Fences For Fido

Mission

Fences For Fido is the only unchaining organization in the Pacific Northwest. 

We show up where love meets need by building free fences to get dogs off chains, warm shelter, emergency veterinary care, and essential pet support to socially, financially, and geographically isolated communities, ensuring dogs can live free, healthy lives with the families who love them. Those barriers can be especially difficult to navigate in rural communities, where services may be limited or far away.

We provide an array of services, including:

🐾 Free fences for chained dogs living outside

🐾 Warm dog houses

🐾 Supplemental pet food for struggling families

🐾 Spay/neuter

🐾 Vaccine/wellness clinics in rural communities

🐾 Life-saving veterinary care & emergency surgeries

🐾 Fences for transitional housing communities & domestic violence shelters  

We offer compassionate, free solutions that help families better meet the needs of their dogs, giving pets the chance to live longer, healthier lives with their families who cherish them.

Bottom Line

Our first fence was for a chained dog named Chopper in northeast Portland in 2009. Our mission began with a simple idea: build a safe fence so a dog could live free from a chain. 

Since then, we’ve helped MORE THAN 4,000 DOGS experience the freedom of a safe place to live, run, and play!

Along the way, we learned that a fence is often just the beginning.

Families can face barriers to veterinary critical care, pet food, safe shelter, and other resources their dogs need. We’ve learned that chaining is rarely a first choice. Often, it’s a last resort, not because a family doesn’t love their dog, but because they lack access to the resources they need.

That’s where Fences For Fido comes in. Our Circle of Care includes free fences, warm doghouses and shade structures, spay/neuter and vaccination services, wellness and emergency veterinary care, supplemental pet food, and other support when circumstances change.

We also build fences for transitional housing communities and domestic violence shelters, helping people keep their pets with them during difficult times.

We don’t just build fences. We build relationships, respond to the needs in front of us, and stay involved when more help is needed.

Because every fence opens the door to a full Circle of Care, and every family deserves the chance to keep their beloved pets safe, healthy, and by their side.

Quote

Sometimes, the help a family needs changes. We stay.

A neighbor reached out to Fences For Fido about Darlene, an older woman living in rural Central Oregon with her dog, Izzy, who was born blind. After losing her home in a fire, Darlene was living in a small cabin. Izzy had been wandering off and getting lost, and everyone was worried about her safety.

We said “yes” and planned to build a fence. But before we could begin, Darlene suffered multiple strokes while away for her mother’s funeral, leaving Izzy alone.

The immediate need was no longer a fence. Izzy needed somewhere safe to stay.

Within hours, we partnered with a local rescue to find a foster home for Izzy until Darlene could return. About a month later, Darlene arrived home from Arizona just as Izzy was returning from foster care. Our volunteers were there, too, finishing her fence.

Before Izzy even got out of the car, she heard Darlene’s voice. She went from completely calm to bursting with excitement, trying to get to her mama.

They were together again, this time safely inside their new fenced yard.

We continue to support Darlene and Izzy with food and care. Darlene later sent us a message that said:

“In tears, without your help, I wouldn’t have Izzy. Thank u.”

This is what our Circle of Care looks like. Sometimes the need is a fence. Sometimes it’s finding a safe place for a dog when life takes an unexpected turn. And sometimes it’s all of those things.

Behind every dog is a family. Families love their dogs, and sometimes they just need support.

🧡🩵🤎 We show up. We get to work. We stay. 🧡🩵🤎

Incentives

🌸 🌱 The first 50 people to donate $50+ fetch a collection of native Oregon flower seed packets. The beauty of flowers sprinkled in sideyards and backyards of Oregon is symbolic of the hope, love and light our volunteers and supporters bring to a dog who has been awaiting his or her day of freedom. Thank you for planting small seeds for a big impact! 🌷 🐾 💫

Gift Matching

Meat for Cats & Dogs is generously matching the first $500 donated to Fences For Fido's Give!Guide campaign! Thank you, Meat for Cats & Dogs!

Partner(s)

Please consider visiting our Give!Guide partners' pages and supporting their great work:

Love Our City provides reliable access to healthy and nutritious food to individuals and families facing food insecurity in our local Portland community.

Meals on Wheels People enriches the lives of seniors and assist them in maintaining independence by providing nutritious food, human connections, and social support. They also use their expertise and capacity to serve other nutritionally at-risk populations.