Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Soldiers’ Animal Companions Fund?
The SAC Fund is a vehicle for accepting and passing on donations. It was established to enable United States citizens to make tax-deductible donations to NOWZAD DOGS, a United Kingdom charity that is dedicated to helping the dogs and cats that have meant so much to our troops in Afghanistan. Now we are also able to raise funds for War Dogs Making It Home, a US charity dedicated to helping our veterans suffering from PTSD or TBI by pairing them with rescued dogs trained to be service animals.
Why a Fund?
The fund was originally created to address the tax deduction issue. Many donors would like the option of deducting their charitable donations for tax purposes. Currently United States citizens cannot make tax-deductable donations directly to foreign charities.
Who started it?
The fund was started by a group of individuals in Seattle who were inspired to help our soldiers and their adopted pets after reading an article in The Seattle Times about a Nowzad rescue.
Why do some of the SAC Fund’s donations go to Nowzad Dogs, a United Kingdom charity?
There are extreme difficulties involved in helping the animals in these countries.
Rabies is a problem, as are cultural issues. Considered “unclean” by the Taliban, dogs are really valued only as fighting animals. Their tails and ears are cut off to make them better able to endure fighting and their subsequent grim struggles exist to provide entertainment and a form of prestige for the winning owners who wager on the outcome of these battles. Not only is this a major difficulty, but with only one animal shelter in all of Afghanistan, vaccines, and spay and neuter services are very, very limited.
Pen Farthing, a British marine, discovered this situation when he was stationed in Afghanistan. Through his efforts a network has been established to help the animals in Iraq and Afghanistan. The charity he founded, Nowzad Dogs, interfaces with other organizations and has made it possible for several animals to escape the war zone.
Why do some of the SAC Fund’s donations go to War Dogs Making It Home?
Time and again it has been shown that service dogs can dramatically help our veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI. Unfortunately funding for programs to train and provide these service dogs is currently not supported by any of our government agencies.
War Dogs is a non-profit organization that has created a program to train rescued dogs for this purpose. They rely solely on donations to continue their vital work helping veterans.
By pairing some Nowzad-rescued dogs with this Chicago-based training program, we hope to save these dogs – often originally kept from death through the kindness of our soldiers – and the veterans who desperately need their help.
How can I learn more about Nowzad Dogs and War Dogs Making It Home?
What is CAF America?
CAF America – Charities Aid Foundation America – is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding borderless charitable giving, or giving to charities outside of our country. As a grant-making organization they are currently helping a growing number of people and brands, including Bob Dylan, Kim Cattrail, Nike, and MASSIVEGOOD, accomplish their philanthropic goals by making it possible for people to contribute to foreign charities they support.
Why is the fund connected to CAF America?
As a CAF America Fund, the SAC Fund, provides a way for US citizens to support the work of Nowzad Dogs and teh work of War Dogs Making It Home.
To become eligible to receive grants (donations) from CAF America, a charity must be approved through a strict vetting process. Since Nowzad Dogs and War Dogs Making It Home have received this approval, contributors to the SAC Fund can be assured not only that their donations will go directly to helping these charities, but that their donations will be tax-deductable in the United States.
Why can’t I just contribute to Nowzad Dogs directly?
You can. Your contribution will just not be tax deductable in the United States.
If I download the donor form from this web site and write a check why can’t I write it to the SAC Fund instead of to CAF America?
In order to receive a tax-deduction, donations must be processed through the CAF America system. By designating that you are supporting the SAC Fund, you can be assured your donation will be credited to the SAC Fund account.
How much of my donation actually goes to Nowzad Dogs and to War Dogs Making It Home?
95% of each donation will go directly to these charities. All SAC Fund marketing and administrative costs are paid for personally by the founders of the SAC Fund.
Can I specify how my donation is to be directed?
If you have a specific animal or cause to which you would like your donation directed, please send us an e-mail at
info@sacfund.com to let us know your wishes. Details of each grant are posted on our site under the tab “Your donations at work.”
Why not focus on the many homeless animals in the United States?
All of us involved in the SAC Fund care very much about the homeless animals in our country. Fortunately we are not alone – here in the United States we have many shelters, volunteers, and organizations that reach out to help these animals.
We are supporting these causes not to take from the homeless animals here, but to acknowledge the tremendous contribution animals have made toward helping our troops. The boost in morale and spirit that these animals have provided in combat zones cannot be understated. The difference service dogs have made for their veterans here at home is immeasurable. We feel that by helping them we are also helping our military men and women who have given so much to all of us.