We exist for the animals.
Happy Tails was built on a simple belief: that every dog and cat deserves a loving, permanent home — and that finding that home should feel joyful, not stressful.
2015 · Founded in PortlandBorn from a decade of shelter work.
After twelve years as a shelter veterinarian, our founder Sarah Chen had seen the system's cracks up close. Animals waited months. Good applicants got tangled in red tape. Placements that should have happened in days took weeks.
In 2015, she set out to build something different — a small, personal organisation that moved at the speed of care rather than bureaucracy. One that treated every applicant as a partner and every animal as an individual.
Eleven years and 2,400+ successful adoptions later, that mission hasn't changed — it's just grown.
2,400+
Pets rehomed
11 years
In Portland
$150
All-in adoption fee
30 days
Free vet follow-up
Our values
Animal first
Every decision we make starts with what's best for the animal — not what's fastest, cheapest, or most convenient.
Full transparency
We share each pet's full history, health records, and personality assessments. No surprises, no fine print.
Lifelong support
Adoption doesn't end at pick-up. Our team stays available for questions, concerns, and guidance for the life of your pet.
The people behind Happy Tails
Dr. Sarah Chen
“I spent over a decade watching animals sit in kennels when they could have been home on a couch. The system wasn't broken — it was just slow. We built Happy Tails to move faster, care harder, and never lose sight of what this is really about.”
Sarah holds a DVM from Oregon State and has been recognised by the Portland Humane Society for her work in community-based adoption programmes. She still personally reviews every application that comes through.
A home before the forever home.
Our Portland facility was designed to feel like a home, not a kennel. Natural light, open play areas, cozy sleeping nooks, and daily enrichment routines keep our animals calm and social while they wait for their match.
Every animal in our care receives a full veterinary assessment, vaccinations, microchipping, and a behavioural profile. You meet them knowing exactly who they are.
Every adoption starts with a conversation.
Adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate, there's a way to help that fits your life.