improving the lives of pets outdoors

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Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsOctober 21, 2026 9:56am
Attention people on the rivers who got doghouses and straw from Straw For Dogs!

We need pictures of your dogs with their new houses! Please help us thank the organizations who made it possible for you to get doghouses ,straw, and food free of charge...so we can continue to get more help from them next year. Your pictures will help your neighbors, your family, and maybe even yourself get assistance from Straw For Dogs next summer.

We do keep records, so we know who does and does not send pictures...just saying...You may want to do your part to keep the program going in case you need more help next year.

Thank you to the wonderful families who HAVE sent us pictures of their dogs with their new houses from our 2026 River Project. We appreciate you making the effort to help us continue helping more dogs in the future.

One family sent 3 after pictures, and we loved them all and could not decide, so we are using all 3 here!

These cutie pies got insulated houses and straw thanks to Lotto Alaska and Ruby Marine. Since starting our River Project in 2024 Straw For Dogs has provided 340 insulated doghouses, 369 bales of straw, and hundreds of pounds of food (donated by Royal Canin and the Fairbanks Community Food Bank) to the dogs living along the rivers that Ruby Marine serves. Thank you all for making this mission possible!
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsOctober 18, 2026 7:25am
https://givebutter.com/sponsors-needed-for-pippen-420-dq88ja

Funds raised! Thank you everyone! We will get Pippen’s house sent out next week!

Sponsors needed to move little Pippen out of the pipe he lives in and into an insulated doghouse. Please click the link below to read more about Pippen!
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsOctober 16, 2026 1:56pm
Last year we sent a house out for Rufus! This year we sent a house out for his brother, Southpaw!

Their mom sent me this picture and said both puppies prefer the new house, and neither of them wants to use the old house!

What the heck guys!

But they do look so cute snuggled up in there together...it is much warmer if 2 dogs can share....and it's always nice to have company, everything‘s better with a friend!.... so we get it!
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsOctober 14, 2026 2:45pm
Sorry we have been quiet for a bit. Both Nick and I have been SO SICK (at the same time 😩) with whatever this horrible flu is that’s going around. Finally feeling better now though…..Don't worry, our wonderful builders still shipped houses and everything continued on for Straw For Dogs (except social media).....We just did not have the energy.

So we wanted to share some photos of 2 puppies in their new houses! Neither of these 2 cutie pies had houses at all so their families reached out to us to get them insulated houses and straw.

Thank you to ASPCA, Lynden Air Cargo, and Ryan Air, INC. for making it possible for these puppies to have new insulated houses just in time for....ugh....winter!

We still have over 100 dogs on our list. Every week we send 10-13 houses out, we get 10+ more requests for houses, so we are not making much progress.

IT WILL TAKE US MONTHS TO GET ALL OF THE HOUSES SHIPPED....MANY/MOST OF THESE HOUSES WILL NOT ARRIVE BEFORE WINTER!

WE CANNOT SAY THIS ENOUGH.....PLEASE DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO KEEP YOUR DOGS WARM, DRY, AND SAFE WHILE THEY WAIT FOR THEIR HOUSE! Bring them inside, set them up in a corner of the house or entryway, or somewhere that protects them from the weather. It is only temporary and could save your dogs life.
Straw For Dogs
Straw For DogsSeptember 22, 2026 10:33am
8 year old Spike needed a house upgrade! His old doghouse had seen better days, and he needed something more comfy for his 8-year-old body... so his family reached out to Straw For Dogs for a new insulated house and straw, and he recently GOT IT!

His mom said he was so happy for his new house, and they sent us a nice thank-you email with several pictures of Spike checking out his house...so we gave him his own post! Please see sweet, handsome Spike going in, coming out, and relaxing in his new house!

Thank you to Lotto Alaska for funding our 2026 River Project! Thank you to Ruby Marine for shipping all of these doghouses out for us!

Without Lotto Alaska and Ruby Marine we would not be able to help as many dogs living outside in Alaska.

The barge season is over but we can still fly houses out by air. If you know a dog who lives outside and needs an insulated house and straw or if you would like to donate to help us help more dogs please go to 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.

HOW WE HELP

As of August 2026

DOG HOUSES

BALES OF STRAW

See Where We’ve Made a Difference: 1000+ Dog Houses Donated Across 65 Alaskan Villages!

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...