AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A cat named Kai needs a foster home in the CSRA while her owner is deployed to Korea, and the search is highlighting a broader gap in support for active-duty service members and veterans in the region.
Kai’s case is being handled by Operation Foster, a national nonprofit that places pets with screened volunteers when service members receive orders or veterans need inpatient care. Gisele Fetterman, the organization’s development director, said Kai’s owner describes her as “a princess” who “loves to play” and is “very friendly” and “very affectionate.”
A community shaped by Fort Gordon
Fort Gordon is home to 17,878 active-duty troops. Beyond the installation, U.S. Census data shows veterans make up double the national average in Augusta-Richmond County.
Fetterman said younger service members are often caught off guard when orders come through. “A lot of our members are younger… they don’t necessarily always prepare… it’s not part of every readiness… sometimes… last minute… that fell through… we still support them,” she said.
When a pet becomes a lifeline
For some veterans, the stakes extend beyond pet care. Fetterman described a call from a veteran who said he had decided to end his life but had not acted because of his dog…