Skip to main content

These 5 Vacation Destinations Want to Send You Home with a Puppy

Potcake Place K-9 Rescue
Potcake Place K-9 Rescue/Facebook

No one needs an incentive to take a vacation, but bringing home a (mostly free) puppy is pretty good motivation nonetheless. These five destinations are bucket-list-worthy in their own right, plus they’re eager to send visitors home with an adopted pup to boot.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

Thanks to a flurry of media coverage in the last few years, Potcake Place has become the poster child for pet adoption vacations. The non-profit dog shelter is located in the idyllic Grace Bay area of Providenciales on the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos. It’s named after the native “potcakes,” a cross-bred island dog that’s a unique mix of German Shepherd, Labrador, and English Fox Terrier. They’re known for being loyal, friendly, playful, and all-around great family dogs. Potcake Place offers a “play for a day” program for tourists to take its shelter pups for a walk, a day at the beach, or an overnight at their Airbnb. The hope, of course, is that they’ll grow so attached to their newfound furry friend that they’ll want to adopt them.

Aspen, Colorado

The Aspen Animal Shelter is a private, non-profit, no-kill shelter that provides temporary sanctuary to local dogs and cats in Aspen, Colorado. It encourages all forms of volunteering, from in-house cleanup to afternoon walks to a Rent-a-Pet Program. Visitors interested in the latter can “rent” a dog for a day or the entire length of their visit to Aspen. The shelter connects volunteers with dogs who match their interests, personality, and activity level. Of course, the hope is that visitors ultimately take their rented pooch home with them. It also provides an “Adopt Me” harness to let the world know that their dogs are looking for a new home.

Maui, Hawaii

The Maui Humane Society likewise encourages active visitors to borrow its shelter dogs for a day or more. Through its Beach Buddies Visitor Program, tourists can take a shelter dog along on a local hike, to a nearby beach, or even a dog-friendly restaurant. Volunteers are provided with a backpack full of everything they’ll need for a day out, including a water bottle, bowls, towels, poop bags, and a seatbelt. The program is so popular that volunteer spots are often reserved months in advance.

Heredia, Costa Rica

Territorio de Zaguates (literally “Land of the Strays”) is a sprawling, no-kill dog shelter in the mountains of Costa Rica. Its more than 1,300 resident canines include puppies, those with disabilities, seniors with serious health issues, and hundreds of breeds, all searching for a new family. On select days each month, the shelter opens its doors to visitors who want to walk, play with, and generally keep its pups company. For volunteers who take a liking to a particular dog (or two), the shelter will help facilitate the international adoption process.

Kanab, Utah

Southern Utah — near the north rim of the Grand Canyon and home to Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks — is already one of the most amazing destinations in the country. Best Friends Animal Society in the small town of Kanab wants to give travelers one more reason to visit. It’s home to roughly 1,600 animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and farm animals. In addition to regular tours and open houses, the no-kill shelter encourages visitors to spend time with their animals — dogs included — in the hope that they just may take one home. The sanctuary can even facilitate extended visitor stays in its onsite cabins, cottages, and RV sites.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Should You Travel After Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine?
what the covid vaccine means for travel businessman using mobile phone at airport protective mask

With the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines now being administered around the U.S. and pictures of vaccine jabs and posing with vaccination cards spreading across social media, naturally, everyone’s thoughts are turning to when they can finally hop on a plane and take that much-needed vacation. But just because the vaccine rollout is underway doesn’t mean we can throw caution to the winds, as Dr. Fauci, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC), and numerous health and public safety officials have said. There are the new COVID variants to consider, not enough people may take the vaccine to start ensuring herd immunity (which could require anywhere from 70-90% of the population being vaccinated to be fully effective), and states may reopen too quickly, sparking outbreaks. Plus, with international travel, you might be heading to a country that may not have as many citizens vaccinated or even have vaccines yet, leaving the potential for COVID to be brought in or out. 

So what does that mean for your travel plans? There are still a lot of unknowns, but we’ve distilled all the information floating around out there down to some essential must-knows. 
Related Guides

Read more
Michelob Wants to Pay You $50K to Explore the U.S. National Parks
google earth national parks tour yosemite national park

Although low-calorie craft beers have come a long way in the last decade, most beer snobs turn their noses up at these so-called “healthy” options. But, most beer snobs will also agree that getting paid to travel for six months in a tricked-out campervan sounds pretty awesome, no matter what beer they bring for the ride. Enter the new Michelob Ultra Pure Gold CEO contest.

This month, Michelob Ultra put out the call for a new CEO. Unlike most executive head honcho positions, however, this “Chief Exploration Officer” requires only a love of beer, some basic driving skills, and a willingness to spend six months exploring the U.S. National Parks in depth. Tentative stops include Joshua Tree, Yosemite, and Big Bend. Michelob will provide the winner of the Pure Gold CEO contest with a full-featured, self-contained campervan, all the gas required for their trip, and plenty of beer to boot. In addition to covering most trip-related expenses, the beermaker will also pay the new CEO a handsome $50,000 salary. They’re welcome to bring a guest, too (including a friend, partner, or even a dog), so the trip is more of a fun, shared journey than a sad, “drinking alone in a campervan in the desert” experience.

Read more
The Isle of Rum Wants You to Move to Scotland’s Inner Hebrides
move isle of rum scotland

Most mortal men have dreamed of chucking it all -- the mortgage, the job, the car payment, and the tomato garden -- and moving somewhere far, far away. Right now seems like the perfect time to realize that dream. If you’re serious about it, one remote island in Scotland would like to make you a deal.

The ancient Isle of Rum in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides archipelago is looking to grow its community. Town leaders began construction on four modest two-bedroom homes near Rum’s only settlement, the village of Kinloch. For applicants who commit to at least a two-year stay, monthly rent is less than $600. Locals want families or individuals who will actively contribute through hard work, volunteering, and participating in community events. Tourism, child care, food industry, and skilled construction workers are all in demand. Because of the small population, most residents work more than one job. The mayor may also be the mail carrier and the fire chief, too.

Read more