Doggy daycare honors local veterans one paw at a time

Author: Nikki Herrmann Date: 08/31/2026

When the team at Allie’s Walkabout learned about DAV Field of Flags, they knew it would be a meaningful way to honor America's veterans while getting their clients involved. There was just one small challenge: their clients have four paws.

Field of Flags is a nationwide program that invites businesses, schools and organizations to transform their outdoor spaces into patriotic displays of American flags in honor of Veterans Day. Each flag represents a local veteran, creating a tribute that brings communities together to recognize the service and sacrifice of our nation's heroes while raising critical funds to support ill and injured veterans and their families.

Located in Erlanger, Kentucky, Allie’s Walkabout is a doggy daycare that provides a safe, enriching environment for dogs while their owners are away. What began as a young girl's dog-walking business has grown into a family-owned company that now cares for more than 100 dogs. From playtime and enrichment activities to overnight boarding, the team is dedicated to giving every pup the attention and care they deserve.

Over the years, Allie’s Walkabout has cared for dogs belonging to service members who were required to leave their furry companions behind while serving, sometimes for several years. Those experiences made the mission of Field of Flags especially meaningful to the team.

“We don't get to live in this country without defending its principles, and men and women have to do that, and we benefit from the defense,” said Allie’s Walkabout owner and founder David Clegg. “So, I think it's important for everybody to support our veterans, because some have come back severely injured or mentally traumatized, and they need the rest of the country to support them like how they supported us.”

Inspired by those experiences and their commitment to supporting veterans, the team registered to host their first field of flags and got to work spreading the word. They started by promoting on social media and displaying flyers in their lobby, hoping to reach as many people as possible.

DAV makes it simple for participants to promote their field of flags by providing access to a resource page featuring promotional materials, including a social media toolkit and media guide with tips for reaching local news outlets. These resources help participants spread awareness throughout their communities and encourage local support for their events.

However, hosting a field of flags doesn’t just strengthen connections throughout the community, it also strengthens the team behind it. Participating in Field of Flags gave Allie’s Walkabout an opportunity to reinforce the culture they've worked hard to build.

"It exposes your staff and your team and gives them a sense of what you believe in," Clegg said. “Our culture is probably one of the things I'm most proud of."

As flags filled the lawn and employees came together around a shared purpose, the field became a reminder that honoring veterans can be done by anyone. Businesses, schools and organizations all have a role to play in recognizing the sacrifices made by those who have served. That's exactly the kind of community engagement DAV hopes Field of Flags will inspire across the country. 

“Seeing companies like Allie’s Walkabout participate in Field of Flags is exactly what the program is intended to do,” said DAV CEO and National Adjutant Barry Jesinoski. “Field of Flags should bring communities together to show how much they appreciate the sacrifices their local veterans have made. We hope more businesses will see that they can make a difference too.”