they give a lot of peace of mind to a lot of people.”

– Article written by Laurie Sickles. 

Foster Coordination Liaison Volunteer Recruiting Need

We are looking for individuals who wish to become part of the Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet mission as a Foster Coordination Liaison (FCL) involved with working with our service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and families of our fallen warriors who need assistance via our MVP Foster Home program, which also includes vetting and interacting with those individuals and families who have registered as potential foster homes through our organization.

Primarily at this time we are looking for FCLs to cover the states of AR/OK, AZ, CO, LA, MN, MO, NV, AL/GA, NC/SC, TN, VA/WV, MD/DC, and TX.

This is a virtual volunteer role where your efforts can be accomplished via the phone and Internet (emails) and includes the following criteria:

• A passion to help our military service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and families of our fallen warriors.
• Interact and maintain communication with our registered potential foster homes, plus work with others (inside and outside the organization) as required
• Be a self-starter, has excellent organizational, interpersonal, and management skills, plus able to work independently and as a “team” player.
• Understand and agree to follow and adhere to the Organization’s mission, purpose, operating procedures, and organizational policies/guidelines.
• Comfortable using and access to MS office (such as Word, Excel), communicate via the internet, phone calls, and email.
• Previous customer service, volunteer nonprofit managerial and animal related coordination/placement experience helpful
• Help promote the organization, it’s mission, and programs with others via sharing our flyers, brochures, and other items as requested by the organization’s National office.
• Able to commit at least 1 year in this position
• Provide the required monthly reports (coordination activity and volunteer service hours) by the date as determined by the organization’s National office.
• Estimated Volunteer Time per Month: averaging 25-30 hours – Please be advised actual hours per month is variable on a state by state basis.

Those interested in learning more about the volunteer positions or to apply, visit HERE.

SPOTLIGHT: Military Pet Assistance (MPA) Fund

The Military Pet Assistance (MPA) Fund was developed and implemented in February 2008 to assist with emergency pet care related costs for pets fostered in our MVPFH program when we are unable to reach the legal pet owner and emergency pet care is needed due to an unforeseen emergency medical situation occurs.

In addition expenditures from this fund are used to ensure our homeless veterans’ pets that are fostered through the MVPFH Program (legal veteran pet owner is receiving a “hand up” via a VA medical center and/or Homeless Veteran Transition program) are altered, healthy, and current on shots prior to placement into one of our specific foster homes.  These expenses can include but are not limited to:

1. temporary boarding (usually not exceeding 14 days);
2. required veterinary care related to the need for the pet or pets to be spayed/neutered, heartworm tested, current on all required shots as deemed necessary by the veterinarian;
3. have the pets Microchipped;
4. cover costs for up to 6 months of heartworm/flea/tick meds, and
5. food and treats where the veteran does not have the funds to cover this expense.

In addition, funds may be expended for these pets during the specific foster term who may need unforeseen veterinarian care.

To date the cost per pet averages $500 – $700.

Actual assistance via this fund is totally dependent on funds available at the time the expense is occurred and totally based on donations received via the general public during the year.

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We have an URGENT need to Replenish the MPA Fund

So far this month we have spent over $1,200 dollars via our Military Pet Assistance (MPA) fund helping homeless veterans and their companion animals (for necessary veterinarian care and temporary pet boarding).

As of this 22 June we have below $800 in the fund with four open cases (AR, MA, and IN) with two potential needs possibly forthcoming from CO and MN. Therefore we need to raise a minimum of $3,000 between now and 30 June 2015 to handle these cases and additional cases expected over the next couple of weeks.

We have applications in for grants and a couple more being worked on, but those take time and no guarantee funding will be available although we have confirmed our program is eligible and were advised to submit the applications.

Through the MPA Fund, you can help a veteran’s Furbaby like Ginger (pictured), who is currently in boarding and she must be out before 1 July 2015.Though deployments are down to a certain degree, helping our veterans, especially the Homeless Veterans, the work is just beginning as the various agencies across the country helping these veterans are learning about our programs and services.

So how can I help support the MPA Fund?

Make a Donation

Donations made to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet (Fed Tax ID: 20-2229425) are tax deductible as defined under section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code and specific tax deductible related questions should be discussed with your personal tax advisor.Check/Money Order payable to: Guardian Angels For Soldier’s PetMemo Line: MPA FundMail Check/Money Order To:

Guardian Angels For Soldier’s Pet
9725 FM 1783
Gatesville, TX 76528-4739

You will receive a numbered receipt recognizing your donation to our organization. If you wish to receive ongoing updates about us, please include your email address. Your monetary donation is tax deductible to the full extent as allowed by law. Please contact your tax advisor.

Other ways to donate to the MPA Fund:

1. PayPal using email: mpa@guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org
2. Click on the first “Donate Button” on our website (all contributions coming in between now and 6/30/15 will be allocated to the MPA fund program).

Share with a Friend

We understand that not everyone is in a place where they can make a donation, but you can help spread the word to someone who might be able to help.

Please consider forwarding this blog post to 5 friends who might not know about the MPA Fund!

Thank you in advance!

About Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet

 Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet is a National all-volunteer 501(c)3 Military and Veteran Support Organization assisting active duty service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and their beloved companion animals or assistance service canines through various assistance programs. We have four programs: 1) Military, Veteran, and Pet Foster Home Program 2) Military Pet Assistance Fund 3) Warriors’ Angels Program (TX Only) and 4) MVP Sanctuary (TX Only).

www.guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org

www.mvpsanctuary.org

Our homeless veterans need your help!

Helping Veterans With Pets – Need Your Help – Between 1/1/15 and 4/1/15 via our Military Pet Assistance (MPA) fund we have disbursed $4,136 involving pet boarding and required veterinarian care for 16 beloved furbabies of our homeless veterans receiving a hands up via a VA approved “Homeless Veteran Transition” program in the states of AR, CO, TX, and VA .  As of today we have a balance of $871 in our MPA fund.

We are in dire needs of monetary contributions for the MPA fund and hope you and others can help us so to continue supporting our homeless veterans and their pets via the MPA fund.  Contributions can be made on line via our official website (guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org) “Donate Now” button (please show MPA fund in Memo/Message line or via check/money order payable to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet (Memo Line MPA Fund) and mailed to Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pet, 9725 FM 1783, Gatesville, TX 76528-4739.

“100% of these contributions go to the MPA fund.”

Please share this with others who may also wish to support our MPA Fund. 

Thank you!