Giving At-Risk Dogs a Second Chance
transport
Every year, countless dogs face overcrowded shelters and uncertain futures in the South. Through our transport program, we relocate at-risk dogs to rescue partners in northern states where they have a much better chance of finding loving homes.
Exponential Impact
Picture yourself in AT&T stadium for a Cowboys football game. Look around – with every seat filled, you are one of 80,000 people there to enjoy the game. Close your eyes and imagine dogs in each of the stadium seats instead of a person. Now add an additional 16,707 dogs to the field and around the parking lot. What you have pictured is the 96,707 dogs euthanized in Texas animal shelters due to lack of space in 2019. Believe it or not, this is a 15% reduction from 2018 where Texas ranked No. 1 in the country for shelter deaths.
Washington state is in a unique position compared to Texas – more potential adopters are looking for dogs than are available for adoption. One of the drivers behind this adoptable pet shortfall are the successful spay and neuter laws, and enforcement of those laws, in place which limit the overall dog population. Washington’s success is reflected in the numbers: no dogs have been euthanized due to lack of shelter space in over 10 years. The Humane Societies of Washington developed a plan to facilitate shelter dog transport to help fill the gap of dogs available for adoption and began partnering with shelters and rescue organizations in Texas.
Dallas Dog partnered with the Washington Humane Societies to create greater opportunity for our dogs to find their forever homes. The incredibly successful outcome of the partnership program is clear. Whereas a dog may spend months in foster with Dallas Dog seeing little or no adoption interest, our transport alumni are typically adopted within one to four days - sometimes even within hours - of their arrival in WA.
Transport Requirements
Hours are spent putting together the presentation slides which include every dog's medical history, printing records, and making travel envelopes for every dog. As fosters, it is emotional, sometimes the uncertainty gets the best of us, we have a gut reaction and request to foster fail. We call those "emotional adoptions" and they are often more for the foster themselves than the pup. They will quickly bond with and love another family, just as they bonded with and loved you. When adopting a pet it should be because you can not live without that best and you can provide it the best life, not because it hurts too much to let them go.
Transport saves 3 LIVES for each dog transported:
The life of the dog being transported
It creates a foster opening for another dog we can save
It creates an open shelter kennel for another dog to be rescued
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Transport is a fantastic opportunity for our dogs! We partner with three shelters in Washington state to send some of our dogs to find their forever homes.
Why do we do this? We live in a state that has the largest number of dogs being dumped and euthanized. The number of requests we receive for help on a daily basis is overwhelming. We save as many as we can but we can only do so much. Washington state, by contrast, has not had to euthanize for space in over 10 years! They actually need dogs for their communities. This is where we come in.
Transport is a vital tool for saving Texas dogs. The main reason we need transport is that Texas is one of the highest kill states in the US. Due to our overpopulation, there are simply not enough homes for all of the dogs here. The Pacific Northwest has had good spay and neuter programs and requirements and therefore have been no-kill states for over 10 years. Most people prefer to rescue a dog in need from the shelter versus buy one from a breeder. For every dog who goes to the Pacific Northwest it saves three dogs. A foster home is opened up which allows another dog to be pulled, which opens a space in an overcrowded shelter.
Honestly, we do not know that even when they are adopted here in Texas. Even with the extensive screening and adoption application process we have in place, we have unfortunately had a few bad local adopters. We have had our dogs given away, abandoned in yards or the shelter, or dumped on the street here in Dallas. Ultimately, we do our best to give our dogs the best chance we can at having a happy life.
There are a variety of factors taken into consideration before any dog is submitted for transport. It may be that we have an unusually large puppy population that can be quickly reduced by sending them north where they will be snapped right up. Your pup may be beautiful to you, but the truth may be they will be virtually unadoptable here in Texas. The Pacific Northwest is a very open and accepting environment for our larger dogs that would otherwise sit in the rescue for a long period of time.
