Project POOCH started with one youth and one dog. Our kennel has space for 9 dogs. We typically have 5 POOCH program dogs, and space for 2–4 boarding and daycare dogs. However, we are limited in the number of dogs we have in our program based on the number of youth we have in our program. If we have fewer youth, we will have fewer dogs, and if we have more youth, we will have more dogs. We teach the youth that their primary responsibility is to ensure each dog in our kennel is well cared for, including daily walks, training, and playtime.

Our dogs come from shelters throughout the greater Portland metro area. We work with the local shelters and rescues to identify dogs who have been overlooked, and are having a difficult time being placed whether it is because they are shutting down, extremely hyper, need training and/or socialization, or the shelter is overcrowded. We accept dogs who we think will benefit from and succeed in our unique program. We are not a rescue, rather we partner with shelters; every time Project POOCH takes a dog from a shelter, it opens up space for the shelter to serve another dog.


We don't take dogs from private individuals because we are trying to teach the youths that dogs are a lifetime commitment regardless of situational changes. Many of the youths in our program have broken relationships with their families, so accepting a dog that has been given up by his or her human is very difficult for them.

Unfortunately, no. We do not take dogs from private individuals. We work with local shelters to identify dogs that can benefit from our program. This helps to alleviate the stress of overcrowding on our local municipal shelters. If you need to rehome your dog, we recommend using resources such as your local friend network, the NextDoor app, Facebook, and other social media platforms.

We don't take dogs from private individuals because we are trying to teach the youths that dogs are a lifetime commitment regardless of situational changes. Many of the youths in our program have broken relationships with their families, so accepting a dog that has been given up by his or her human is very difficult for them.

The first step is to read through our list of things to consider before adopting a dog. If you are still interested, you will want to complete an application. Once you have submitted an application, we will review it and contact you if you look like a good fit to schedule a meet & greet. Our kennel is within a locked youth correctional facility, so there are specific facility rules you will need to adhere to. You will be made aware of these rules when you schedule your appointment.

Project POOCH dogs represent a variety of breeds, personality types, and ages. We want the youth to learn how to adjust and adapt to varying conditions and challenges. By bringing in all types of dogs, the youths must learn patience and modify their training to meet each dog's needs and learning styles. Young puppies are not accepted into the program given the barriers to socialization in a correctional facility.

We are not setup to take aggressive dogs or extreme behavior cases.

The youth learn positive reinforcement training methods. Treats, pets, praise, toys, and clickers are used to reward the dogs for good/desired behavior. Through daily interaction and work with the dogs, the youth forge bonds and build trust with the dogs.
 Each dog is unique, and we strive to teach basic cues and life skills to the dogs in our care so they can be successful in an adoptive home.

No. We are committed to the dogs we bring into our kennel and will work with them until we can find them their forever home. Our traiing program is appx. 4–6 weeks long, so at the completion of the training cycle, a dog becomes available for adoption. Our goal is to have each POOCH dog in our program for 8 weeks or less to protect their mental health.

If a dog doesn’t end up being the right fit for their adoptive family, we will take our dogs back and work to find them the right fit. As with most other shelters in Oregon, the only reason we would seek out veterinary support to euthanize a dog is if the dog is a safety risk or has painful health issues. This would be a very uncommon situation for Project POOCH.