East Hartford resident Jeanie Phillips loves cats . She has had one or more as pets almost her entire life . That is why , when she heard about an organization called Guardian Angels for Soldiers’ Pets , she jumped at the chance to help .

GASP , an all-volunteer , non-profit organization , was founded in 2005 by Arkansas native Linda Spurlin-Dominik . She had been active with military groups , and had discovered that some military personnel being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan had to euthanize their pets because they had no one to leave them with while they were gone .

The group’s mission statement reads : “ Supporting our military , veterans , and their beloved Pets to ensure the pets are reunited with their owners following a deployment ( combat or peace-keeping mission ) in harm’s way to fight the global war on terrorism or unforeseen emergency hardship impacting their ability to retain their pet’s ownership rights .

Currently , GASP has 115 pets being cared for nationwide . Of that number , 71 soldiers have been reunited with them when they returned stateside . Since its inception , there are 1 , 300 foster homes across the U . S . that are willing to give the animals temporary care until their masters return .

“ I am watching two cats , named Pumpkin and Bop , for a soldier who is stationed in Iraq , ” said Phillips . “ I already have a cat of my own , but they all get along great . I think I am the only person in town that is doing this . Hopefully , more will volunteer their time . ”

The organization is trying to expand and assist other servicemen and women who are having difficulty in placing their pets in a safe place while they are serving overseas .

“ Right now , a lot of our advertisement is by word of mouth , ” explained Jessica Semon , communications director for GASP . “ We are targeting the military bases especially . Many of the soldiers’ wives are putting up flyers telling people what we are all about . ”

“ There are 12 state directors , ” continued Semon . “ Some of them take on two or three states , if they are small . We also need coordinators who seek out people who would be willing to care for a soldier’s pet . ”

When a foster home is found , the caregiver signs a contract with the soldier . All food and medical care is paid for by the deployed serviceman or woman . Any toys , treats or miscellaneous items , are the responsibility of the individual watching the pet . GASP makes every effort to ensure that a soldier’s pet is in a safe and loving environment .

Although most of the pet owners are in Iraq or Afghanistan , GASP is now trying to include other overseas duty stations as well .

“ We are caring for four pets for soldiers who were sent down to Haiti after the earthquake , ” Semons said . “ We want to help all service personnel . ”

“ I am having a ball , ” remarked Phillips . “ Especially with Bop , who is very friendly . It took Pumpkin a while to come around , but he did . He used to hide , then one day he was sitting on the bed watching me clean the house . Now he’s like part of the family . ”

“ I would definitely do it again , ” she added . “ I can only watch two cats , because I already own one . It’s lots of work , but well worth it . It’s doing something good for someone who is serving in harm’s way for us . ”

For more information about GASP , visit their Web site at http : // www . guardianangelsforsoldierspet . org .