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

✅ 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. 

✅ We work with dogs of all shapes and sizes, from 5lbs to 130lbs, and youth with a variety of backgrounds. We do not discriminate against any dog breeds or any youth—we believe in people's ability to grow and change, with animals by their side. 💕

✅ Project POOCH youth are paired with dogs to learn kennel management, positive reinforcement training, and basic grooming 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 tailor our program to meet their needs and help them thrive. There is no limit to how long 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 their dogs, 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

“Without Project POOCH I would not have had the opportunity to change and grow. I love it over here. I love working with the dogs and knowing they trust me and depend on me. Caring for them has helped me build skills for the outside world.”  -Project POOCH Youth

Incentives

All donations come with the added benefit of wonderful karma!

🎁 $25 or more will receive a Project POOCH sticker. 

🎁 $75 or more will receive five unique notecards made by the POOCH dogs–great for sending your holiday thank-yous! (Will be mailed within 1 week of your donation)

🎁 $150 or more will receive a zippered insulated tote bag featuring the Project POOCH logo, plus the notecards made by the pups, and the Project POOCH stickers.

🎁 The first 10 donations of $250+ in November will receive a BRAND NEW black zip-up hoodie. These have not even been released to the public yet! (we will send you an email for size—the hoodies will be delivered in mid-January)

🎁  The first 10 donations of $250+ in December will receive our BRAND NEW black pullover hoodie. These have not been released to the public yet! (we will send you an email for size—the hoodies will be delivered in mid-January

Gift Matching

$1500 match from our board

$2500 match from a generous donor

Partner(s)

🍺 Brooklyn Carreta is an amazing gathering place located in inner SE Portland, offering 18 food carts, a full bar (with alcohol and non-alcohol options), a coffee bar and a game room. They are generously supporting us this year by hosting Drag Queen Bingo and Santa Paws! Learn more.

☀️Alliance for Safe Oregon is a nonprofit partner that shares our committment to creating safer communities. We are partnering on a Trivia Fundraising Night at Holy Ghost on November 9. Get tickets.

🐱 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 Brooklyn Carreta on November 17. Get tickets.

⚖️ Oregon Justice Resource Center is a nonprofit partner that shares our commitment to juvenile justice through its Youth Justice Project. Upcoming event with OJRC—Chorale for a Cause: A singalong fundraiser with the Low Bar Chorale at Mississippi Studios on November 24. Get tickets.