The first step is the DogRRR leadership team submits pictures and bios of dogs they have determined are good candidates for transport to one, or a number, of our Pacific Northwest partners. The shelter staff evaluates each dog to determine their adaptability based on the demographics of their community. They are then either approved or denied for transport, and you, as the foster, will be notified of their decision.
Fosters are notified at the time of SUBMISSION so they can begin to prepare for the separation from their dog, or they can decide to foster fail. Notice of any foster fail must be given when they receive the notice that their dog is being SUBMITTED. A great deal of thought goes into selecting the right dogs to go on transport. The leadership of DogRRR works diligently with all of the information at their disposal to determine which dogs should be submitted. However, we do understand there may be a case when the foster wants to keep the dog. Keep in mind, this should be a rational decision based on how the dog fits with the foster family rather than an emotional decision based on the fear of transport. It’s never easy to let them go, but we owe it to our partners to provide them what they have agreed to, so no foster failing is permitted once the dog has been APPROVED for transport.
DogRRR partners with a number of shelters in the Washington State Area. Please know the term “shelter” is not the same as it is here in Texas. These are wonderful facilities staffed with employees and volunteers all working to provide the best care to our dogs until they get their forever home. Sometimes the dogs are not ready for adoption when they arrive - they may have developed a little cough, or have been seriously anxious, so they may be placed with a foster family for a short time.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that we will hear from them. We ask that you submit a letter that we include in the foster dog packet. The rescue also sends a letter as some adopters do not understand the foster process and will sometimes reach out to the rescue vs. fosters.
Simple answer, there is no guarantee. We always hope the adoptive families will reach out to the fosters, and many do. Unfortunately, sometimes they do not reach out. We have an amazing team of volunteers that work with the shelters and volunteers to get this information and stress what it means to the fosters to see their dog in their forever home, but sadly that does not always happen.
The are transported sometimes by air and sometimes by Tall Tales Transport and Rescue. We have worked with her for over 6 years. She drives a modified trailer designed to haul race cars with reinforced walls for a crash. It has 3 rooftop Coleman AC units with their own generator; this helps with better climate control and it is quieter for the animals on transport. They also carry a spare Coleman generator in case something happens on the trip. There are 2 carbon dioxide sensors and 4 cameras, 2 that are placed in the aisles and 2 extra that can be placed for another angle or on a specific kennel or dog in crisis. There is sound on the cameras, so they are able to hear distress or barking of the dogs on the trailer. The dogs are walked throughout the day at regular intervals. They carry over 400 pounds of food in the trailer, and the dogs are fed twice a day. Because of their size, and their metabolism, puppies are fed at least 3 times a day. Each dog has a water bowl affixed to their crate, and Kay walks the trailer at every stop to make sure they have something to drink. There is also a tracker on the trailer in case they were to be stranded or run into trouble.
The trip takes about 3-4 days depending on weather conditions, traffic and fires. Think of it as a long road trip with the promise of a forever home waiting at the end. Yes, it is a rough few days but the outcome of finding their forever home far outweighs the few days of travel.
There are cameras on the transport trailer which are monitored. If a dog gets sick we are notified and if there is an emergency, an emergency vet is located and contacted. If a dog is struggling with behavioral issues, this is dealt with on a case by case situation. We let the incoming shelter know the dog is experiencing difficulties and they have volunteers scheduled to help and give them time to decompress. They are well equipped to deal with such issues and will very rarely “give up” on an animal. They have behavioral programs staffed with employees and volunteers that are committed to working with them until they are adoptable.
This question has different answers. If we send a dog that is not altered, they must be altered prior to adoption and will remain inactive until surgery is scheduled or completed.
If the animal arrived and was struggling behaviorally, they will give the animal time to adjust, and continue to evaluate. This is a good thing because it allows the volunteer to connect with your foster and better understand their needs, which helps when finding the right adopter.
