OUR STORY
From the beginning, it has always “been for the dogs”.
In 2007, Hood River County completed construction of its first animal shelter. The construction funds were provided by a generous bequest from Ross and Daphne Hukari. Prior to this time, stray dogs were transported to Southwest Humane Society in Vancouver, WA for adoption by PROD volunteers. In addition to this service, PROD was involved for many years providing spay/neuter funds, dog placement, and education in the Hood River County schools.
Once the new shelter was completed, Susan Kent worked with the county and community to create a committee of volunteer citizens to provide care for the dogs housed in the shelter. Adopt a Dog was created and operated the adoption services for dogs that did not get reunited with their owners. These volunteers became the Adopt A Dog county committee which helped establish the programs that ensured the loving care of the dogs being housed at the shelter, including walks, feeding, socialization, medical treatment, shelter cleaning, vaccinations and spay/neuter prior to being adopted out. This was accomplished by Adopt A Dog volunteers handling two shifts per day, morning and evening. Without Adopt A Dog, the dogs would have been held in indoor kennels 23 hours each day. A foster program was initiated so that volunteers could foster dogs in their homes. This was designed to reduce the shelter population and the dogs’ stress. We will never forget the pioneer dogs of 2007: Radar, Norman, and Heidi.
Fundraising began immediately. The first project the installation of a fence around a large outdoor space behind the shelter so that dogs would have a space to exercise. This also included the purchase and spreading of wood chips in that large yard. Once accomplished the dogs would not be covered in mud during the rainy season.
To this date fundraising and donations continue to be one of the largest efforts to assure the continued operation of the Hukari Animal shelter and Hood River Adopt a Dog.
In 2009, Hood River Adopt A Dog (AAD) became its own tax-exempt, non-profit volunteer organization that contracted with Hood River County to provide shelter operation services. HRAAD continues to contract with Hood River County to provide shelter operation services to this date and has expanded its duties every year. HRAAD works with owners who can no longer keep their dogs for various reasons, whether due to the owner’s illness or death, lack of space, family, or lifestyle changes. This “owner surrender” program gives dog owners a safe alternative to dropping dogs in the wild or on the streets only to await an uncertain future, cold, fear, hunger, and numerous dangers
Over the years HRAAD’s services continue to expand. In 2016, HRAAD took over the programs of PROD. After many years, PROD founder Cleo Sterling was able to retire, feeling confident that its need-basedspay/neuter financial assistance program, classroom educational program, and emergency medical fund would continue as services of HRAAD.
The HRAAD professional crew and dedicated volunteers have provided thousands of hours of their time to help hundreds of dogs find safe haven within the shelter and in foster homes. They have cared for the numerous dogs that were housed until they could be returned to their original owners. The HRAAD crew has and continues to provide information to the public about where to find their lost dogs and how to provide proper care and love to their dogs.
In 2018, the HRAAD Board of Directors determined that the volunteer-run organization needed to grow. Through careful budgeting and fundraising efforts, HRAAD hired a small dedicated crew to take Hood River Adopt a Dog to its next level. This staff now works with our amazing and dedicated board members, volunteers and foster families continue to keep Hood River Adopt A Dog’s programs running and available for dogs of the Columbia Gorge and the people who love them.