Help FDF and the Menendez family rebuild after the flood!

My name is Carson Plank and I am asking for help for some of the absolute best people I know. If you know only one thing about Joe and Allie Menendez, it’s a safe assumption that it’s something to do with animals. Joe and Allie run their business, FDF Canine Services, from their home and they work day in and day out helping dogs with behavioral rehabilitation, on top of all of the other services they provide. They have a revolving door for rescue dogs needing a foster home while they prepare to find their new families. Whether it’s dogs, cats, donkeys, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, pigs, goats, peacocks - there’s truly no limit to the list of species they’ve dedicated their lives to helping. They give their all to helping these animals, and now they need our help.

In the immediate aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby, the dam at Lake Manatee was opened, allowing 9,000 cubic feet of water per second to be released. The residents of Parrish were provided little to no warning, and water levels rose almost immediately. In the blink of an eye, Joe and Allie’s entire property was swallowed by water. Their farm animals were drowning and water was rushing into their home and the FDF training building. They were able to get all of their work dogs to high ground, but unfortunately several of their birds drowned quickly before the farm animals were able to be evacuated.

Now that the water has started to recede, they are seeing the true extent of the damage. The back portion of their home will need drywall, flooring and trim all redone. The FDF training building is a near total loss - but at a minimum it will have to be completely rebuilt. Several fridges and freezers are ruined along with furniture. Their tool shed had chest deep water, which ruined all of their tools, generators, and farm machinery. The majority of their farm animal enclosures are damaged or ruined, and they lost nearly all of their livestock food and equipment. Their car was flooded.

To rub salt in the wound, there was an issue with their homeowners insurance that excluded flood damage. That means they will have to shoulder this entire financial burden themselves. And all of this comes just days after they spent more than $5,000 on an operation for one of their dogs. This is where we come in! Joe and Allie would literally give the shirts off their backs to anyone in need, and they’d go without eating themselves before they allowed an animal to go without. They need our help and I know this community will band together to show them they are not alone! Any amount helps, there’s no contribution that’s too small. Let’s get them back on their feet!