Protecting the mental health of shelter dogs
No dog should lose their future because their mind broke in a cage.
Our mission: The Unsheltered Project improves outcomes for shelter dogs by addressing kennel stress at its source. We design and support wellness programs and events, fund calming and real-life environments, and provide education and resources for shelters and volunteers to recognize, prevent, and reduce emotional and behavioral deterioration caused by confinement.
Our StoryThe Unsheltered Project is the first nonprofit dedicated exclusively to the mental health of kenneled dogs. While most animal welfare organizations focus on physical care and placement, we address the psychological harm caused by confinement, a hidden crisis that leads to behavioral deterioration, reduced adoptability, and unnecessary euthanasia. Through trauma-informed shelter training, healing environments, emergency mental-health pulls, and community-based emotional rehabilitation, we work to ensure that no dog’s mind breaks simply because their body is caged.
Our Approach
We address kennel stress and emotional trauma at its source. Using a trauma-informed, evidence-based framework, we support dogs in shelters through:
Calming Environments: Quiet rooms and real-life spaces where dogs can decompress and feel safe.
Wellness Programs & Enrichment: Music therapy, puzzle feeders, safe socialization, and supervised experiences that restore confidence.
Education for Staff & Volunteers: Training shelter teams to recognize stress, respond with care, and support emotional rehabilitation.
Emergency & Specialized Support: Immediate intervention for dogs suffering severe stress or behavioral deterioration.
Every program we create is designed to restore balance to the lives of surrendered dogs and give them the mental health care they desperately need.
