Family Dogs New Life No Kill Dog Shelter

Photos  © Bob Libby, courtesy of Family Dogs New Life Shelter

Heroes for the underdogs

In eight short years, more than 8000 dogs have found forever homes thanks to Portland resident, animal advocate and shelter director Tasha Giacomazzi and her crew at Family Dogs New Life Shelter in Portland.  The no-kill dog shelter — whose residents spend their days in large play groups, not kennels or runs — is devoted to rescuing and rehoming needy dogs regardless of age, breed or history. 

Among many things that make the Family Dogs crew special are these long proven traits:  collaborative, hard-working, committed and friendly.  The shelter works with animal control agencies and humane societies in Oregon and Washington, private rescue groups across the country, and occasionally individual owners.  Their priority is serving dogs “who have no other options,” such as long-term shelter residents who’ve run out of time or dogs other shelters may consider ‘unadoptable.’ 

Another strong Family Dogs trait is innovation.  Their signature “Piteos” — adorable videos featuring adoptable Pit Bulls — are charming, and effective.  Those at FDNL believe Pitties deserve homes as much as other dogs, and the Piteos aim to help shine a good light on the oft-misunderstood dogs. 

Great matchmakers, the Family Dogs crew only introduces prospective adopters to dogs they are confident will be a good match for both the family and the dog. 

Says Tasha of Family Dogs, “We believe in community and, we hope, with your help, we will continue reducing the number of dogs euthanized each year.  Together we can make a difference.”

Being devoted to those at or near “the end of the line” means the crew has worked with countless hard cases.  And perhaps that’s for the best — it seems few do it better than the devoted crew at Family Dogs.  Their motto, “We believe all dogs deserve a second chance at a new life,” is demonstrated daily not only through their efforts, but their success rate and the growing legion of believers whose lives they have touched.

Family Dogs New Life
9101 SE Stanley Ave. Portland, OR
503-771-5596 ∙ FamilyDogsNewLife.org

This story made possible by CVRC, which "adopted" Family Dogs New Life this year!