LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. (CBS12) — Big Dog Ranch Rescue celebrated a major milestone in veteran support and animal welfare on Monday with the opening of the Patriot Pet Lodge.
The grand opening, hosted by board members and longtime supporters Ken and Elaine Langone, marked the completion of an 18,000-square-foot facility dedicated to helping veterans and their canine companions.
The Patriot Pet Lodge reportedly aims to triple the capacity of Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s veteran-focused initiatives with specialized training for veterans and free boarding for deployed service members.
Facility highlights
- Free Boarding for Heroes: Features 80 private boarding rooms capable of housing up to 160 dogs at no cost for veterans and currently deployed service members.
- Expanded Training: Triples the capacity of the Veteran Service Dog Training Program, which has already successfully graduated over 230 service dogs.
- Commitment to Service: All veteran-related services at the lodge are provided free of charge.
The grand opening took place at 9:30 a.m. with the Langones, Big Dog Ranch Rescue founder Lauree Simmons, and Director of Training Evan Fried in attendance…