More Room.
More Freedom.
More Joy.
Every dog deserves a safe place to run, play, explore, and be part of the family.
If your dog is currently living on a chain or tether, or in a small outdoor enclosure, Fences For Fido may be able to help. We know how much your dog means to you – and sometimes, access to a safe, secure fence is the barrier, not love.
Need a Little Help for Your Fido?
If your dog is living on a chain, tether, or in a small outdoor enclosure, Fences For Fido may be able to help.
We know how much your dog means to you. Sometimes life makes it difficult to give them everything they need, even when you’re doing everything you can. That’s where we come in.
We build safe, secure fences at no cost to families we serve, and a fence is just the beginning. Our Circle of Care can also connect families with resources such as dog houses, veterinary care, spay/neuter, vaccines, and other support when available.
If your Fido needs a safer place to live, please reach out.
More Freedom
Room to run, explore, and play.
More Safety
A secure space to enjoy time outdoors.
More Joy
More enrichment, more connection, and a whole lot more zoomies.
Eligibility
Asking for help is an act of love.
We know that families come to us because they love their dogs and want something better for them. Sometimes access to fencing, veterinary care, food or other resources is the barrier – not love.
Fences For Fido exists to help bridge that gap.
A fence opens the door to a Circle of Care.
Your relationship with Fences For Fido doesn’t necessarily end when we build the fence. We stay connected because life changes—and sometimes what a family needs changes, too.
Depending on the circumstances and available resources, our Circle of Care may include:
- A safe, secure fence
- A dog house or shade structure
- Spay/neuter and vaccines
- Veterinary care
- Supplemental pet food
- Help connecting with other community resources
Every family is different. Every Fido is different. We’ll start with where you are.
A note about applications
We wish we could build a fence for every dog who needs one. Because Fences For Fido is funded by donations and grants and our fence builds are powered by volunteers, we have to make careful decisions about where we can help.
We prioritize dogs whose living conditions most closely align with our mission and where a fence can make the greatest difference in their safety and quality of life.
If we aren’t able to help, we know that doesn’t mean your Fido doesn’t deserve better. We’ll do our best to point you toward other resources when we can.
Could Fences For Fido help your Fido?
OREGON OR WASHINGTON
Your dog must live in Oregon or Washington to be considered for a Fences For Fido fence.
A Need for a
safer space
Your dog may qualify if they are living on a chain or tether, in a small enclosure or cage, or if there is another significant safety concern affecting their living situation.
SPAY AND NEUTER
Every dog who receives a Fences For Fido fence must be spayed or neutered.
If your dog isn’t already spayed or neutered, that’s okay – we can help. Spay/neuter is part of our Circle of Care, and we provide this care at no cost to families receiving a fence.
1
APPLY
Complete our application and tell us about your dog, your family, and their current living situation.
2
CONNECT
Our team will review your application and reach out within 30 days.
3
PLAN
If we’re able to help, we’ll work with your family to plan a fence and coordinate spay/neuter for your dog(s), if needed.
4
BUILD
A team of Fences For Fido volunteers will build a safe, secure fence for your dog(s), along with insulated dog house(s).
5
UNCHAIN
Your Fido gets to run, play, explore, and enjoy their very own safe space.
What Happens
After You
Request a Fence?
Questions?
We Have Answers.
Do I have to be low-income to request a fence?
No. There are no income requirements, and we don’t ask families to provide financial information. We know that families love their dogs and want the best for them. Sometimes, access to a safe, secure fence is the barrier – not love. We consider the dog’s needs and living situation when deciding where we can help. If your Fido needs a safer place to live, please reach out. We’d love to learn more about your situation.
Will you reveal my name if I refer someone's dog for a fence?
No. You can remain anonymous. You have the opportunity to indicate this choice on our online fence application form.
Why is chaining dogs unsafe for the dog and the community?
Dogs are social animals. They need opportunities to move, explore, rest, play, and interact safely with the people and animals around them. When a dog spends long periods tethered, their world can become very small – and they may be unable to move away when they feel frightened, threatened, or overwhelmed.
A dog on a chain cannot choose to walk away. That matters for both the dog and the people around them. A tether can leave a dog vulnerable to other animals, people, extreme weather, entanglement, injury, or strangulation. It can also prevent a dog from reaching food, water, or shelter.
Tethering can also increase isolation, frustration, and stress. A dog who cannot retreat from something that frightens or excites them may be more likely to respond defensively. Research has found that dogs chained in yards were nearly three times as likely to bite as unchained dogs, and veterinary organizations have long recognized tethering as a potential contributor to aggressive behavior.
A fence changes that.
Instead of being confined to the end of a chain, a dog can move freely within a safe space, choose where to rest, explore their surroundings, and retreat when they need a break. A secure yard also creates a safer boundary between a dog and people, children, other animals, and wildlife.
For Fences For Fido, getting a dog off a chain isn’t about judging the family who loves them. It’s about creating a safer, healthier way for that dog to live – and giving the whole family more freedom.
What if I just need a dog house for my outdoor dog?
Please email us at FenceRequest@FencesForFido.org. Be sure to tell us your name, phone number, address, your dog’s name, and their weight.
I am a former Fences for Fido fence recipient that needs a repair. What should I do?
Please fill out our Request a Fence form. We will evaluate your fence and decide what type of repair is needed.
I am a former Fences for Fido fence recipient that needs to have a fence removed.
Please email us at FenceRequest@FencesForFido.org and explain your situation.
Does my dog have to be spayed or neutered to get a fence?
Yes. Every dog who receives a Fences For Fido fence must be spayed or neutered. If your dog has already been spayed or neutered, you can provide documentation from your veterinarian or an animal shelter.
If your dog isn’t yet spayed or neutered, that’s okay – we can help. Spay/neuter is part of our Circle of Care, and Fences For Fido can arrange this at no cost to families receiving a fence.
We know every family and every Fido is different. If you have questions about spay/neuter, please don’t let that stop you from reaching out – we’re happy to talk with you about what’s needed.
Why is spay and neuter important for dogs who receive a Fences For Fido fence?
Spaying or neutering is an important part of caring for a dog and helps prevent unwanted litters, reduce pet overpopulation, and provide important health and behavioral benefits.
For dogs who are moving from a chain to a fenced yard, spay/neuter also helps make their new freedom safer. Dogs who are not spayed or neutered may be more likely to roam or try to escape when they are looking for a mate. A secure fence gives a dog room to run and play safely, while spay/neuter can reduce the urge to wander beyond that safe space.
Spay/neuter can also eliminate the risk of certain reproductive cancers and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
That’s why spay/neuter is part of our Circle of Care. We want the fence to be more than a physical barrier – we want it to create a safe, healthy place where a dog can thrive.
Ready to Unchain
Your Dog?
All you have left to do is apply.
Fences For Fido is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon building free, donor-funded fences for dogs living outdoors on chains, tethers or in small outdoor pens. Our volunteers work in a large area of northwest Oregon, central Oregon, and southwest Washington. We do not build outside those regions. If you live outside our service area, you are welcome to email us at info@fencesforfido.org and we can let you know if there’s an unchaining organization in your area.