Navigating Pet Ownership Amidst Military Life
Introduction
Should You Get a Dog While Working in the Military? Deciding to add a four-legged companion to your family can be extremely exciting. You may be tempted to jump right in with both feet. However, military families should consider both the joys and the challenges of pet ownership before making this important decision.
In recent years, there has been an increase in pet ownership among military personnel. This is likely due to the safety and comfort a companion animal can bring to those far from family who move around frequently. At the same time, adding a dog can also create unintended stressors.
Since you are reading this post, you are likely already part of the group aware of both sides and want to do your due diligence to make an informed decision. Below are several things for you to consider when looking into dog ownership.
Navigating Military Life with a Dog
Pet ownership in the armed forces looks a lot different than civilian life. For instance, military families often move to a new location every few years. Moving with a pet can add additional costs to the process, costing hundreds to thousands of dollars each time.
You also have to consider the logistics of moving a pet, including figuring out air travel requirements for overseas assignments, finding someone to transport your pet, or traveling with them in a vehicle.
If you pay someone to transport your pet for you, it will minimize the logistical stress. However, this will cost more and could lead to worrying about your pet until you are reunited.
On the flip side, if you choose to travel with them in a vehicle, you will need to find pet-friendly places to stay and stop more frequently, extending the length of your travel.
Financial Assistance During Moves
Thankfully, there is financial assistance available to help military members with pets, including PCS reimbursements for eligible pet expenses incurred during a military move. According to the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) from the Department of Defense, effective Jan 1, 2024, military members can be reimbursed up to $550 for relocating with a pet within the United States. This only covers one pet but includes:
- Mandatory microchipping
- Boarding fees
- Licensing fees at your new duty station
- Hotel service charges
- Pet shipping fees
For an international PCS, you can be reimbursed up to $2000. This still only covers one animal but includes all the expenses listed above, as well as:
- Quarantine fees
- Testing titer levels
Finding Housing
If you get a dog, you will need to find a home that allows pets each time you PCS. Not only will this often require an added pet fee, but it will also make your search a bit more complicated.
When my husband and I moved to our current duty station, we couldn’t find a single home near the base that allowed dogs, had a fenced-in yard, and fell within our housing allowance. As a result, we defaulted to living on post.
Keep in mind that pets are not allowed in unaccompanied dorm housing on base. For houses or apartments, you may only have up to 2 dogs and/or cats. Not all dog breeds are allowed on military installations, so make sure you check these regulations before choosing a dog. Thankfully, base housing is less strict on dog weight limitations than most off-post housing, so you won’t need to worry so much about that aspect.
Veterinary Care and Pet Health
Another consideration before getting a dog is the cost of veterinary care. It is extremely important to have regular vet check-ups to keep your pet healthy. This is especially true for animals in the military as you will often need to provide these details to your duty station. Additionally, many animal-friendly locations require proof of up-to-date vaccinations or spay/neutering for entry.
Your base should have a vet clinic, but these are often difficult to get into with limited openings. They may also limit the type of care they provide. For instance, our military vet clinic only provides regular check-ups, microchipping, and vaccine administration. To get any type of surgical work, including a spay or neuter, we had to go to a different location.
A civilian vet can be easier to work with but could potentially cost more. Pet insurance is a great way to help minimize these costs, especially during unexpected emergencies. We personally use AKC pet insurance because it was the only insurance we could find that covered preexisting health concerns after one full year of coverage. However, there are many to choose from, so do your research to find what works best for your needs and budget!
Grooming
Grooming is just as important for your pet’s health as vet care. Depending on the breed you choose, you may need to visit a professional groomer every 4-8 months. We own a 75 lbs goldendoodle and we take him in every 6 weeks, costing $165 each time. This is on top of brushing his coat multiple times a week.
He is a large breed, high-maintenance dog with a long coat, and we are stationed in a location with a higher cost of living. Smaller dogs that don’t require haircuts will not cost as much. Alternatively, you could consider grooming at home.
Keep in mind that vet care and grooming costs will change depending on where you live. When deciding if you can afford a dog, make sure you have a little extra room in the budget in case you move somewhere that costs more. No matter how you choose to cover your pet’s health, anticipate additional costs by having a budget for unexpected expenditures.
Balancing Military and Civilian Life
Working in the military can sometimes require long hours away from home. If you live alone and are gone most of the day, now might not be the best time to get a dog, unless you are willing to pay for doggy daycare. This is especially true if you choose to crate your dog while away. Ideally, a dog should not be left in a crate longer than 4 hours at a time without a break.
