Last checked . Picks are based on the prices, rates, fees and terms each provider publishes, checked at the source. We never rank products by commission. See how we’re funded.
Originally published March 23, 2019. Updated October 26, 2026.
You can adopt a TSA dog for nothing, according to the agency’s Canine Adoption Program page. Not every dog that trains to sniff out explosives ends up at an airport. Some wash out of the program, and TSA places a number of them in homes.
How to Adopt a TSA Dog: Rules, Costs and Expectations
Who can adopt a TSA dog?
Law enforcement and service agencies get priority. Members of the public can apply too. A family with a fenced yard and no move planned in the next six months meets the main conditions TSA lists. Local pet ordinances still apply, and pets already in the home need current vaccinations. TSA checks references and your veterinarian. It may also ask for photos of your home.
Does it cost anything to adopt a TSA dog?
No. TSA’s cost FAQ repeats that there is no fee. Adopters also receive six months of medical records, a month of flea and heartworm preventive, and three days of food. A dog cannot be shipped or returned.
How does the TSA dog adoption process work?
Start by emailing the adoptions coordinator. The address is on the program page. Approved applicants get dog profiles and a visit to the training center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas. TSA does not offer same-day adoptions. Once you are approved, the wait runs from a few days to a few weeks. On pickup day, you sign a notarized covenant not to sue. You also bring a leash, a collar, and a crate.
What are former TSA dogs like?
Most are two to four years old. They are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and crate-trained. They also have a lot of energy, and TSA says most are untrained and not house-trained. The dogs are typically sporting breeds, such as Labs and German Shorthaired Pointers. German Shepherds and Malinois usually go to law enforcement. The average wait for a sporting breed is three months to a year. A new dog may need up to 90 days to settle in.
Editor’s Take
If you adopt a TSA dog, the dog is free but the work is not. These are working-line animals with energy to burn, and the first months are a training project. Food, vet visits, and training still add up, as our guide to the cost of owning a pet shows. A nonprofit route exists too. In 2022, TSA partnered with Project K-9 Hero to place a retiring dog.
