Project POOCH

Mission

Provide life-changing opportunities for adjudicated youth and shelter dogs. Youth develop responsibility, patience, and compassion as they learn to train dogs, manage a kennel, and help dogs find their forever homes while building job and life skills.

Bottom Line for Portland

At Project POOCH, we provide opportunities for youth in corrections to develop the personal and vocational skills needed to become responsible and productive members within their current environment and upon rejoining their community.

Project POOCH youth are paired with dogs to learn kennel management, positive reinforcement, grooming, and training techniques. The youth learn what it means to be depended on by another living creature and how it feels to be trusted and relied upon. The dogs get trained, loved, and adopted into their forever homes. Each dog and each youth are unique, and we build individual programs to meet their needs and help them thrive. There is no limit to the amount of time a dog spends in our care.

At Project POOCH, youth participants discover a sense of purpose and value. They build (or rebuild) their confidence and their dog’s confidence through dedication, training the dogs, and training and mentoring their fellow participants. The youth learn that they can come out of youth corrections and not just rejoin society but add value to their communities. 

Quote

One of our youth recently shared with OPB about his experience working with Klondike, one of our long-term POOCH pups, “He’s come a really long way,” Chris said. “And it’s amazing. Knowing that you … take a part in a really big change for him, or for any animal, makes you feel nice.” (If you missed the OPB & NPR story, you can find the link on our website at pooch.org/press)

“POOCH has allowed me to grow and thrive in a very safe, caring, and important place. POOCH has been some of the most beautiful times of my life and taught me so much. The team here at POOCH is the best team I've ever been able to experience.” –Z.G., POOCH Youth

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We acknowledge the racial disparity, both in the justice system and the animal rescue world, and we are committed to making Project POOCH more equitable, inclusive, and diverse. The youth at Project POOCH are some of the many people affected by inequity in our country—economically and racially. Our program exists to directly serve this population by providing opportunities for youth to avoid the youth facility-to-prison pipeline. We create and cultivate an inclusive environment at Project POOCH where everyone feels welcome, supported, and engaged as a part of the POOCH team. Our youth team is diverse and discrimination at POOCH is not tolerated.

Incentives

• All donations come with an incentive of wonderful karma!
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• $25 or more will receive a sticker from Rogue Ales and Project POOCH. If you choose to attend our Santa Paws Party at Rogue Eastside Pub & Pilot Brewery on November 30, you will receive digital photos with Santa (you can bring your pup for photos or have your photo taken with friends/family).
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• $60 or more will receive a $15 gift card to Rogue Ales locations, good for food/drink of your choice, plus the $25-level incentive, the Rogue & POOCH stickers, and Santa Paws photos.

$100 or more will receive a Project POOCH sticker pack and the incentives of the $25- and $50-levels, the $15 gift card to Rogue Ales, the Rogue & POOCH stickers, and the Santa Paws photos.

Partner(s)

• Rogue Ales has been a long-time partner of Project POOCH. They are engaged as donors and are represented on our Board of Directors. They generously partner with POOCH to carry out events for POOCH adopters and all Oregon dog owners to raise awareness of and fundraise for Project POOCH. Upcoming event at Rogue Eastside: Santa Paws, November 30.

Animal Aid is a nonprofit partner that shares our dedication to serving the animals of the Portland Metro area. We are partnering on our annual event, Drag Queen Bingo with Poison Waters at Lucky Lab Northwest on December 10.

Oregon Justice Resource Center is a nonprofit partner that shares our commitment to juvenile justice through its Youth Justice Project. We are working to partner on a evening event about the justice system where you will have the opportunity to hear firsthand experiences.