Day Trip Benefits
Low commitment, high impact
Pick a dog up ideally between 10am-12pm, have an amazing day, take a lot of photos, return them when you're done. A low-commitment foster opportunity that helps get our dogs seen!
Improved mental health
Animal shelters are stressful and noisy places. When dogs are at the shelter for days and months on end, they need a mental break to just be a dog and relax. Day trips make that happen!
Improved chance of adoption
When you take a dog out for the day, they have the chance to meet way more potential adopters! Being at the right place at the right time and result in a future home for our pups.
Welcome to our day trip program!
Day Trips give shelter dogs a much-needed break from the kennel, offering time to decompress, explore, and enjoy one-on-one attention in the community. Each outing is thoughtfully planned with simple, achievable goals so every dog can benefit from enrichment, improved well-being, and greater visibility to potential adopters.
Day Trip Type #1: Lazy Day!
A restful reset to provide stressed or overwhelmed dogs with calm offsite time.
Lazy Day Trips are all about decompression and well-being! Dogs get to relax in a quiet, low-stimulus environment, away from barking, chaos, and kennel stress. These trips help dogs reset emotionally, improve their mental state, and return to the shelter calmer and more resilient.
Best suited for senior dogs, dogs who have been at the shelter for an extended time, or those showing signs of stress, these outings provide meaningful relief, comfort, and a boost to overall well-being.
Activities:
- Couch snuggles and nap time
- Backyard relaxation
- Gentle strolls through quiet neighborhoods
- Quiet car rides or car naps
- Movie day at home
- Edible enrichment
Day Trip Type #2: Play Day!
An adventurous day out for high-energy dogs to get the chance to burn off steam and experience enriching new environments or activities.
Play Day Trips are designed for dogs who need movement, stimulation, and exercise. A day of burning energy lets pups stretch their legs, explore new places, and enjoy structured play, which helps reduce frustration, improve behavior, and helps us both learn more about them and showcase their personalities. With space to run, explore, and reset, they offer a much-needed outlet for both body and mind, especially for dogs who don’t always get as much time out of their kennel.
Activities:
- Hiking or running
- Agility activities
- Training games
- Enrichment toys and puzzles
Day Trip Type #3: Parade Day!
A day in public places for adoptable, social dogs to be shown off to potential adopters and shared widely for adoption!
Front and center! Bring adoptable dogs to dog-friendly businesses, crowded public areas and parks, markets or events, and more, where they can charm the public, show off their best traits, and meet new people - perhaps potential adopters!
Offsite Adoption Transportation, like bringing a dog to a PetSmart event, are still classified as a volunteer opportunity. This is another opportunity to create your own “adoption event” with a dog onsite, maybe one who isn’t attending PetSmart events.
Activities:
- Walks with “Adopt Me” gear!
- Patios, breweries, and more
- Visiting dog-friendly businesses
- Meeting everyone you can, safely on leash
- Community events.
Schedule your first day trip here
Day trips are a great way to get a shelter pup out for a day and you get to spend it with an amazing dog! Pick up a pup in the morning, take them out on a lovely date, and return them before we close. We provide you with supplies, including leashes, collars, toys, treats, bandanas, etc. Sign up via our Calendly link below.
Every Day Tripper will receive a custom Day Trip Backpack and a custom CAC-branded “Adopt Me” vest, courtesy of VCA Charities!
We are incredibly grateful to VCA Charities for investing in this program and helping bring more visibility, enrichment, and positive exposure to our adoptable animals. Their support directly expands opportunities for dogs to get out into the community, build confidence, and be seen by potential adopters in a real-world setting. Partnerships like this make a tangible difference in length of stay and overall wellbeing, helping more animals find loving homes faster.
What our daytrip fosters have to say:
"I do a lot of day trips - it’s my favorite way to help. Taking a dog out for a special day is so rewarding. Some need to run and play, some need affection from humans, and some just need peace and rest. The notes can be helpful to potential fosters and adopters, but it especially helps the dog to have a break. I also take lots of pictures and videos and I try to use them to tell the world about my new friend."
Julie L.
"The day trip program brought me to CAC. I live 40 minutes from the shelter. I pass many shelters on my way to Cincy Animal Care. I love that day trips are offered. It allowed you to really get to know a dog but you do not have to commit to introducing the dog to residential animals or keeping them long terms. I love to spoil them rotten and give them a break from the shelter for a few hours. "
Alex E.
Foster Daytrip FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about our foster daytrip program.
Have more questions? Email [email protected]!
