Big Dog Ranch Rescue, largest cage-free no kill rescue in U.S., to open first location in Macon County

Big Dog Ranch Rescue
Big Dog Ranch Rescue CEO and Founder Lauree Simmons with dogs at the Florida location. (Big Dog Ranch Rescue)

Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest cage-free no-kill rescue in the United States, is opening a new location in Macon County, Alabama.

According to the organization’s website, the new location will be named “Big Dog Ranch Rescue Alabama” and will serve Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.  

Located in Shorter, Alabama, the 100 acre campus has 16 kennels and several other structures that will be renovated prior to opening.  

Additional details:

  • Priority is being given to the immediate opening of 5 kennel buildings
  • Establishment of a Veterinary Healing Center
  • Housing for staff

The first buildings in the facility are expected to open in September 2022. 

About the New Site

The new location was once a housing and training facility for Greyhound racing and will now be used to heal, house and arrange adoption for dogs who may otherwise have been put to sleep. The large campus will also serve as a transitional hub for shelters in the Northeast. Rescues will be vetted, receive medical care and be prepared for adoption both locally and nationally. 

“Record numbers of dogs are being brought to shelters resulting in overcrowding and a record euthanasia rate for these former family pets. Higher costs for everything from fuel to food are prompting owners to surrender their dogs. In response we are opening a second location in Alabama to serve the Southeast region which is especially hit hard. This new world class rescue will open up space in our Palm Beach County location so we can rescue more Florida dogs. It will also help us to double our impact by saving an additional 5000 dogs each year. “

~ Big Dog Ranch Rescue Founder and CEO Lauree Simmons 

Located Near Tuskegee and Auburn

The new Big Dog Ranch Rescue Alabama site is also near two of the nation’s most respected veterinary schools — Tuskegee University and Auburn University.

In fact, the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine (TUCVM) is the only veterinary medical professional program located on the campus of a historically black college or university (HBCU) in the United States. The school has educated more than 70 percent of the nation’s African-American veterinarians.

Learn More

Want to learn more about Big Dog Ranch Rescue Alabama? Visit their website at: https://www.bdrr.org

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Pat Byington
Pat Byington
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