On the other hand, if you have a spouse who is home all day to watch the kids or has a remote job, a dog could be a great option to keep him/her company. However, try to avoid getting a dog until all kids in the home are at least 5 years old. This will help avoid accidental injuries to both pet and child.
Transitioning to Civilian Life
Whether you are single or have a family, all military service members transition back to civilian life at some point. When you get to that point in your career, there are benefits to having companion animals in your life. They are a source of comfort when you are uncertain about what is next. They will be by your side at moments when everything else is changing.
Support Systems for Military Pet Owners
It is widely recognized that military pets play an important role in improving families’ well-being. Because of this, many kindhearted people and organizations have come together to provide help and financial support to military service members with pets. If you choose to get a pet, here are a few resources available to you:
Dogs on Deployment
Dogs on Deployment is a network of volunteers who support service members by providing a free long-term foster home for your dog to stay during deployments or TDYs. These foster families treat your dog as one of their own, for as long as you are away. On their site, you can filter by location, number of pets, length of time, size, and more. They also support military spouses going through emergency family situations.
PACT for Animals
PACT for Animals is similar to Dogs on Deployment and has foster homes in all 50 states. Foster stays can last anywhere from 6 weeks to 2 years and apply to deployments or those seeking medical care. PACT uses a legal foster contract to offer you peace of mind while away. You just need to reimburse the foster family for food, grooming, and vet care costs as needed.
Guardian Angels for Soldiers’ Pets
Guardian Angels for Soldiers’ Pets provides free foster homes for military pets as well, but it is limited to deployments focused on combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian-type work. They also support service members or veterans dealing with hospitalization or homelessness.
SPCA International-Apollo’s Aid
Apollo’s Aid helps both military pets and refugee families with pets. Their program used to provide financial support for pet expenses incurred during a PCS. However, they no longer need to with the government now reimbursing this. Instead, they focus their financial support on medical assistance to ensure military members don’t have to give up their pets due to unexpected medical issues.
Choosing the Right Dog Breed
Once you have decided to bring a dog into your family, the fun part begins! You now get to start the process of deciding which dog breed is best for you. There are many popular dog breeds suitable for military families, such as:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden Retrievers
- Poodles
- Shih Tzus
Intelligence and Training
It is important to consider the level of intelligence you wish to see in a dog. A dog with high intelligence, such as the poodle or border collie, is easier to train but also requires more mental stimulation. Without this stimulation, they can get bored and become destructive, taking out their boredom on your furniture. Training and puzzle toys are two great examples of mental stimulation.
It goes without saying that, even though the training process may be quicker, you still must put in the time and effort to do so. Prior experience with training and basic commands is a plus. Without proper training and socialization, you will not be able to communicate well with your dog, leading to frustration for both the dog and you.
A consistent training routine is important for active duty with frequent moves and will help your dog adapt to military life more easily.
Maintenance Needs
How much time are you and your family willing to invest in your pooch? As mentioned earlier, long-haired and curly-coated dogs require extensive grooming to avoid painful mats. These include poodles and poodle mixes, such as our goldendoodle.
However, maintenance goes beyond just grooming needs. It includes energy levels as well. Dogs that have higher intelligence also have high energy levels. While both mental and physical stimulation are important for all dogs, it is especially important for very intelligent dogs.
These are great if you are very active and like to take your dog on adventures. But if you are someone looking for a cuddle buddy after a long day at work, consider low-maintenance dogs such as the basset hound or the dachshund.
Size and Cost
How much do you want your dog to weigh? The larger the dog, the higher the cost.
Our 75lb goldendoodle has food allergies, so we have to feed him specific food that is more expensive than mainstream dog kibble. Because he is so large, we have to buy more food, and that extra cost adds up quickly.
A larger dog also requires higher doses of vaccines and medicines, costs more for medical procedures, and has higher grooming costs.
Conclusion
Owning a dog presents a unique set of challenges for military families. From deployments to frequent moves, it can be hard to decide whether to get a pet. However, with the resources available to military members, it is entirely possible to make it work.
There is a lot of responsibility in becoming pet parents, but it is worth it if you can put in the work. An incredible bond occurs between military members and their furry friends. The bottom line is that if pet ownership can fit into your lifestyle and budget, dogs can be a great source of joy for military personnel and families.
Are you considering getting a dog? If so, let me know in the comments what your favorite dog breeds are.