Pet Adoption Transport Services: Transporting Pets Across Country
Learn about rescue dog transport — a vital process relocating adoptable pets from overcrowded shelters to areas where they’re eagerly welcomed.
by Savannah Admire, | September 11, 2023
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Pet adoption transport is the process of moving adoptable pets from shelters in areas with high pet overpopulation to sites with a demand for pets. This process allows overpopulated shelters in other regions of the country, such as the South and Midwest, to send adoptable animals to shelters with a high demand for — and low supply of — pets. Pet adoption transport organizations provide transportation by air, ground, or rail and offer food and medical care for pets during transport. Pet transport ultimately ensures that as many animals find forever homes as possible.
In this article:
Why is pet adoption transport important?
Shelters and rescue organizations that take advantage of pet express transport services can ensure that animals have the best chance for adoption. By transporting animals in need to other parts of the country for rescue, overpopulated shelters can help reduce the number of at-risk animals in their facilities. This, in turn, allows these organizations to direct more resources to the pets still in their shelter.
On the flip side, rescues that receive transported adoptable animals can increase the variety of pets available for potential adopters and encourage visitors to their facilities by promoting their expanded animal availability. With more pets and visitor traffic, these organizations can also draw in more resources, allowing them to make a bigger impact on their community and serve more people and animals.
Most importantly, pet adoption transport reduces the risk of euthanasia due to shelter overpopulation and limited resources, saving lives and helping adoptable pets find much-needed homes.
How does pet adoption transport work?
Rescue and shelter volunteers often play a significant role in transporting pets across state lines to other organizations — and the animals’ future homes. How to move pets across the country varies depending on the program, but the process usually involves driving animals to another shelter in a vehicle designed for this purpose, with properly spaced and secured kennels. In some cases, pets may also travel via air if the funds are available. If you’ve ever researched how to fly a dog across the country, you know how challenging the logistics can be.
Before any animal is transported to a new location, they should be thoroughly screened for any infectious diseases or aggressive behavior to limit the possibility of spreading illness or causing injury to themselves or other animals in the vehicle.
What are the types of pet adoption transport?
There are several types of pet adoption transport, but the most common is shelter-to-shelter relocation. Rescue organizations with overcrowded facilities communicate with shelters with a high demand for adoptable animals and organize pet transport to free up space and help more pets find loving homes.
Individual volunteers or grassroots organizations may organize more informal pet adoption transport. These people may not be specifically associated with any shelter but help to transport pets, some of whom may already have adoptive families waiting for them in another location. Ideally, these individuals know how to transport a dog across the country safely and bring them to their new family.
If you’re interested in relocating a pet, be wary of commercial pet adoption transport operations. Some individuals offer to transport pets for adoption solely for profit, so make sure to research any pet transport service and go through a legitimate shelter or rescue organization whenever possible.
How much do pet transport services cost?
In most cases, the pet transport service price is covered by the shelter or rescue organization that plans the transport. The rescue may even add the cost of transportation to the adoption fee to help cover costs and ensure that they can continue to care for animals in need. If you plan to adopt a pet who will have to be transported to your location, clarify with the shelter or rescue whether you need to pay for transport.
What should you consider when choosing a pet adoption transport service?
While transporting pets for adoption can be a life-saving endeavor, it’s important that the animals are moved safely and that their needs are met as they’re transported. If you decide to adopt a pet that must be transported to your location, make sure to ask about:
How often pets will be examined for signs of stress or sickness (every two to four hours is best practice)
How pets will be housed while in the vehicle
Whether pets have plenty of space to be comfortable — they should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down
The established process for emergencies during transport
The best way to transport a pet across the country is to ensure they are comfortable and have regular breaks to go outside, stretch their legs, and access water. Before finalizing a pet adoption that requires transport, don’t hesitate to ask plenty of questions to make sure your new pet will be safe, secure, and cared for throughout their journey to you.
Commonly asked questions:
Who is involved in pet adoption transport?
Shelters or rescues usually organize pet adoption transport, and will sometimes call on their volunteers to help move animals to other states where they can be adopted.
Are there risks associated with pet adoption transport?
Traveling can be stressful, making animals more vulnerable to illness or infection (there is a risk of spreading infectious diseases) or heightening behavioral issues.
Is pet adoption transport regulated?
Pet adoption transport is not regulated, so it’s critical that organizers ensure that animals are properly secured and monitored throughout their journey.
Can I adopt a pet through pet adoption transport?
When you apply to adopt online, the pet may be in another state and must be transported to you. The shelter or rescue organization may include the pet transport cost in your adoption fee, or you may have to pay an additional fee to cover it.
References
Pet transportation by air: a study of customer experiences and expectations using AVIH services
Relocation of dogs and cats for pet adoption in the United States
Savannah Admire
Savannah Admire is a writer, editor, and pet parent to two dogs and a cat. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing Animal Crossing, or being an obnoxious nerd about her favorite movies and TV shows. She lives in Maryland, where she constantly debates whether or not to get a third dog.