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Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsJanuary 8, 2025 1:33pm
This sweet boy is Nanook, he was living outside 24/7 in Northwest Alaska with only a kennel/(basically nothing) for shelter. A compassionate neighbor reached out to Straw For Dogs to see if she could ask for a house for this dog even though she was not his owner.

YES this can be done. All we asked was for her to make sure her neighbor would accept the house and use it if we send it. Not only did she initiate the request for assistance for Nanook, she made sure the house was picked up at the airport and set up for her neighbor. She also had someone send pictures to us (a little blurry but you can see Nanook is trying out his new house).

Nanook's owners were very grateful and said he loves his house and after 2 weeks he seemed much happier and his coat looked thicker and healthier.

If you see a dog in need please reach out to us. YES you can request on behalf of someone else. We just ask that you make sure the house will be used if we send it out and of course we love to see pictures if possible.

Thank you to Northern Air Cargo and Ryan Air, INC. for sending this house out for us. We are so grateful to all the air carriers who donate shipping to us. We could not help as many dogs without this very generous donation.

If you would like to contribute to our mission of helping dogs who live outside in Alaska you can donate at www.strawfordogs.org
We are all volunteer, there are no paid positions here....and your donations are tax deductible.
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsJanuary 6, 2025 9:39am
Thank you Kris Capps!

Posting screen shots in case people cannot use the link. I think you have to have a subscription to see the article online.

https://www.newsminer.com/news/kris_capps/straw-for-dogs-provides-shelter-for-pet-dogs/article_91da240c-cbc4-11ef-96f8-a75ae392383e.html
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsJanuary 2, 2025 9:35am
Time to file for your 2025 PFD!

If you would like to help Straw For Dogs continue to supply insulated dog houses and straw to dogs who live outside in Alaska, please consider donating to us when you apply for your PFD using Pick Click Give. We are so grateful for any and all support.

If you have RECEIVED a dog house and/or supplies from Straw For Dogs, you can pay it forward and help more dogs like yours get insulated houses and straw. Please consider donating to us when you apply for your PFD using Pick Click Give. Any amount will help and you won't even notice it is gone.

Straw For Dogs is an all volunteer non-profit, we have no paid positions, 99.9% of all donations go toward our mission of providing shelter to dogs living outside in Alaska.

https://www.pickclickgive.org/how-to-pick-click-give/
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsDecember 29, 2024 8:32am
Thank you Desert Air Transport for taking a load of 6 insulated dog houses and bales of straw our to out dog friends in Western Alaska.

The dog loving angels at Desert Air have sent out over 20 houses for Straw For Dogs this year. They have never turned us away when we have asked for help.

Please thank Desert Air Transport for their generosity and compassion! Support the businesses that support the animals! They are wonderful people and we are so grateful for their help, we could not do what we do without the donations from the air carriers.

If you would like to help Straw For Dogs continue to provide more insulated dog houses and straw to dogs living outside in Alaska with no shelter please donate at www.strawfordogs.org

Thank you!
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsDecember 19, 2024 8:50am
Thank you so much to BERING AIR and Everts Air for helping us get a house out to this sweet girl who was out in northwest Alaska with NO shelter at all. I cannot imagine how miserable it would be to have no escape from the wind, snow, and bitter cold. Those days are over for this girl.

We agree with everyone who is going to post that no dog should ever live outside in Alaska without shelter but the fact is that many of them do... and this is what we can do to provide IMMEDIATE help for them. Everything else will take time, education, and support. It takes time to help people understand there are different ways of doing things other than "the way it's always been done."

Most of the people asking Straw For Dogs for houses have gotten our information from someone we have already helped, which means people are talking about better options for their dogs. They are sharing new ideas and resources like ours to help transition to higher standards of care for their dogs. It is still FAR FAR FAR from perfect but we are slowly moving in the right direction.

It isn't only about the cold, it is about loneliness too. Dogs want to be with their people, nobody wants to live tied up outside used as an alarm to bark if someone comes on the property. A dog can bark just as well from inside the house as they can from outside. They can still hear everything, they don't need to be outside to be a guard dog.

Changing this way of thinking will take time, so for now we will continue to send out as many houses as we can to those living outside suffering in the cold. But we look forward to the day when our services are no longer needed because all dogs live as part of the family.
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsDecember 13, 2024 10:02am
Another before and after set from a "local dog". His owners were doing the best they could for him and he even has a covered fenced area so he is not on a chain which is pretty nice, but they only had a 1/2 kennel and straw for him to use for shelter. (He does get to come inside on very cold days/nights, which is also pretty nice).

Nick and Camilo got him set up with an insulated dog house, straw, treats, and a couple toys. He also seemed pretty thin so with the help of Coldspot we found a higher quality food for him that was in the price range of the "junkfood" he had been eating and some powder to add to his food to help him put on some weight.

His owners were very grateful for all of the help and even wanted to donate to help other dogs in need.

We have checked in with them recently and we were told that he loves his new house, has put on weight and is happy and doing very well.

This is the difference your donations make!
www.strawfordogs.org

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how you can help

We encourage concerned citizens to work with caretakers in order to improve the life of a dog outdoors. Talk to your neighbors, offer support (not judgement) and do what you can, where you are. 

Together we can make a difference!

Straw For Dogs is a 501(c)3 organization that depends on individual donations to support our mission of providing supplies and resources for pets outdoors.

Your donation is tax deductible, meaningful and accounted for.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

how we help

NEED ASSISTANCE?

Straw For Dog assists caretakers and concerned citizens with pets outdoors in Alaska.

Do you know a dog who needs a warm, sturdy shelter? Does your own pet spend time outdoors?

We offer free supplies such as doghouses, straw, food, toys, and treats as well as resources including spay/neuter services and training advice to Alaskan residents.

Please fill out our easy, online application form found on our Application for Assistance page.

success stories

HOW WE HELP

As of October 2024, Straw For Dogs has distributed 670 doghouses and 884 bales of straw.

Together, we can make a difference!

DOG HOUSES

BALES OF STRAW

See Where We’ve Made a Difference: 500+ Dog Houses Donated Across 48 Alaskan Cities!

Kenai

Kenai was adopted from the Mat Su Animal Shelter. As he had previously been kept outdoors, his caretaker contacted us right away for help setting up a cable run and requested a doghouse to help make him comfortable while transitioning him to time in the home.  Kenai...

Niho

Niho's family contacted us for a doghouse, citing a disability in the family. Our volunteer visited and built an insulated house for her along with providing toys, straw and treats. What a cutie!

Buddy

Buddy was found by a Good Samaritan with a badly broken leg. We offered extensive veterinary care and support to this sweet boy and his rescue angel. He has healed up well and is a happy, healthy boy, living with his personal rescue angel and another dog.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse came to us from Anchorage Animal Care and Control. He was brought there as a young puppy with a broken leg.  Pit bull type dogs like him have limited options for rescue, so we were happy to be able to help, thanks to his long term foster...

Dozer

Dozer is a lovable lug who was in need of a safe place outdoors. Luckily, his family was open to receiving assistance and in addition to care packages with toys, treats, bowls and a new collar, volunteers were also able to build him a kennel and a warm, insulated...

Butterball and Charlie

Butterball and Charlie enjoy spending time outdoors exploring but were without a shelter. Straw For Dogs worked with their family to provide a shelter with a porch so that these sweet boys have options. We provide care takers with information about using straw instead...