About Our Behavior & Rescue Center

A Place to Learn, Grow, and Heal

Located next door to the shelter at our Portland campus, the BRC was specifically designed with the needs of animals in mind. Species-specific spaces like the cattery and dog kennels take into account where each animal is in their socialization process—custom dog kennels are organized into adjustable pods that adapt depending on each dog’s comfort level with people, noises, and other dogs, and the cattery offers kennels with alternating high and low square windows so that cats can overlook bird baths and landscaping with confidence, regarding of whether they prefer to perch or observe from ground-level. The BRC also has five detached outdoor dog runs, a covered play yard, and a large chip yard for dog playtime.

Alongside these specialized spaces are flexible areas, like a training room and a large room with kennels for shorter-term dog housing. The rescue center also houses large-scale transfers of animals, giving them the opportunity to settle and decompress in a non-public setting before transitioning to one of our shelters. The BRC has two pods with 12 kennels dedicated for large rescues, and each kennel can be divided into two units to double the amount of available housing. The rescue kennels can house dogs, cats, birds, or small animals if the need arises.

About Our Behavior Modification Program

Caring for Animals Who Need Extra Support

Within the BRC, our dedicated Behavior Modification program is a support system for dogs and cats who are struggling to thrive in the shelter environment. Our shelters are high-traffic buildings with ever-changing sights, sounds, and smells—all of which can be scary for new arrivals as well as stressful for animals who have been with us for an extended period of time. If an animal begins exhibiting signs that they are overly stressed, the BRC is a quiet, safe space where they can decompress and show our BMOD team their true personalities, giving them the best possible chance of finding the right home.

Animals in the BMOD program are made available for adoption once our team has worked with them and gotten to know their needs and the type of family that would be the best match. They then follow a special adoption process, including a phone consultation and scheduled appointment at the BRC, to ensure that everyone is set up for success.