We ask that you reach out to our rescue (and not our partners) as they are very busy handling their own daily business. We are more than happy to get any information to help our fosters. We have worked very closely with these shelters in building relationships with them. We want to be able to continue the transport process, as it is essential to our process and sustainability in rescue. These partnerships allow us to save more dogs due to Texas' pet overpopulation. Please remember if you do speak to a volunteer, be kind and courteous as we know emotions can overwhelm us during this time.
All dogs 6 months or older MUST test negative for heartworms within 30 days of transport.
All dogs and puppies must have a minimum of two rounds of shots.
All dogs must be a minimum of one month off quarantine.
All dogs must be healthy and have a negative fecal.
The team discusses how how many dogs are currently in the rescue. We look at the list of active dogs and how long they have been in the rescue. We also look at who has had interest and who has not. Age is considered once a puppy hits the teenage years (over 6 months). They are automatically considered for transport, as they are the hardest to get adopted since people want either younger or older dogs.
We look at the length of time in the rescue. This is a huge factor, as the longer we have had them, the harder they are to get adopted here.
The number of puppies we have in the rescue is also a consideration. Puppies are adopted sometimes within hours of arrival, and transport is a fabulous way to reduce our puppy population. If a puppy has moved around a lot then they are also considered.
Owner Returns are automatically considered. This gives them a chance at a new start without the return in their history.
A dog will be considered for submission if a foster or team member requests.
The team, which includes someone from the foster team, adoption team, medical and the director, reviews the suggested dogs. A list is created which includes, bio, information, behavior and medical records, and all the information is sent to our partners.
Once submitted, our partner shelters review the list and ask questions, review medical records and choose what dogs they can take depending on space, breed, age and size. They want to make sure they will be able to adapt to their community. For example, Seattle has a lot of apartments and not large yards, so they make sure that the dogs will be ok in those environments.
Once chosen, we let our team know and they begin informing fosters who has been selected.
This is ok. Our partners know, and have signed an agreement, that our dogs are NOT to be euthanized and they are to be returned to us. What does that mean? It means they will hold until our next transport, or we fly them back.
Keep in mind, dogs can be returned for a number of reasons, not always the problem of the Texas dog. What if there is a resident dog that won’t accept the new dog that was adopted? The adopter may return. Returns are not necessarily bad. They can be helpful in some cases as our partners do not know the dogs like we do, so when they come back they have a better idea of what the dog will need in his or her next placement. Washington shelters are not like Texas shelters. Dogs there are given a second chance, with opportunities for enrichment, training, and options to stay with fosters. They have a whole behavior team to work with these pups.
OUR RESCUE PARTNERS ALL REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR BABIES!
The foster is responsible to take the dog to the vet for the health check appointment that is required to get the necessary paperwork for travel. If they are unable to do so, they simply need to let the transport team know so we can make arrangements to get them to their appointment. We ask that they help look for transportation and be flexible as we are limited on when these can be scheduled.
We also ask each foster to write a note about their pup; this helps the adopter know more about the pup from the foster's perspective. Tell the adoptive family your dog’s story, tell them about their life with you and what makes them special. Always keep it positive. The final step is help in getting them to the transport location or at minimum a location where they can meet the transporter. The logistics of moving a large number of dogs in a short amount of time can be overwhelming, so a positive attitude as things change and come together is most appreciated. The day your pup gets on transport will be sad for every foster, but we have volunteers to keep you apprised of the entire journey and have no doubt, you will be CELEBRATING when you see your dog get their perfect family.
We are limited on space so you can send a small toy, chewy, and small blanket; but it all has to fit in a gallon size ziploc bag. As you can imagine, the offloading process can be a little chaotic when our dogs arrive at the shelter. Our transporters try their very best to ensure each dog's belongings go along with them, but their main priority remains each pup's safety and well being while they are getting settled in. Due to this focus on safety, we cannot guarantee that each thing you send with your pup will transfer to the shelter with each pup.
