Pet Adoption Transport Services Across the USA

How to Transport an Adopted Animal from a Shelter?

If you have decided to adopt an animal from a shelter for homeless animals, please keep the following in mind:

1. Animals are only transferred to adults (18+).
2. Before handing over the animal to a new owner, shelter staff will conduct an interview, which should be taken seriously. You should answer all questions as fully and honestly as possible. These questions may include your reasons for adopting, your current and past experience with animals, expected living conditions, and other important details.
3. Following the interview, an adoption agreement will be signed between the shelter and the new owner.
4. To complete the agreement, the new owner must present identification documents.
5. New owners must bring a collar, leash, and if necessary, a muzzle (for adult dogs), or a pet carrier/bag (for puppies), or a cat carrier — or consider contacting a pet taxi service.
6. According to the adoption agreement, the shelter staff reserve the right to follow up on the adopted animal’s well-being. These follow-ups may include phone calls to the owner or home visits to check the living conditions of the adopted animal.

Please note that there are certain categories of individuals who may be refused adoption, or for whom the likelihood of refusal is high:

• Animals will not be transferred to individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Adoption may be denied to people living in rented accommodation.
• Shelter staff may deny adoption to individuals who previously lost a pet, if the reasons for the loss are deemed unjustified.
• Shelter staff may also deny adoption to young couples who have recently married.
• In cases of adoption of so-called “fighting breeds” or dog breeds that require a high level of responsibility and experience, the age of the adopter will be taken into account. Individuals under 25 years old may be refused.

This list is not exhaustive. Shelter staff reserve the right to refuse an adoption for other reasons as well.

Anyone wishing to adopt an animal from a shelter should remember that transferring an animal to a new owner is not an obligation, but a right of the shelter.

Everything that shelter staff and volunteers do is solely in the interest of the animal, with the sincere hope that each one will eventually find a caring and loving home.

Transporting even a familiar animal is a significant stressor that can lead to unforeseen situations. Let alone a dog or cat that a person is seeing for the first time because they adopted it from a shelter.

It is the driver’s responsibility to try to minimize stress for the animal. You need to maintain a comfortable temperature in the cabin that the pet is accustomed to – do not subject Sphynx cats to cold, and do not torment Husky dogs with heat. You should ensure access to oxygen – if the weather outside is good, lower the side window by a couple of inches; if not, turn on the ventilation.

Dogs and cats are active animals. Under stress, they cannot remain still for long. Therefore, when transporting animals in a car, you should make stops every 1.5–2 hours. Walk your pets. Use harnesses or leashes so that they are not frightened by a passing truck and do not run away in an unfamiliar place.

If you make a forced stop, try not to leave the animal in the car. Take it with you. Cats and small dogs should be held in your arms in public places. But large dogs will need muzzles and strict collars that allow you to stop attempts to attack other people. If you have to leave the animal in the car, lower all the side windows by a couple of millimeters, ensuring air access. Try not to be away for more than 10–15 minutes. When experiencing severe stress, animals can damage the car’s interior and even harm themselves.

The animal should be fed 2–3 hours before the trip. Give it water an hour before and take it for a walk 30 minutes before so it can relieve itself. If the trip lasts less than 4–5 hours, give the pet water during stops, but do not feed it.