The Marine Corps motto, “Semper Fidelis,” or “Always Faithful,” is respected by all military service members — faithful to their brethren, their country and themselves.

With the help of Dogs on Deployment (or DoD), a central network for military personnel to find volunteers willing to board their pets while they are on deployment, active-duty service members can protect their four-legged companions who are always faithful to them.

Dogs on Deployment is founded on the belief that “no pet should be ever be surrendered to a shelter due to a military commitment.”

“Dogs are important, they’re a part of your family,” said Laura Finch, Dogs on Deployment Bremerton events coordinator.

Finch can’t imagine surrendering that companion  if no boarding options were available while deployed. “If I had to go on deployment, I know I could go to Dogs on Deployment and find a reliable boarder,” she said.

Finch, who is on active duty, joined Dogs on Deployment in 2013 after transferring to Bremerton. She soon recognized a need in Kitsap County and established the Bremerton chapter, which was officially approved around November 2013.

Active-duty service members first visit the website to create an account: dogs ondeployment.org/users/register/plainreg#register_tabs1. Once the account has been approved, the service member searches for and chooses a boarder, with the opportunity to have “puppy play dates” to ensure the boarder is a good fit.

(It is recommended the service member apply a couple of months before deployment, to allow ample time to find the right boarder.)

For guidelines for service members and boarders, go to www.dogsondepl oyment.org/page/military-pet-owners and www.dogso ndeployment.org/page/dod-boarders.

Ron Kerrigan, a veteran and volunteer at Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF), boarded his first dogs for Dogs on Deployment in 2014.  He wanted to support the military and he loves dogs.

Kerrigan read a post by Cory (a sailor on the uss Nimitz) on the Dogs on Deployment website. Cory needed a temporary home for his dogs, Joe and Reece, while he transferred from Virginia to Everett. Kerrigan messaged Cory and they and their dogs met at a dog park.

Joe and Reece stayed with Kerrigan three to four weeks at a time while Cory was at sea every few months. Cory knew Joe and Reece would always have a safe home to stay in.

The Nimitz has since changed homeports. Kerrrigan said with a laugh, “I miss not having them.” Kerrigan was always happy for the dogs’ reunions with Cory, as Joe and Reece “went bananas!”

Boarding dogs is extremely rewarding for Kerrigan, allowing him to support the military while also preventing service members’ trauma of having to surrender a beloved pet. Kerrigan, a 20-year animal shelter volunteer, has seen the trauma an animal who once had a good home experiences entering the shelter system. In boarding, Kerrigan also prevents trauma in pets.

Kerrigan often checks the Dogs on Deployment website for service members in need of boarders. He is “always up for” boarding.

“I would rather take a dog and deal with [potential] issues, than see [service members] give that dog up,” he said, adding that he “absolutely encourages” service members to actively search for boarders to find the best fit.

To Kerrigan, Dogs on Deployment is invaluable in providing comfort to service members. “I’m always here for them,” he said.

To create more awareness, Kerrigan represents Dogs on Deployment at events, hoping to recruit additional boarders who would negate the military pet “free to good home” posts on Craigslist.

Through the Dogs on Deployment End Military Pets on Craigslist (EMPOC) campaign, people check for these posts and email service members information about Dogs and Deployment. Finch often looks through Craigslist, hoping to help.

Dogs on Deployment not only creates a safe environment for military pets, but also alleviates stress for service members. To Finch, Dogs on Deployment is an “awesome organization,” with numerous boarders willing to board animals, not limited to dogs and cats, but also rabbits, parrots, horses, goats, even llamas, no matter the duration of the deployment.

Finch observes, “Lots of people are willing to take that commitment so service members can have their dog” when they return home.