This depends on the dog. If unaltered, the dog needs to be altered prior to adoption. If the dog is having difficulty, they will allow it time to adjust. Most dogs are adoptable the day they arrive.
The length or time varies, depending on the dog. Puppies are usually adopted within two weeks. There are times they may be a little longer but that is very rare. Adoption times for adult dogs varies. Many times our adult dogs arrive on Thursday and are adopted by the end of their first weekend in Washington. We have never had a dog stay in the shelter longer than 4 months.
We have never had a dog not adopted in Washington. We have had dogs returned or those with difficulty adjusting, and we have an agreement with the shelter to return them back to the rescue. They will work tirelessly to rehabilitate and find the perfect place for that pup. The team stays in communication with our rescue the whole time.
They love small dogs and PUPPIES! Puppies are usually snapped up within days, but the adopters in the Pacific Northwest are open to any dogs. They are all looking for large breed dogs to go hiking, paddle boarding and enjoy the beaches and lakes. Dogs we know will not find homes here in Texas are sent to Washington and adopted.
Heartworm positive dogs.
The purpose of sending dogs to Washington is to lower our population here, and make room to save more dogs. We all know there are always more lives that need saving here in Texas. Providing a good mix of puppies and little dogs together with our big dogs, gives all our dogs the best advantage to be seen and get homes quickly.
The dates are dependent on our transporter. If she is doing one transport in a month, it is the first Tuesday of the month. She may add a second transport, which is the third Tuesday of the month.
Transport is a vital tool for saving Texas dogs. The main reason we need transport is that Texas is one of the highest kill states in the US. Due to our overpopulation, there are simply not enough homes for all of the dogs here. The Pacific Northwest has had good spay and neuter programs and requirements and therefore have been no-kill states for over 10 years. Most people prefer to rescue a dog in need from the shelter versus buy one from a breeder. For every dog who goes to the Pacific Northwest it saves three dogs. A foster home is opened up which allows another dog to be pulled, which opens a space in an overcrowded shelter.
Honestly we do not know that here. Even with the screening and adoption application process we have in place, we have had our dogs given away, abandoned in yards or the shelter and dumped on the street. Ultimately we give the dogs the best chance we can at having a happy life.
There are a variety of factors taken into consideration before any dog is submitted for transport. It may be that we have an unusually large puppy population that can be quickly reduced by sending them north where they will be snapped right up. Your pup may be beautiful to you, but the truth may be they will be virtually unadoptable here in Texas. The Pacific Northwest is a very open and accepting environment for our larger dogs that would otherwise sit in the rescue for a long period of time.
The first step is the DogRRR leadership team submits pictures and bios of dogs they have determined are good candidates for transport to one, or a number, of our Pacific Northwest partners. The shelter staff evaluates each dog to determine their adaptability based on the demographics of their community. They are then either approved or denied for transport, and you, as the foster, will be notified of their decision.
Fosters are notified at the time of SUBMISSION so they can begin to prepare for the separation from their dog, or they can decide to foster fail. Notice of any foster fail must be given when they receive the notice that their dog is being SUBMITTED. A great deal of thought goes into selecting the right dogs to go on transport. The leadership of DogRRR works diligently with all of the information at their disposal to determine which dogs should be submitted. However, we do understand there may be a case when the foster wants to keep the dog. Keep in mind, this should be a rational decision based on how the dog fits with the foster family rather than an emotional decision based on the fear of transport. It’s never easy to let them go, but we owe it to our partners to provide them what they have agreed to, so no foster failing is permitted once the dog has been APPROVED for transport.
DogRRR partners with a number of shelters in the Washington State Area. Please know the term “shelter” is not the same as it is here in Texas. These are wonderful facilities staffed with employees and volunteers all working to provide the best care to our dogs until they get their forever home. Sometimes the dogs are not ready for adoption when they arrive - they may have developed a little cough, or have been seriously anxious, so they may be placed with a foster family for a short time.
