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How to adopt a dog or a cat in Mexico City

Where to adopt, what documents they ask for, how to prepare your home and what it takes to fly an adopted dog to the US. Checked on October 17, 2026.

Reviewed by Paola De Valeri, veterinarian, October 17, 2026.

A brown mixed-breed dog with a navy collar and a black and white cat in her carrier arrive at the door of an apartment with plants and bowls of water and food
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Where to adopt in Mexico City

Pets from these places are usually handed over vaccinated, dewormed and spayed or neutered. Check requirements and hours before you go: each place sets its own. Most staff speak Spanish only.

  • Animal Care Agency (AGATAN)

    The city government publishes its catalog of dogs and cats for adoption from the Mexico City Veterinary Hospital and AGATAN Chapultepec. For Chapultepec, write to the email or call 56 4711 1186.

  • AdoptaCDMX (PAOT)

    The environmental attorney's office portal, with dogs and cats from authorities, associations and people who foster them. Filter by size, sex and age, and contact the caretaker directly.

  • Metro Canine Transfer Center

    Rehomes dogs rescued in Metro facilities, free of charge. It's at Av. de las Culturas s/n, El Rosario, Azcapotzalco. Write before you go.

  • Animal Surveillance Brigade (SSC)

    The police unit that rescues dogs and cats posts a catalog of the ones up for adoption on its social media. You can visit its facilities to meet them.

Usual requirements

  • Valid official ID: your passport works; residents can also use their residence card.
  • Proof of address no older than 3 months, like a utility bill.
  • An adoption application and sometimes an interview.
  • At some places, a home visit before you take the pet.
  • Signing a responsible adoption agreement.

Shelters and associations may ask for a recovery fee for vaccines and spay or neuter surgery. Ask in advance how much it is and what it includes.

Step by step

  1. 1. Think about your routine and your space. A dog or cat lives 10 to 18 years. Consider time, space, food and vet costs, whether your building allows pets and what happens if you move countries.
  2. 2. Take your time. Browse catalogs, ask about each one's personality and energy and, if you already have pets, how it gets along with other animals.
  3. 3. Meet it in person. Visit, spend some time together and ask about its health, vaccines and spay or neuter status.
  4. 4. Gather your documents. Have your ID and proof of address ready, and fill out the place's application.
  5. 5. Prepare for its arrival. Bowls, the same food the shelter gave it (to switch little by little), a bed, a collar with a tag and your phone number, a carrier and, for cats, a litter box, screens on the windows and a little catnip in its hiding spot to help it relax.
  6. 6. If there are children at home, stay with them. The first days are a time of discovery: your new pet is getting to know the house and the people around it. Let the children wait for it to come to them, without picking it up or hugging it suddenly.
  7. 7. If you already have pets, quarantine the newcomer. Keep the newcomer apart from your other animals for 12 days and take it to the vet before they meet, to rule out contagious diseases or parasites. This is more common in rescued cats.
  8. 8. Give it time. The first days it may be nervous or hide. Give it a quiet space and fixed routines, and take it to a vet for a checkup.

How to take an adopted dog from Mexico to the US

  • Age: the dog must be at least 6 months old when it enters the US.
  • Microchip: one that a universal scanner can read.
  • CDC Dog Import Form: free, filled out online before the trip; show the receipt at the airport or border.
  • Screwworm certificate: a SENASICA-authorized veterinarian in Mexico must inspect the dog within 5 days before the trip and certify it is free of New World screwworm.
  • Airline rules: each airline sets its own rules for pets in the cabin or in cargo, and some don't fly snub-nosed breeds.
  • Many rescues in Mexico City help adopters with paperwork and flights: ask the shelter before you commit.

Rules for entering the US change. Check the CDC and USDA APHIS pages before you travel.

Current adoption campaigns

See all current campaigns

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to adopt a dog in Mexico City?
At government centers, like the Metro's, adoption is free. Some shelters and associations ask for a recovery fee for vaccines and spay or neuter surgery: ask how much in advance.
Can foreigners adopt a dog in Mexico City?
Yes. Places usually ask for an official ID, which can be your passport, and proof of a local address. Some also ask for an interview or a home visit.
How do I adopt a dog from Mexico and bring it to the US?
The dog must be at least 6 months old and microchipped, you fill out the CDC Dog Import Form online, and a SENASICA-authorized vet in Mexico must certify it free of screwworm within 5 days before the trip. Check the CDC and USDA pages before traveling, since the rules change.
Are adopted pets spayed or neutered?
At AdoptaCDMX and government centers they are usually handed over vaccinated, dewormed and spayed or neutered. Elsewhere, confirm what the adoption includes.

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Sources

Each place sets its own requirements and hours, which may change. Information from: