Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is my dog’s breed?
One of the fun—and sometimes mysterious—parts of rescuing dogs in Mexico is that many come from generations of mixed breeding. Since the fathers of street dogs are rarely known, it can be difficult to determine exactly which breeds make up a dog. In some cases, a litter can even have more than one father! We make our best breed estimate based on a dog’s appearance, size, personality, and physical characteristics. However, breed identification is only an estimate unless genetic testing is performed. Rather than focusing too much on breed labels, we love celebrating what makes each dog unique. Your From Stray To Stay pup is truly one of a kind!
What is the hold deposit, and when is the remaining balance due?
Once your application has been approved and you decide to move forward with the adoption, a hold deposit is required the same day your approval is confirmed. Our adoption team will send you the payment link. The hold deposit allows us to officially reserve the dog for you and remove them from active adoption consideration while we prepare for their upcoming transportation. The remaining adoption balance is due 3 days before your dog boards the transport departing Texas for their final destination. Please remember hold deposits, administrative fees, and transportation costs are non-refundable.
Can I foster-to-adopt?
Unfortunately, we do not offer foster-to-adopt for dogs located in Mexico. Our Mexico-based dogs need to travel internationally to reach their adopters. Before a dog begins that journey, we must arrange and pay for the required veterinary paperwork, health certificates, transportation, and other travel requirements. Because of these costs and the logistics involved in international transportation, we need a committed adopter before bringing a dog from Mexico to the United States. If you are interested in fostering, we may have foster opportunities for dogs already located in Texas or other U.S. locations. Please contact us to learn more.
Can I meet the dog before adopting?
Yes! Because most of our dogs are located in Mexico, an in-person meeting usually isn't possible before adoption. However, you will have the opportunity to meet the dog through a video call before making your final commitment. This gives you a chance to see the dog, interact with them, ask questions, and make sure you feel comfortable moving forward. We want you to feel confident that you and your new pup are a good match before they begin their journey to the United States.
What happens after I submit an application?
Once you submit your application, our adoption team will review it. Please be patient! It can take up to 5 days for an adoption coordinator to reach out. If one of our coordinators feels that your application could potentially be a good match for the dog you applied for, they will contact you to discuss the next steps. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or mean that the dog is automatically reserved for you. We carefully review applications because our goal is to find the best possible match for each dog.
What is the adoption fee?
Our adoption fees vary depending on the dog's location (Mexico or Texas), age, and medical needs. Your adoption fee helps cover some of the many expenses involved in preparing your pup for their new life, including: - Age-appropriate vaccinations - Veterinary care and medical treatment - Spay/neuter - Microchip - Deworming - Health certificates - Transportation to the United States The adoption fee does not cover the full cost of rescuing, caring for, and transporting each dog. The remaining costs are made possible through donations from our amazing From Stray To Stay community. If you are able, please consider making an additional donation. Your support helps us continue rescuing dogs and work toward expanding our mission to provide spay/neuter programs and education within our local communities in Mexico. Every donation, big or small, helps us save another life.
What happens if I need to return my dog?
We understand that sometimes an adoption may not work out. However, returns are very uncommon, and we ask that you contact us before making any decision to return your dog. Please remember that bringing a rescue dog into a new home is a major transition. We encourage every adopter to follow the 3-3-3 Rule: 🐾The first 3 days: Your dog may feel overwhelmed, nervous, confused, or withdrawn. Everything is new—the people, smells, sounds, home, and routine. 🐾 The first 3 weeks: Your dog is beginning to understand their new environment, learn your routine, and feel more comfortable. 🐾 The first 3 months: Your dog is settling in, building trust, showing more of their personality, and beginning to truly feel at home. Every dog is different, and some need more time than others. Patience, consistency, structure, and routine can make a huge difference. If you are struggling with your new dog, please reach out to us before making any decisions. We will do our best to help you work through challenges and determine what is best for both you and your dog. If a return is necessary, please contact us as soon as possible. Do not rehome, surrender, or give the dog to another person without first contacting From Stray To Stay. Because our dogs often travel long distances from Mexico, arranging a return can take time. Every situation is evaluated individually based on the reason for the return, foster availability, and transportation availability. The adopter is responsible for the cost of returning the dog to the rescue. Adoption fees are non-refundable. If a return is approved, the cost of transportation and any other expenses associated with the return may be deducted from any applicable amount being refunded. Return arrangements are not always immediate because we must coordinate a safe foster placement and transportation. We will work with you to determine the safest and most appropriate next steps for your dog. Our priority is always the dog's safety and well-being.
How does transportation work?
Most of our dogs begin their journey in Guanajuato, Mexico. We transport them in our rescue van to the Texas border, where we meet with another driver who transports the dogs to Houston, Texas. Once they arrive in Houston, their next step depends on their scheduled transportation date. Some dogs may continue to their forever homes the following day, while others may need to wait one to two weeks for their scheduled transport. While waiting, our dogs are safely fostered in a private home in Houston and cared for by our rescue team. For the final leg of their journey, we partner with K9 Deliveries LLC, a professional pet transportation company that transports our dogs from Houston to their destination city. K9 Deliveries operates on scheduled routes, so transportation dates and destinations vary. To learn more about their transportation process, calendar, and available routes, please visit: K9 Deliveries LLC Our goal is to make every part of your dog's journey as safe and comfortable as possible—from Mexico to their forever home.
Do you adopt on a first-come, first-served basis?
No... We review applications in the order they are received, but we do not automatically approve the first application submitted. Every dog has different needs, personality traits, energy levels, and ideal home environments. Our adoption team considers all of these factors when reviewing applications. Our priority is finding the best match for the dog, not simply the first application received.
Why does Petfinder show a different location than Mexico?
You may notice that some of our dogs have a U.S. location listed on Petfinder even though they are currently in Mexico. This is because we are able to transport our dogs to many states throughout the United States, and Petfinder's location can sometimes reflect the dog's adoption or transport destination rather than their current physical location. Always check the dog's profile or contact us to confirm where the dog is currently located. Most of our dogs are in Mexico until they have an approved adopter.
Where in Mexico is my dog coming from?
Most of our dogs are rescued from the Silao, León, and Guanajuato areas of Mexico. We also work with compassionate individuals in our local communities who rescue dogs in need and connect them with us. In addition, we work with private shelters, including: - C.A.R. Pirelli - Paws Albergue Our rescue network allows us to reach dogs who may otherwise have very little chance of finding safety. Whether a dog comes directly from the streets, a private shelter, or one of our community rescuers, our goal is always the same: to give them a second chance and help them find a loving forever home.
How can I help if I cannot adopt?
You don't have to adopt a dog to make a difference! There are many ways you can support From Stray To Stay. Donate: Donations help us provide food, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, veterinary care, transportation, and emergency medical treatment. Sponsor a Dog: Help cover the care of a specific dog while they wait for their forever home. Sponsorships can help with food, medical care, and other necessities. Share Our Dogs: One of the easiest ways to help is to share our adoptable dogs on social media. Your share could be what connects a dog with their future family. Donate Supplies: We welcome donations of food, medications, crates, leashes, collars, and other supplies that help us care for our dogs. Support Our Fundraisers: Participating in or sharing our fundraisers helps us continue rescuing dogs and supporting our spay/neuter and community outreach efforts. Every form of support matters. Whether you donate, sponsor, share a post, donate supplies, or simply tell someone about From Stray To Stay, you are helping give a stray dog a second chance. It truly takes a community to turn a stray into a stay.