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that we will hear from them. We ask that you submit a letter that we include in the foster dog packet. The rescue also sends a letter as some adopters do not understand the foster process and will sometimes reach out to the rescue vs. fosters.
Simple answer, there is no guarantee. We always hope the adoptive families will reach out to the fosters, and many do. Unfortunately, sometimes they do not reach out. We have an amazing team of volunteers that work with the shelters and volunteers to get this information and stress what it means to the fosters to see their dog in their forever home, but sadly that does not always happen.
The are transported sometimes by air and sometimes by Tall Tales Transport and Rescue (KAY). We have worked with her for over 6 years. She drives a modified trailer designed to haul race cars with reinforced walls for a crash. It has 3 roof top Coleman AC units with their own generator; this helps with better climate control and it is quieter for the animals on transport. They also carry a spare Coleman generator in case something happens on the trip. There are two CO2 sensors and 4 cameras, 2 that are placed in the aisles and two extra they can be placed for another angle or on a specific kennel or dog in crisis. There is sound on the cameras, so they are able to hear distress or barking of the dogs on the trailer. The dogs are walked throughout the day at regular intervals. They carry over 400 pounds of food in the trailer, and the dogs are fed twice a day. Because of their size, and their metabolism, puppies are fed at least 3 times a day. Each dog has a water bowl affixed to their crate, and Kay walks the trailer at every stop to make sure they have something to drink. There is also a tracker on the trailer in case they were to be stranded or run into trouble.
There are cameras on the transport trailer which are monitored. If a dog gets sick we are notified and if there is an emergency, an emergency vet is located and contacted. If a dog is struggling with behavioral issues, this is dealt with on a case by case situation. We let the incoming shelter know the dog is experiencing difficulties and they have volunteers scheduled to help and give them time to decompress. They are well equipped to deal with such issues and will very rarely “give up” on an animal. They have behavioral programs staffed with employees and volunteers that are committed to working with them until they are adoptable.
This question has different answers. If we send a dog that is not altered, they must be altered prior to adoption and will remain inactive till surgery is scheduled or completed.
If the animal arrived and was struggling behaviorally, they will give the animal time to adjust, and continue to evaluate. This is a good thing because it allows the volunteer to connect with your foster and better understand their needs which helps when finding the right adopter
We ask that you reach out to our rescue and not our partners as they are very busy handling their own daily business. We are more than happy to get any information to help our fosters. We have worked very closely with these shelters in building relationships with them and we want to be able to continue the transport process as it is essential to our process and sustainability in rescue. These partnerships allow us to save more dogs due to Texas pets' overpopulation. Please remember if you do speak to a volunteer, be kind and courteous as we know emotions can overwhelm us during this time.
The team discusses how many current dogs are in the rescue. We look at the list of active dogs and how long they have been in the rescue. We also look at who has had interest and who has not. Age is considered once a puppy hits the teenage years (over 6 months). They are automatically considered for transport as they are the hardest to get adopted since people want either younger or older dogs.
We look at the length of time in the rescue. This is a huge factor, as the longer we have had them, the harder they are to get adopted here.
The number of puppies we have in the rescue is also a consideration. Puppies are adopted sometimes within hours of arrival, and transport is a fabulous way to reduce our puppy population. If a puppy has moved around alot then they are also considered.
Owner Returns are automatically considered. This gives them a chance at a new start without the return in their history.
A dog will be considered for submission If a foster or team member requests.
The team, which includes someone from the foster team, adoption team, medical and the director, reviews the suggested dogs; the list is created which includes, bio, information, behavior and medical records and all the information is sent to our partners.
Once submitted to the receiving partners they review the list and ask questions, review medical records and choose what dogs they can take dependent on space, breed, age and size. They want to make sure they will be able to adapt to their community. For example, Seattle has a lot of apartments and not large yards, so they make sure that the dogs will be ok in those environments.
