1851

When&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-suter-16aa777b/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Linda</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-suter-a6b58613b/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Craig Suter</a> began their franchise search, they were looking for something that would empower them to give back to their community. Throughout the discovery process with&nbsp;<a href="https://bigfrogfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Big Frog Custom T-Shirts &amp; More</a>, they could see how the company’s philanthropic priorities aligned with their own. The Suters began to envision what the future of giving back could look like with Big Frog ownership. Then, within a month of opening their business, they learned of a huge opportunity to do just that.Shortly after their 2018 opening, the pair came across a post in a local Facebook group. Someone had vandalized the&nbsp;<a href="https://mwdm.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michigan War Dog Memorial</a>, one of the few memorials for military working dogs nationwide. Leaders of The Michigan War Dog Memorial Inc., the organization that supports the development and maintenance of the memorial site itself, were looking for support to invest in a surveillance system. For the Suters, a Big Frog&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bigfrog.com/fundraising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">t-shirt fundraiser</a> seemed like a perfect solution.“Craig reached out and asked if they would let us do a fundraiser,” Linda said. “It was about a week or two long, but for that period, we donated 100% of the proceeds to the memorial. It ended up being around $1,000, and that really cemented our relationship with them.”Now, six years later, the pair continues to produce all the Michigan War Dog Memorial’s merchandise and donates 50% of every purchase back to the organization.“They are very near and dear to us,” Linda said. “They’ve become true friends. It’s such an amazing organization, and we love partnering with them.”<h3>The Michigan War Dog Memorial Honors Heroes from Across the Country</h3>While the memorial itself is in South Lyon, Michigan, the Suters explained that military working dogs from across the country are recognized in it.“This is a unique situation in that there are only a couple of these memorials throughout the country,” Craig said. “Other people have tried, but it’s difficult to get the necessary paperwork completed. This site was an old pet cemetery, so they were able to expand it from there. The original cemetery is still there, in the very back, but it has turned into something phenomenal. They get requests from Michigan and beyond because there aren’t many options.”<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/CueoGc8rSBn/?img_index=10"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FCueoGc8rSBn%2F%3Fimg_index%3D10" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>“When these handlers have to bury their service animals, it’s definitely like burying a family member,” said Linda.“One of the added benefits of having a dog is, at night, when you’re by yourself in your hutch, you can talk to your dog. You can hold your dog … You have somebody to hold on to,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-weitlauf-2675b6143/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Phil Weitlauf</a>, founder and president of Michigan War Dog Memorial, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://vimeo.com/262267476?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">video</a>. “It gives you a feeling of maybe being at home and having your pet. You can tell your dog anything you want, and they will never repeat it … The bonding between a handler and his dog is [incredible].”Handlers can bring their military working dogs to the memorial for an official burial ceremony, complete with military honors. Rather than a 21-gun salute, the organization has a seven-dog “howling team” that howls for 21 seconds to provide each military working dog a proper send-off. Of the 73 burials conducted by Michigan War Dog Memorial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bigfrog.com/brighton/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Big Frog Brighton</a> has fully funded nearly a dozen of them through its fundraising efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to the ceremonies conducted nearly every weekend throughout the summer, Michigan War Dog Memorial has also created a Path of Honor and a memorial wall reminiscent of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.<h3>The Suters’ Ongoing Support Through Big Frog</h3>“The memorial site is a complete community effort. It was overgrown and run-down, and people came and worked for weeks to get it started,” Linda said. “Any time it needs landscaping or new signs, someone steps up. It’s nice to be a part of that community support.”The Suters continue to host an&nbsp;<a href="http://mwdm2.itemorder.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">online store</a> as the sole merchandise supplier for the memorial, and they continue to donate 50% of each sale back to the organization for its continued development. To date, they have donated nearly $10,000, and these contributions have played a major role in supporting the memorial’s continued services.<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=810917984407224&amp;id=100064670905504&amp;rdid=6UvIX4v8LXtARAen"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstory.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D810917984407224%26id%3D100064670905504%26rdid%3D6UvIX4v8LXtARAen" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>“They recently started offering burial ceremonies for service horses; that’s just another way the memorial has grown by leaps and bounds,” Craig said.“We didn’t know, in the beginning, how this was going to grow or blossom. It was just so close to our hearts,” Linda said. “We’re a small part of it, but it does make us feel good. Every time we see something new that they’re doing, we know that we’re contributing a little bit to making that happen.”ABOUT BIG FROG CUSTOM T-SHIRTS &amp; MORE:Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Dunedin, Florida, Big Frog Custom T-Shirts &amp; More, Inc. is an international franchise system with over 75 independently owned and operated stores across North America. They specialize in Direct-to-Garment (DTG) and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, as well as offering a wide range of other custom apparel decorating services. They provide free design help, low minimums, no art/setup fees, and fast turnaround. Find a store at&nbsp;<a href="http://bigfrog.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BIGFROG.COM</a>. For U.S. franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://bigfrogfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BIGFROGFRANCHISE.COM</a> and Big Frog on YouTube. For Canadian franchise opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://bigfrog.ca/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial-2726130" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BIGFROG.CA</a>.

Big Frog Franchise Gives Back to Michigan War Dog Memorial

1851 Franchise

Craig and Linda Suter, who opened their Big Frog franchise in 2018, have been key supporters of the organization since their first month in business, donating nearly $10,000 to date through merchandise fundraisers.

Big Frog Franchisees Create Lifetime Connection with Michigan War Dog Memorial

big-frog-franchisees-support-michigan-war-dog-memorial

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Right at Home

Right at Home® Named a 2025 Top Franchise Brand for Multi-Unit Owners by Entrepreneur Magazine

right-at-home-named-a-2025-top-franchise-brand-for-multi-unit-owners-by-entrepreneur-magazine

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite -Tips-to-Ease-Dog Anxiety-for-4th of July- July-2025

Dog Training Elite Shares Tips To Ease Dog Anxiety for 4th of July

tips-to-ease-dog-anxiety-fireworks-4th-of-july

Melting Pot

Photo of interior of Melting Pot restaurant

Lexington Herald Leader: This Restaurant Chain Eyes a Return to Lexington After 10 Years

melting-pot-return-to-lexington

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke's Breakfast Cafe - John and Kimberly Ehrhard - 1851 Franchise

Empowering Leadership, One Pancake at a Time: How John and Kimberly Ehrhard Are Building a Franchise Legacy with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

john-kimberly-ehrhard-kekes-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Raj Pingili and Paris Baguette logo

How a Family Vacation Inspired Raj Pingili to Bring Paris Baguette to Towson, Maryland

how-a-family-vacation-inspired-raj-pingili-to-bring-paris-baguette-to-towson-maryland

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Juan & Whitney Fernandez & family, BIGGBY COFFEE logo

From Chiropractic to Coffee: These BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisees Are Brewing Something New in Troy, Ohio 

biggby-coffee-franchise-coming-to-troy-ohio

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

Big Frog Franchisees Create Lifetime Connection with Michigan War Dog Memorial

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS