K9s For Warriors hosted an impactful event Friday night, Feb. 7, raising a record $1.1 million to pair future warriors with life-changing service dogs. Hundreds of Ponte Vedra locals and visitors attended the 2025 Salute to Heroes Gala hosted by K9s at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa.
“We are immensely grateful for the supportive community that came together for our warriors and their service dogs,” said Lindsay Grayson, chief revenue officer at K9s For Warriors. “Our donors have made our mission possible for the last 14 years.”
This year’s mission focus was the rescued service dog. By rescuing most of its dogs, K9s For Warriors saves two lives — a dog and a veteran. The harsh reality is more than 1,000 dogs a day are euthanized in shelters. The goal of K9s For Warriors is to save as many lives as possible.
“Just because a dog has a rough past doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be loved,” said K9s Director of Procurement & Placement Dan Clavel during his speech. “Our goal is to help the dog rebuild its trust and faith in humanity and begin its journey toward becoming a confident, life-changing service dog for a veteran in need.”