Once chosen we let our team know and they begin letting fosters know who has been selected.
This is ok. Our partners know, and have signed an agreement, that our dogs are NOT to be euthanized and they are to be returned to us. What does that mean? It means they will hold till our next transport, or we fly them back.
Keep in mind, dogs can be returned for a number of reasons, not always the problem of the Texas dog. What if there is a resident dog that won’t accept the new dog that was adopted? The adopter may return. Returns are not necessarily bad. They can be helpful in some cases as our partners do not know the dogs like we do, so when they come back they have a better idea of what the dog will need in his or her next placement. Washington shelters are not like TEXAS shelters; dogs are given a second chance; there are opportunities for enrichment, training and to be able to stay with fosters. They have a whole behavior team to work with these pups.
THEY ALL REALLY CARE ABOUT OUR BABIES!
The foster is responsible to take the dog to the vet for the health check appointment that is required to get the necessary paperwork for travel. If they are unable to do so, they simply need to let the transport team know so we can make arrangements to get them to their appointment. We ask that they help look for transportation and be flexible as we are limited on when these can be scheduled.
We also ask each foster to write a note about their pup; this helps the adopter know more about the pup from the foster's perspective. Tell the adoptive family your dog’s story, tell them about their life with you and what makes them special. Always keep it positive. The final step is help in getting them to the transport location or at minimum a location where they can meet the transporter. The logistics of moving a large number of dogs in a short amount of time can be overwhelming, so a positive attitude as things change and come together is most appreciated. The day your pup gets on transport will be sad for every foster, but we have volunteers to keep you apprised of the entire journey and have no doubt, you will be CELEBRATING when you see your dog gets their perfect family.
We are limited on space so you can send a small toy, chewy, and small blanket but it all has to fit in a gallon size ziploc bag. Everything is off loaded when they arrive, and they try their best to make sure their belongings go with them, however, as you can imagine, it’s a little chaotic when all of our dogs are being unloaded and settled, so there is no guarantee what is sent will arrive with them.
WE ASK EVERY FOSTER TO WRITE A LETTER THAT IS PLACED WITH THE DOGS RECORDS SO IT DEFINITELY GETS RECEIVED WITH THEIR PAPERWORK.
This depends on the dog; if it is an unaltered, the dog needs to be altered first. If the dog is having difficulty, they will allow it time to adjust. Otherwise, they are adoptable the day they arrive.
The length of times varies depending on the dog, however puppies are usually adopted within two weeks max. There are times they may be a little longer but that is very rare.
The adult dogs vary; they can be there as little as a week to 3 months. We have not seen anyone stay longer than 4 months. Many times our dogs arrive on Thursday and the majority are adopted by the end of their first weekend in Washington. Of course, there are a number of factors that can affect that. Even the weather and fires they have been experiencing have an affect on the time it takes to get the dogs into their forever homes.
We have never had a dog not adopted in Washington. We have had dogs returned or those with difficulty adjusting and we have an agreement with the shelter to return them back to the rescue. They will work effortlessly to rehabilitate and find the perfect place to stay in communication with our rescue the whole time.
They love small dogs and PUPPIES! Puppies are usually snapped up within days, but the adopters in the Pacific Northwest are open to any dogs. They are all looking for large breed dogs to go hiking, paddle boarding and enjoy the beaches and lakes. Dogs we know will not find homes here in Texas are sent to Washington and adopted.
Heartworm positive dogs.
The dates are dependent on our transporter. f she is doing one transport in a month, it is the first Tuesday of the month, however, she may add a second which is the third Tuesday of the month.
The purpose of sending dogs to Washington is to lower our population here and make room to save more dogs. We all know there are always more that need saving here in Texas. Providing a good mix of puppies and little dogs together with our big dogs, gives them all the best advantage to be seen and get homes quickly.