Arizona Humane Society fosters military members’ pets through Project Active Duty

PHOENIX — Know a service member worried about their pet during deployment? The Arizona Humane Society’s Project Active Duty can help.

Created after 9/11 to support military personnel, this program provides free foster care for pets while their owners serve — no matter how long the deployment lasts.

One of the many servicemembers who got peace of mind through the program was U.S. Army Sergeant Joanabel Montes, who was recently reunited with her 3-year-old Alaskan Husky, Sabo, after more than two years apart. She left him with the program in July 2023.

“I was sad,” Montes recalled. “I was worried, ‘He’s not going to remember me being gone for so long.’ … To see my baby just shy and scared … He was hiding under the chair.”

Through Project Active Duty, Sabo was placed in three different foster homes while Montes served the country.

When Montes returned home, she was stationed in Florida. She drove over 20 hours to reunite with Sabo as soon as she was granted leave.

“The communication was amazing — the emails, back and forth, the photos — he was definitely treated like family everywhere he went,” she said.

During her deployment, she received regular updates. Foster families took Sabo on trips; one even sent her pictures of him rollerblading. Now, Montes is looking forward to taking him on new adventures.

“I’m excited to have my baby back,” she said. “I appreciate all the fosters that helped, all the love and kindness that they gave him.”

The Arizona Humane Society is urgently seeking Foster Heroes to care for pets that are both homeless and those belonging to deployed service members. Those who want to open their homes to animals in need can sign up online.

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