Doggy Day Out: How a Day Out Helps Shelter Dogs

Aurora, a one-year-old Siberian Husky, has been living at Border Tails Rescue animal shelter in Northbrook, Illinois, for almost two months. Her shyness made her easy to overlook in the shelter system, but simple “doggy day out” field trips may have connected her to her forever home.

Aurora isn’t the only shelter dog who has seen benefits from “field trips” away from the shelter kennel. “Doggie day out” field-trip shelter programs are gaining popularity all over the country, allowing volunteers to take shelter dogs on excursions away from the shelter for a day. 

Border Tails Rescue/ Aurora

What is a doggy day out program?

Border Tails started their program in 2024, which allows doggy day out volunteers to select a furry friend for up to five hours of activities, whether it's going for a stroll, relaxing together, cuddling, or going for a drive and enjoying a pup cup. Any photos taken during the dog’s outing will then be used to help get them adopted.

Doggy day out programs vary by location and shelter, but are available all over the U.S. In Hawaii, Maui Humane Society has a “Dog on Demand” program called Beach Buddies, where dogs can be taken to the beach. Front Street Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California, has a successful program, as do massive operations such as Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

Sometimes, the person who takes a dog out on a trip ends up adopting them. Other times, they meet someone while on their day out instead. Volunteers who enjoy the short outings may become interested in taking dogs for overnight and weekend stays, and sometimes even sign up to become short-term foster parents. Others may simply enjoy spending time with dogs. 

“It’s another way to have exposure, to give someone the opportunity to meet these dogs and potentially adopt them,” Zeidman says. “It’s been a really wonderful program and so popular. People have been calling and are super excited about it. I hope more shelters start doing this if they have the capacity to do it, because it’s very beneficial for the dogs to get out.” 

Front Street Animal Shelter/

What are the benefits of shelter dog field trips?

Doggy day out programs have massive benefits: A 2023 research study showed that dogs who take field trips are five times more likely to be adopted, and those in foster care are 14 times more likely to be adopted.

For Aurora, the trips gave her a respite from the chaos of the shelter, adoption manager Stacy Zeidman says. “Once this family started taking her out on field trips, she perked up,” Zeidman says. “She’s wanting to be more social, eating more, wagging her tail. Overall, the more a shelter dog is able to get out and get that mental and physical stimulation, the healthier it is for them.” 

Other benefits, to both dogs and people, include the following.

• Reduce stress: Short outings can reduce stress for shelter dogs and shelter staff.

• More volunteers: These programs attract new volunteers to often-understaffed shelters, and expand the network of potential adoptees.

• Increased adoptions: Dogs who go on outings sometimes get adopted by their walkers. At the very least, the outings provide extra photos and personality details, which can help the dogs get adopted.

• Community advertising: Most shelters give dogs vests to wear on their outings, which helps increase awareness and support for shelters.

• Staff relief: Volunteers working with dogs in doggy day out programs free up shelter staff to attend to other tasks.

Abigail Payne, the volunteer program coordinator at Front Street Animal Shelter, says their doggy day out program re-launched after a hiatus in January, and it’s already booked out for several months. 

“Outside of direct adoptions and exposure, we get so many photos and notes from these adventures,” she says. “Most of the time, a dog’s photo is an intake photo that could be not great if the dog is nervous or scared. When their volunteer takes photos, we’re able to get a really good bio and photos on their profile. Even the smallest thing can lead someone to stop and look twice at a dog’s profile.” 

Best Friends Animal Society/

What happens during a shelter dog’s trip out

At Best Friends, the nation’s largest sanctuary for homeless animals, dogs are paired with volunteers based on their desired activity: Some people want hiking buddies, while others want snuggle buddies. As with most programs, the shelter dog must be the only dog on their outing. 

“We don’t want to introduce them to other animals or personal pets,” Best Friends volunteer coordinator Deb Parker says. “Not all of our dogs are dog friendly, and some are dog selective.” 

All dogs get sent out with their leash, water, water bowl, poop bags, and even a sheet for their car backseat if needed. The dogs benefit enormously from sniffing new things, and volunteers share “spectacular photos” that can then be added to the dog’s adoption profile. One couple even included their shelter dog in their wedding proposal photos. 

Best Friends says up to 10 percent of the dogs who participate in outings get adopted, and an average of nine to 11 dogs can be on outings in a given day. Best Friends has about 5,000 network partners across the country, all sharing the goal of finding homes for at-risk dogs. 

“We hope that people…volunteer with their local organizations, even if they’re not no-kill,” Parker says. “They’re trying their best, and they need that support.” 

Commonly asked questions 

Who can volunteer with doggy day out programs? 

Theoretically, anyone over 18 years of age can volunteer for a doggy day out program. Each shelter will have a different application process. These may include verifying that you’re 18 years or older, having a background check taken, and attending orientation training to make sure the dog will be safe. Participating dogs are often larger dogs who require more exercise, and they may not have the most perfect leash skills, so participants should be confident in their dog handling. 

Where can I take my shelter dog? 

You can take your shelter dog to many places, including a pet store, to a park, to your fenced-in yard, for a car ride, to your office, or to your home to lounge on your couch or bed. Shelters will provide you with poop bags and a leash, and you should keep them leashed at all times when they’re out in public. Don’t introduce your shelter dog to any other dogs or cats — including your own — or take them to dog parks. Feel free to introduce your shelter dog to friends or family, though. There’s plenty of snuggles to go around. 

Do I need to bring my own leash or supplies? 

Nope, your shelter will provide you with a leash and any other necessary supplies. 

Can I bring my own dog?

No, leave your own pets at home. If you bring your shelter dog to your home, separate the animals for the duration of the visit. The goal of the trip is to give the dog human interaction, and some dogs will not do well with other animals. 

Can I request a specific size or breed of dog? 

Most likely, no. Your shelter will select dogs for their doggie day out programs ahead of time. These dogs will almost all be 40-plus pounds, and young or energetic. They benefit the most from the additional exercise. 

What if I fall in love with my dog? 

All dogs participating in doggie day out programs are adoptable. If you’ve fallen in love with your furry companion and wish to put in an adoption application, you can do so as soon as you return to the shelter. 

What do I do after my outing?

Let the shelter staff know how much you enjoyed your trip, and share any photos or dog personality traits with them. The shelter will then add the extra information and photos to the dog’s profile, which will help them get adopted. You can also post about your experience online or tell friends, in case they are also interested in volunteering. 

References

“Doggie Day Out.” Cityofsacramento.gov, 2021, www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/animal-care/volunteer/doggie-day-out.

‌Bobo, Sophia. “Athens Area Humane Society Offers Doggy Day out Program.” The Red & Black, 15 Jan. 2025, www.redandblack.com/culture/athens-area-humane-society-offers-doggy-day-out-program/article_906d8f3e-cd66-11ef-a841-47b8e20dad06.html.