501(c)(3) nonprofit · EIN 88-2154618 · Serving military families since 2022
Home / How Adoption Works / Out-of-State Adoption
The right home doesn't have to be a local one.
We adopt to all 50 states and Canada, and our transport van leaves California about once a month. If you've found one of our dogs from another state, distance is a logistics problem — not a reason to say no.
GETTING THEM TO YOU
How your dog gets to you
Our dogs travel by ground, in our own van. We'll walk you through the plan before anything is booked.
Our transport van
All 50 states and Canada
Ground, not air
How our dogs travel. The van carries up to 14 dogs and leaves California roughly once a month, so your dog's date depends on the next available trip.
We don't fly dogs. In everything we've done, exactly one dog has been on a plane. Your dog rides with people who check on them, and arrives with their records.
No radius, no list of exceptions. If you're in the U.S. or Canada and approved for one of our dogs, we can get them to you.
STRAIGHT ANSWER
What transport costs
Transport is paid by the adopter. It's a pass-through cost — we don't mark it up or take a cut of it. Our job is to get your dog a seat on the next trip and coordinate the handoff.
What recent placements have run
Real ranges from recent van trips. Yours will land somewhere in the band for your distance.
Under 500 miles
$300 – $500
500 – 1,200 miles
$500 – $750
Cross-country
About $750
Canada
About $750
Local pickup in California
No transport cost
You'll never be asked to commit to a number you haven't seen.
Tell us your state in the inquiry and we'll get you a firm quote before you're asked to decide anything.
What moves the number
How far the dog is going
Fuel prices that month
Crate size — a Rottweiler costs more to move than a beagle
How many dogs share the van that month
Whether you can wait for the next scheduled trip
Ways to bring it down
Ride the monthly van rather than booking a solo trip
Stay flexible on the pickup date at your end
Ask us — if cost is the only obstacle, say so
QUESTIONS
What out-of-state adopters ask
All 50 states, and Canada. Adopters pay the transport fee for their route — typically $300 to $750 depending on distance — and we quote it before you're asked to commit to anything.
Which states do you adopt to?
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No — our dogs go by ground, in the van. In all the dogs we've placed, exactly one has been on a plane. Ground is calmer for the dog, someone is with them the whole way, and it's what the transport prices on this page are based on.
Do you ever fly dogs?
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Over video, yes — and we'll tell you honestly what the shelter has told us about the dog's temperament and history. Because these dogs are still in shelters until we pull them, an in-person meeting usually isn't possible before commitment.
Can I meet the dog before I commit?
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Usually 1–4 weeks from adoption approval to your dog arriving. Two things set the pace: what the dog needs before they're cleared — some require medical treatment, quarantine, or a spay or neuter first — and when the next van leaves, which is about once a month. We'll give you a realistic date once we know both.
How long does the whole process take?
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Tell us on your inquiry. We can't promise anything, but we'd far rather look for a way than lose the placement — and asking doesn't affect whether you're approved.
What if cost is the only thing stopping me?
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Does the dog travel with their records?
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Yes. Vaccination records, microchip information, any medications with written instructions, and everything the shelter and our vet gave us. Health certificates are arranged where travel requires one.