K9s For Warriors highlights new onsite veterinary clinic planned for Ponte Vedra training campus

New clinic aims to shorten medical timelines for service dogs in training

K9s For Warriors, a Northeast Florida-based nonprofit that trains service dogs for military veterans, is moving forward with a dedicated onsite veterinary clinic at its Ponte Vedra campus as part of a broader effort to expand in-house canine medical capacity.

The project, known as the Duffield Veterinary Clinic, was introduced publicly at a groundbreaking event in April 2024. Organization leaders said the goal is to reduce delays associated with using outside veterinary providers for procedures and evaluations required before dogs can advance through training and ultimately be paired with veterans.

What the clinic is expected to provide

Program leaders have described the clinic as a full-service facility intended to handle both routine and diagnostic work commonly required for rescue dogs entering service-dog programs. The planned services include spay and neuter procedures, dental care, radiographs and ultrasounds, and routine laboratory testing, among other veterinary functions.

In describing operational impact, K9s For Warriors has said that certain steps in the medical clearance process, such as hip evaluations and spay/neuter procedures, have taken weeks to schedule when handled offsite. The organization has stated it expects the onsite model to shorten those timelines and reduce bottlenecks in the training pipeline.

Permitting and construction details in St. Johns County

County records show that St. Johns County issued a building permit on April 24, 2025, for a veterinary facility at the organization’s Ponte Vedra campus. The permit described a 4,284-square-foot clinic with an estimated project cost of about $2.1 million.

Plans place the clinic on Warrior Way, in an area tied to the nonprofit’s “mega kennel” training operations. A Jacksonville-based contractor, Auld & White Constructors, has been identified in permitting and project announcements as the builder for the veterinary clinic.

How the clinic fits into K9s For Warriors’ broader footprint

K9s For Warriors operates multiple sites, including its Shari Duval National Headquarters and the Davis Family Mega Kennel in Ponte Vedra, as well as a Texas location known as the Warrior Ranch in Helotes. The Ponte Vedra expansion plans have been framed as a way to strengthen throughput and readiness for dogs progressing from rescue intake to formal service-dog training.

• Clinic name: Duffield Veterinary Clinic
• Location: K9s For Warriors campus in Ponte Vedra, Florida
• Planned size: approximately 4,284 square feet
• Permitting: building permit issued April 24, 2025

The organization has stated the clinic is intended to bring critical procedures and evaluations onto the campus, with the aim of completing required medical steps more quickly than when scheduled through outside providers.

No public opening date for the clinic was confirmed in available project and permitting information at the time of publication.