06/06/2026
In the early 1980s, long before conversations about women’s safety were part of the national spotlight, a Eugene, Oregon runner named Shelley Reecher came up with an unusual solution to a very real problem.
After being physically assaulted while out on a run, Reecher became afraid to run alone. A friend loaned her a Doberman named Jake to accompany her on runs, and suddenly she felt confident enough to get back out there. That experience inspired her to found Project Safe Run in 1981.
The concept was simple but groundbreaking: train large dogs — many of them Dobermans — to run alongside women as protective companions. The dogs lived with volunteeers, and for a small monthly membership fee, women could check out a dog at any hour and head out for a safer run.
At its peak, Project Safe Run became nationally known. Newspapers across the country covered the organization, and the image of powerful Dobermans jogging quietly beside women runners captured the public imagination. The dogs were not trained to attack; their presence alone was usually enough to make runners feel secure.
Like many fast-growing nonprofits, however, the organization eventually faced internal struggles. Reecher had trouble renting a facility or property that met her dog training needs. Volunteers raised concerns about training methods and administration of the organization. In 1996, Project Safe Run was voluntarily dissolved under an agreement with the Oregon Attorney General’s Office.
But even with its difficult ending, the idea behind Project Safe Run remains fascinating: a moment in time when Dobermans became symbols not of fear, but of confidence, partnership, and freedom. For many women, those dogs made it possible to reclaim the simple act of going for a run alone.
Sources include:
“Dobermans guard female joggers,” The (Vancouver, Wash.) Columbian, April 29, 1984
“Leashing women’s fears,” The Sunday Oregonian, Aug. 26, 1984
“No dogs allowed,” Eugene Register-Guard, Jan. 23, 1992
“Trainer aswirl in controversy,” Don Bishoff (columnist), Eugene Register-Guard, May 17, 1996
