At Da Vinci’s Dream, our mission is to save dogs and cats from high-risk shelters, overcrowded rural shelters, stray situations, and criminal cases by giving them the opportunity to reach safe, loving homes.
Many rural areas in Kentucky face severe animal overpopulation, with shelters often receiving far more animals than local adoption demand can support. In some areas, large numbers of dogs enter shelters each week, creating urgent pressure on already limited space and resources.
Because adoption opportunities can be limited in rural Kentucky, transport allows us to connect rescue animals with families in regions where adoption demand is higher. This gives dogs and cats that may otherwise be overlooked—especially larger dogs, adult dogs, and certain coat colors—a much better chance at finding permanent homes.
As a foster-based nonprofit rescue, our animals remain in foster homes in Kentucky until adoption is finalized. We coordinate scheduled transport meet-and-greets in designated out-of-state locations so approved adopters can meet the animal in person before completing the adoption.
Transport is one of the most effective tools we have for reducing overcrowding, supporting shelter partners, and increasing successful placements for animals who need a second chance.
By transporting animals responsibly, we are not simply moving pets—we are expanding adoption opportunities, supporting animal welfare across state lines, and helping more rescue animals reach forever homes.
Every transport represents collaboration, planning, veterinary preparation, and volunteer effort, all centered around one goal: giving each animal the strongest possible chance at long-term success.
At Da Vinci's Dream, our animal transport process is meticulously designed to create harmonious bonds between our rescued animals and their forever homes. Here's a comprehensive guide to navigating this transformative journey:
Yes, but only after your application has been approved. We do not schedule meet-and-greets without a completed and approved application. If you'd like to meet the animal without placing a deposit, you are welcome to travel to Adair County, Kentucky. We legally cannot transport animals for casual meet-and-greets without a health certificate in place, which requires a financial commitment.
Please note: this would be a meet-and-greet only—you will not be able to take the animal home the same day. Animals cannot legally cross state lines without a valid health certificate, which must be scheduled in advance with our veterinarian and comes with an additional fee. If you’re considering this option, please coordinate with our team ahead of time to discuss next steps.
We are an entirely volunteer-based rescue, and our team works hard to manage the many responsibilities that come with saving animals. To respect our volunteers’ time and ensure our animals are matched appropriately, we require an approved application before scheduling any meet and greet.
Preparing for a meet and greet involves more than just showing up—it includes giving the animal a thorough bath, nail trim, brushing, and making sure they’re looking and feeling their best. It also involves coordinating transportation and spending time at the meetup itself.
We want to make sure that effort is meaningful by confirming ahead of time that the adopter is a good fit for the animal’s needs. Reviewing and approving your application first helps us avoid scheduling meet and greets that may ultimately not be in the best interest of the animal.
The deposit helps cover the cost of preparing your pet for transport—most importantly, their legally required health certificate, which must be issued in your name and cannot be reused or transferred. It also helps us cover transportation expenses like fuel, vehicle rental, and lodging for our transport volunteers. It shows you're serious about adopting and helps us avoid the financial strain of last-minute cancellations. This deposit is non-refundable, except in rare cases where the animal has a severely negative reaction at the meet-and-greet.
Your deposit contributes to:
The animal’s veterinary-issued health certificate (required by law for interstate travel)
Transportation costs like fuel, vehicle maintenance, and hotel stays
Animals scheduled for transport—after an adopter has been approved and a deposit has been paid—are brought to the transport location just for the day. We do not have a holding facility or partner shelter in these locations.
Our volunteer driver transports the animals to meet their designated adopters at the pre-arranged location. If all goes well during the meet and greet, the adoption is finalized on the spot. Because of this, we only transport animals on specific, pre-scheduled days.
To make each transport financially viable and respectful of our driver’s time, we require a minimum number of animals to be scheduled for adoption before a trip is confirmed. This helps us use our limited volunteer resources efficiently and keep transport costs manageable.
Unfortunately, no. Each transport is scheduled with multiple dogs and cats going to the same designated locations. For that reason, we are unable to add or adjust routes to other locations.
No. Deposits are non-refundable because we use them to pay for services in advance (like the health certificate and transport logistics).
If either you or our team feels that the animal isn’t the right fit during the meet and greet, we reserve the right not to proceed with the adoption. If you’ve already paid the adoption fee, it will be refunded. However, the transport deposit is non-refundable, as it covers costs we’ve already incurred, including the health certificate and transport arrangements.
Yes—but you'll need to travel to Adair County, Kentucky to do so. Please note that we require an approved application before we schedule any type of meet and greet, whether in person or through transport.
We do not transport animals out of state for meet-and-greets without a deposit and signed transport contract in place, as this requires a valid health certificate and careful advance planning.
Even if you visit in person, you will not be able to take the animal home the same day if you live out of state. A health certificate is legally required before any animal crosses state lines.
In some cases, if we have enough advance notice, we may be able to schedule a same-day vet appointment for the health certificate, allowing you to take the animal home after a few hours. However, this is not guaranteed. More commonly, you may need to:
Stay overnight so we can get the health certificate the following day
Make a return trip to pick up the animal later
Or, have the animal transported to you on our next scheduled transport after the meet and greet
We’re happy to work with you to find the best option!
You are not required to pay the remaining adoption fee until after you've met the animal at the transport meet-and-greet and are ready to move forward with the adoption. At that point, we accept online payments via PayPal or credit card. However, if you prefer to streamline the process, you're welcome to pay in advance once your meet-and-greet has been confirmed.
You’ll meet the animal, and we’ll assess mutual comfort. If all goes well, you’ll sign the final adoption contract, pay the remaining fee, and take your new family member home that day!
The transport contract is signed before the meet and greet to confirm your commitment and understanding of the process. The adoption contract is signed at the meet and greet after confirming the match is right. However, if you'd like to streamline the process, you're welcome to sign the adoption contract in advance once your meet-and-greet has been confirmed.
Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. We want to make sure all pets in the home are comfortable with each other before adoption. A meet and greet gives everyone a chance to interact in a safe, neutral setting and helps ensure a smoother transition when your new dog comes home.
Yes, we do have minimums in place for each transport. The required number can vary depending on the location, but transport is costly and requires a significant amount of time and effort from our volunteer drivers. To make each trip feasible, we need to have several animals scheduled for adoption at a given location.
If we haven’t met the minimum for a scheduled transport, we will push the trip back—typically by a week—and keep all adopters informed in advance. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we coordinate efforts to ensure our animals travel safely and efficiently to their forever homes.
No, we do not allow third-party transport. All adopters must be present at an in-person meet-and-greet with a member of our team. This step is essential because it allows us to observe the interaction between the dog and the potential adopter to ensure the animal is comfortable and doesn’t exhibit signs of stress or a negative reaction.
We always prioritize the well-being of our animals above all else. If our team feels the dog is not comfortable or that the match is not in the animal’s best interest, we reserve the right to cancel the adoption.
“My experience with DaVinci’s Dream was very good. They kept me informed throughout the process, communicated clearly when weather in Kentucky affected transport plans, and the transporter was compassionate with the dogs. The entire experience felt thoughtful and well organized.”
Sharon N.
