Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello, everyone! We are lucky enough to be obtaining a new van that will be outfitted specifically for transferring animals between our two campuses, to community partners, etc. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions of what this looks like in your own vans. 

The van itself is a large delivery van size (see attached photos). The company that was hired to design it recommended storage on the floor, but we want to have room for kennels. I'm thinking storage up by the ceiling would be better, perhaps with clips/hangers for a catch pole and net if needed.

What do you all have in your transport/transfer vans? Any suggestions on how you have or would best use the space? We transport dogs of all sizes and cats.

Thank you in advance!

#FieldServicesandPublicSafety*
#TransfersandTransport

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Shelly Volsche
Behavior and Transfer Manager
Nevada Humane Society
NV
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We have a Dodge ProMaster Cargo van. We had the thick rubber flooring installed but are still finding that there is a lot of heat that comes up through the floor, We are currently working on getting the crates up off the floor and will be utilizing the space under them for storage.  The heat may not be an issue on short trips but with transport across several states or the van is going to be running all day we have found it gets too warm in crates sitting directly on the floor.

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Debbie Sinclair
Boxer Lovers Rescue
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Thank you for the tip about the floor! We are in northern Nevada. While the winters are definitely cold and snowy, our summers also reach 100 degrees regularly.

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Shelly Volsche
Behavior and Transfer Manager
Nevada Humane Society
NV
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2024 04:54 PM
From: Debbie Sinclair
Subject: Outfitting a Transport Van

We have a Dodge ProMaster Cargo van. We had the thick rubber flooring installed but are still finding that there is a lot of heat that comes up through the floor, We are currently working on getting the crates up off the floor and will be utilizing the space under them for storage.  The heat may not be an issue on short trips but with transport across several states or the van is going to be running all day we have found it gets too warm in crates sitting directly on the floor.

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Debbie Sinclair
Boxer Lovers Rescue
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Do you already know how you will secure the crates?  Our group sometimes uses rented U-Haul trucks and borrow Best Friends vans, so we have learned multiple ways to secure the crates in vehicles without D rings or wall supports.  Based upon your picture, there doesn't appear to be wall supports that you can use ratch straps or bungee cords to lock down the crates.

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June Thomas
President
Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
AR
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This is something we can have done. We currently have this base van and are designing how we want it to function. I'll definitely keep in mind wall supports, d-rings, and such. Thanks!

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Shelly Volsche
Behavior and Transfer Manager
Nevada Humane Society
NV
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2024 07:05 AM
From: June Thomas
Subject: Outfitting a Transport Van

Do you already know how you will secure the crates?  Our group sometimes uses rented U-Haul trucks and borrow Best Friends vans, so we have learned multiple ways to secure the crates in vehicles without D rings or wall supports.  Based upon your picture, there doesn't appear to be wall supports that you can use ratch straps or bungee cords to lock down the crates.

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June Thomas
President
Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
AR
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Hi June! I read that you borrow Best Friends vans and was wondering who to contact for this. I mainly focus on VIP transports in a smaller vehicle. Renting one to help a local rescue twice a month would be a much better option for me. 

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Heather McLaren
Owner
Advanced Animal Transport
FL
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2024 07:05 AM
From: June Thomas
Subject: Outfitting a Transport Van

Do you already know how you will secure the crates?  Our group sometimes uses rented U-Haul trucks and borrow Best Friends vans, so we have learned multiple ways to secure the crates in vehicles without D rings or wall supports.  Based upon your picture, there doesn't appear to be wall supports that you can use ratch straps or bungee cords to lock down the crates.

------------------------------
June Thomas
President
Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
AR
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Hi Heather.  The Best Friends Hub in Northwest Arkansas is the location of the vans.  I don't know if there is a Best Friends location with vans close to Florida. But network partners that use the Best Friends vans have to provide $1 million liability insurance policy.

Our organization no longer performs the physical transport; we are a service provider to our Coalition members, that do the transports. We do have one member that occasionally rents a cargo van if their own vehicles aren't available.

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June Thomas
President
Coalition of Animal Rescue Transporters, FKA Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
Little Rock
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Original Message:
Sent: 06-05-2025 08:05 AM
From: Heather McLaren
Subject: Outfitting a Transport Van

Hi June! I read that you borrow Best Friends vans and was wondering who to contact for this. I mainly focus on VIP transports in a smaller vehicle. Renting one to help a local rescue twice a month would be a much better option for me. 

------------------------------
Heather McLaren
Owner
Advanced Animal Transport
FL
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-19-2024 07:05 AM
From: June Thomas
Subject: Outfitting a Transport Van

Do you already know how you will secure the crates?  Our group sometimes uses rented U-Haul trucks and borrow Best Friends vans, so we have learned multiple ways to secure the crates in vehicles without D rings or wall supports.  Based upon your picture, there doesn't appear to be wall supports that you can use ratch straps or bungee cords to lock down the crates.

------------------------------
June Thomas
President
Central Arkansas Rescue Transport
AR

Hi Shelly! Whenever you get your van completed, I'm interested in seeing it!❤️🐾

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Heather McLaren
Owner
Advanced Animal Transport
FL
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