In 2018, the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties launched Pets Love Vets as a free shelter pet adoption program for U.S. military veterans. So far, Pets Love Vets has been a resounding success with 131 shelter animals adopted by local veterans and their families.
Studies of human blood chemistry show a significant reduction in stress-related hormones when people interact with animals. These positive physiological effects can occur in as little as five to 24 minutes, even faster than medication for stress.
However, veterans can take advantage of the program only if they know it exists. Consequently, The Rotary Club is always looking for help in raising awareness of the program within the military veteran community.
With this in mind, the Rotary Club brought together various community resources and created Pets Love Vets, a simple process to facilitate the healing partnership between vets and pets.
Participating Shelters include:
• PutnamCountyAnimal Services, 107 Ridley Dr., Eatonton, 706-485 3970, putnamcountyga.us/animal-services
• Oconee Regional Humane Society, 1020 Park Ave., Ste. 101, Greensboro, 706-454 1508, orhspets.org
• Oconee County Animal Services, 1171 Branch Rd., Bishop, 706-769-3956, oconee-county-animal-services-ocga-gis. hub.arcgis.com To adopt a shelter animal through Pets Love Vets, veterans just need to contact or visit one of our participating shelters and show one of the following ID documents: a Common Access Card (CAC), a Retired Veterans ID card, or DD Form 214. An adoption counselor will then work with the vet to find the right companion for them and their families.
Once the veteran has been successfully united with a pet, the shelter will bill the Rotary Club, which will pay all adoption fees.
For more information on the Pets Love Vets program, call Scott Gessay at 703-407-0153.