501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 88-2154618 · Serving military families since 2022
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The Kennel Project
A property of our own.
We're raising $125,000 to build and equip a safe, climate-controlled kennel facility on a property we own. It's the difference between saving the dogs someone has already chosen and saving the ones nobody has found yet — and it brings back boarding for the dogs of active-duty military members.
$1,500 raised
— we're just getting started
Goal: $125,000
Be one of the first donors.
Campaign launched October 2026
Every gift is tax-deductible
The $125,000 does not include buying the property.
Property financing is being handled separately. That means 100% of what this campaign raises goes directly into creating and equipping the facility — kennels, climate control, fencing, exercise yards, and the isolation and care space — not into a mortgage.
Where we are today: still looking for the property.
We haven't found the right parcel yet. The 12-to-18-month build clock starts the day we close on one — and what's raised in the meantime is what lets us move quickly when we find it.
The case for it
What changes the day we have keys
We can pull before we place
Today a dog only survives if an adopter finds their post before the deadline. With kennels we can take the dog first and find the family after — which is the difference between a deadline and a chance.
Boarding comes back
Dependable boarding for the dogs of active-duty military members — during deployments, training, and other service obligations — is the reason this organization exists. It's paused because we have nowhere to put a dog. The facility restores it.
Space to recover
Dogs come off lists sick, injured, and shut down. A quiet place to decompress and receive individualized care before meeting a family changes how those placements go.
What we're building
Small, hands-on, and built for dogs
A safe, climate-controlled facility with two jobs: housing rescued dogs while they wait for a foster or adopter, and dependable boarding for the dogs of active-duty military members. Not an institutional shelter — a smaller place where every dog gets the attention, enrichment, exercise, and care they deserve.
Secure kennels
Individual runs built for safety and quiet, so a dog off a list has a place to decompress and receive individualized care.
Ventilation and cooling
Proper climate control throughout — this is Southern California, and a kennel that isn't cooled isn't safe.
Sanitation and drainage
Designed for washing down daily, which is what keeps disease from moving through a building full of dogs.
Outdoor exercise areas
Fenced yards for play and exercise every day, for the rescue dogs and the boarders alike.
Isolation and care space
A dedicated area for dogs in quarantine, recovering from surgery, or needing medical attention away from the others.
Peace of mind for military families
A place a service member can leave their dog during a deployment or training and know they're safe and loved.
Timeline
12 to 18 months after we secure the property
The work happens in phases. The dates will move with permitting, construction, and fundraising.
Rough figures — they'll firm up with the property and the permits. Together they make the $125,000.
Phase 1 — Permits and site prep
$15,000
Kennel permits, grading and drainage, utilities to the building site.
Phase 2 — Construction
$100,000
The facility itself, then fencing and the kennels — the bulk of the budget and the bulk of the time.
Phase 3 — Fit-out and opening
$10,000
Final inspections, equipment and bedding in, and the first dogs through the door.
Questions
What donors ask about the build
Does the $125,000 include buying the property?
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No. Property financing is being handled separately, so 100% of what this campaign raises goes directly toward creating and equipping the facility — kennels, climate control, fencing, exercise areas, and the isolation and care space.
Have you found the property yet?
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Not yet. We're still looking. The 12–18 month timeline starts from closing — so money raised now is what lets us move fast on the right parcel when it appears.
Why buy instead of rent?
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Because buying gives the rescue the long-term stability it needs to grow and keep serving both shelter dogs and military families. Renting or leasing can come with restrictions on the number of animals, on modifying the facility, and on kennel operations — plus the risk of rising rent or losing the property entirely, which is exactly what happened to us. Ownership lets us put donor funds into a permanent facility designed specifically for animal care, make the improvements it needs, and give Paw of Duty Lodging a secure home for years to come.
What happens if you don't reach the goal?
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The project still moves forward. $125,000 is what it takes to complete the full vision, but we don't have to raise it all at once. If we fall short, we'll build the most essential improvements first and finish the facility in phases as more funding comes in. Every dollar raised stays dedicated to building and equipping the rescue and military dog boarding facility.
How long will this take?
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Our goal is to complete the project within 12–18 months of securing the property. It happens in phases — permits and site preparation first, then facility construction, fencing, and kennels, then final inspections. The timeline may shift with permitting, construction, and fundraising.
Are you still saving dogs while you fundraise?
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Yes. We're pulling dogs off euthanasia lists for committed adopters right now, and we'll keep doing it. The facility doesn't replace that work — it removes the ceiling on it.
Can I give something other than money?
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Often, yes — construction materials, fencing, professional services, equipment. In-kind gifts for a build can be worth as much as cash. Call us before you buy anything so we can tell you what's actually needed.