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After 6 years on the streets of Portland, lost in my trauma and addiction, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. I quit my drug use immediately but found myself facing a seemingly impossible situation; pulling my life together in 6 months in a way I hadn't been able to in the 6 yrs prior. It was the middle of winter, freezing and pouring down rain and I was staying in a tent with my dog, Phoenix. After 2 months of desperately trying to get indoors, I finally had a stroke of luck and met the right officer who knew the right outreach worker who got me into a tiny home. After a month there, I was accepted into an intensive inpatient treatment program for pregnant women but still had one problem, where would Phoenix go while I was away?

One of the employees at the tiny home village searched and searched before coming across AAR. We put in an application but placing a 70 lb male puppy husky/malamute mix with a foster family would, of course, take time. Time we didn't have. But I took a leap of faith and went to treament, leaving Phoenix with a friend at the tiny homes. For the first week, I was one foot in, one foot out because he couldn't stay were he was. The day I was about to pack up my things and leave treatment, I received an email from Julianna letting me know that she was having difficulty placing Phoenix because he was a puppy. However, she believed in what I was trying to accomplish and so she had moved around the dog she was fostering so she could personally take in Phoenix, into her own home. I still don't think she undestands how much that means to me! AAR povided him with not only a place to be but also his vet care and food while I was away which allowed me to really focus on my recovery.

Julianna communicated with me consistently, sent me photos and even met with me when I was able so I could visit with him. I am proud to say that I am now 6.5 months clean and sober, picking up keys to my own apartment today and am due to give birth to my daughter on the 15th of this month and am looking forward to being reunited with Phoenix soon. I have a part time job lined up and will be going to school for sonography. Knowing that Phoenix was being well taken care of allowed me to take control of my life again and accomplish what seemed impossible for so long.

If it weren't for AAR and Julianna, I would not have gone into that program. While I would love to say I would have had the strength to continue in my recovery regardless, it's highly unlikely that that would have been the case. Having a dog is such a huge barrier to treatment and getting healthy in Portland and AAR is one of the only organizations stepping up to fill that need. For the first time in a very long time, I am so excited about my future and what's to come. Array Animal Rescue and Julianna have played a big part in making that a reality.

Trisha Mitchell

Client, Array Crisis Fostering

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I work in a community health center that serves patients with very low incomes (usually under $1,000 a month). Many of these individuals are houseless, chronically ill or dealing with sudden and serious medical issues. Many are isolated and without family or friends to help them. Some are experiencing domestic violence. In my ten years as a social worker, I have seen quite a few occasions where a patient refused to seek medical attention until there was a safe place for their beloved pet(s) to go while they were hospitalized or in treatment. In the past I have looked and looked and never found a program to meet this need. Now that Array Animal Rescue is here, I can rest easy knowing that there is a caring and comforting resource for me to share with my patients. Most importantly, it is free of charge for most of the patients. They are so appreciative to find out that their urgent need can be fully met by your program. Thank you, Tracy and Julianna, for changing lives with your amazing organization. I can’t think of a need or a process that you have failed to address. Your organization is set up so well! You will be hearing from me and our clinic’s patients again.

Luana Nery, BS

Behavioral Health Resource Specialist

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Where do I even begin? Tracy and Juliana of Array basically saved my life. It was early summer and I was battling a terrible relapse from alcohol while dealing (very badly) with recent grief. I had to move out of my apartment and my cats and I had been living in a motel for a week when a friend told me they’d heard about a place called Array Animal Rescue. A friend reached out to them on my account and did some bidding for me and then shortly after I was in touch with Juliana and I believe it was the very next day she came to pick up my two cats (my best friends in the entire world that I love more than anything and it was extremely hard to part with them but I needed intensive treatment or I was going to die and then I’d be no help to them at all.) I’m now 100 days clean and sober, I have a wonderful new job, I’m moving out of treatment and in with a fellow sober pal and I’m feeling stronger than ever. Because of where I was at financially, Array were able to take on my case pro bono, and as fortune and timing would have it, it was Tracy herself who ended up fostering Jay and Archie. She’d send updates anytime I asked (about once a week) and I’d occasionally get adorable photos to brighten my day. I pick them up on Monday and I couldn’t be more excited. I owe more than I will ever be able to repay this rescue but they are such amazing people that they are just so happy for me that I’m doing great and are excited for my reunion with the boys.

If you’re in a bind, or you know someone that is, please please don’t hesitate to reach out to them. I can confidentially say I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for Tracy and Juliana and whom ever else has been helping behind the scenes. Thank you to everyone that fosters pets for them too, I hope to one day soon be able to give back in that way too. One million stars and all of my appreciation. I’m sorry this was so long, it’s hard not to write more.

They’ve even inspired me to one day open a sober living house specifically for clients with pets. Thank you thank you thank you.

Jenna K.

9/18/25

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Incredible experience, so many good things to say. Julianna and Tracy were just amazing. They were so flexible and kind, and took such great care of my boy, including medicating him. They updated me often with pictures! I don’t know what I would have done without them. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of assistance. Big thanks to them!

Jami A.

11/19/25