We can say that while there are many common components to our “builds,” each situation can have its own unique twist. That could mean anything from a yard that is overrun with blackberry brambles, to a particularly muddy property requiring the spreading of wood chips or straw to help keep the dog comfortable. Site crew leaders do the best they can to alert volunteers of any unusual facets of that day’s build before volunteers arrive. Know that you will probably get a little grubby, but you will have a good time!

When our volunteers show up at a build, they will find a crew leader as well as a few veteran volunteers to help our new arrivals. We do our best to have a short talk before the fence building starts about the layout of that particular fence and direct new volunteers to veteran volunteers for guidance. Primarily, volunteers install metal posts, secure wire fencing to wood and metal posts, cut and lay ground wire, build dog shelters and, most importantly, shower love on the dogs waiting for freedom!

There’s always a bit of lag time in between certain elements of the build which is usually a great opportunity to chat with fellow volunteers, take pictures or visit with the dog! We do value your time and our crew leaders always do their best to make sure we find something for you to do!  There are always tasks available for all physical and skill levels.

We normally start promptly at 9:00 am unless otherwise stated for a start time. The crew leaders usually have arrived a little earlier to get the tools and fencing supplies unloaded so we are ready to start on time. Builds usually finish by 12:00 or 1:00 pm, although occasionally they can finish earlier or later. We recently had a build finished in under two hours!
 

Since our builds are construction sites, with many dangerous tools, and chained dogs can be unpredictable, we have limited our volunteer base to participants 18-and-older.

We do not know our canine clients well enough to predict how they will act around other dogs at their home. Given the excitement of the day, most dogs are a little overwhelmed with all the new people in their yard. Adding other dogs can introduce stress and confusion, therefore we ask that volunteers leave their own pups at home as a courtesy to the resident dog(s).

If you would like to come to a build but don’t have access to a car or prefer to share to save gas, please post a request in  carpooling forum and coordinate with other volunteers.  If you can offer a ride also please post that in our carpooling forum or watch for those who request rides.

We know that many of our Portland volunteers would like to see more city builds take place but we simply go to where the dogs are and schedule builds as they come to us. We get applications for fence builds from all over the Oregon and Washington so we visit potential clients as quickly as our tireless client outreach volunteers can get to them. Sometimes we happen to get a whole slew of applications or phone calls from one particular area, and those builds fall into place at the end of the schedule queue.

Mostly the dogs find us or rather, we get calls from families, neighbors or, occasionally, referrals from an animal control agency. We do our best to respond as quickly as possible to extreme hardship cases and sometimes will move dogs in higher need up the queue ahead of dogs in less dire situations.

There are many reasons why people chain their dogs. Some people, having been raised with chained dogs on their property, know no other way. Others may have moved and do not have the resources to build a proper fence and need to keep their dog safe. Others may have had dogs recently given to them by a family member and have no other recourse. Whatever the reason, FFF's mission is not to pass judgment but to help remedy the situation and educate when necessary.

We know that sometimes we are seeing dogs in very difficult and sad situations and it’s hard for all of us to not feel anger or place judgment upon the guardians of these dogs. But just remember the fence is not the end of our contact with the family—FFF never just walks away, and sometimes what we are seeing is not the whole story.

This is just the beginning of our relationship with the family and often times it can be very sensitive, especially on the day of the build. With all the commotion, families experience a wide range of emotions: it’s humbling, sometimes shameful or embarrassing, and they handle it in all different ways, so we want to be sure that any communication with the family is positive and friendly. By welcoming the family into our day, we are securing that long-term relationship with the family, which is truly in the best interest of all of our dogs.

FFF has most of the tools needed on a build, but having your own pair of needle nose or regular pliers can help when it comes to tying fence wire.  Bring work gloves and, if you like, a pair of kneepads or a gardener’s pad.  Some of the work does entail working on the ground and some volunteers find these helpful.  Bringing water and a snack is often a good idea too.  Bringing dog treats and toys can be very sweet, but know that some dogs may not be able to have certain foods, toys or rawhide – so please check with the crew leader before giving a dog treats or toys.

We LOVE partnering with other organizations; however, we request that you do not sign up groups through our online volunteer sign-up system.  Groups should contact our Volunteer Coordinator so that we can coordinate a special group event with a fence crew chief.  In addition, we do require a $900 sponsorship donation from a group to have a special build designated for your organization.  The donation includes all fence materials, the dog house, and veterinary care (typically spay or neuter costs) for the particular dog and fence build project.  Thank you for your understanding and interest in participating in a day that truly changes lives for everyone.