PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — K9s for Warriors began construction Wednesday on its new “mega-kennel” in Ponte Vedra.
The new facility, “Campus for K9 Operations” will provide shelter, veterinary care, and training to more than 150 Service-Dogs-in-training.
The new “mega-kennel” will allow K9 For Warriors to drastically increase the number of rescues for its service dog program, which is much needed.
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K9 for Warriors said the demand for service dogs is overwhelming, because nearly 20 veterans die from suicide each day.
The facility is not just a new shelter to house more service dogs, more importantly, it will allow K9 for Warriors to expand its operations and save even more lives.
“The Campus for K9 Operations will fundamentally change both the volume and demographic of the veteran population we’re able to pair with a service dog,” said Rory Diamond, CEO of K9s For Warriors.
Because of this new “mega-kennel,” K9 for Warriors can expand its service dog program to now include all veterans. Previously the only eligible veterans were those who served post 9/11.
Now, all-era veterans experiencing symptoms of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and/or military sexual trauma can apply.
Once complete, “Campus for K9 Operations” will become the largest shelter-to-service-dog facility in the nation.
This expansion will also decrease the wait time veterans are facing to be accepted into the program and receiving their service dog, which can be “life-altering,” Diamond said.
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Chief Program Officer Paul Mundell said most dogs joining K9 for Warriors come from high-kill rescue shelters, so the new “mega-kennel” is helping save dogs lives too!
The new lifesaving facility, “Campus for K9 Operations,” will be located on U.S. Route 1 just south of the Race Track Road intersection in Ponte Vedra.