Adoption Fees

[kwillia]

It didn't cost me $300 to have my dogs vetted either... AND? Rescues charge different fees because THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME. Vets charge different fees because THEY ARE NOT ALL THE SAME.

You may think it's stupid, just like I think it's stupid that someone who can't afford to take their 3 kids to the fair and buy them ride bracelets is scoping out dogs.

My $300 each dog includes a year's supply of heartworm medication for each, the distemper/parvo vaccination (the only other one they get is rabies every 3 years and that would cost extra when it happens), fecal exam, blood exam, and vet fees.

You raise a good point about a family living from paycheck to paycheck taking in a dog... something will happen that will result in the dog having to be treated/vetted for care. If the family budget is already fully allocated then it leaves no room for proper care of the pet. :shrug:

 

[sockgirl77]

You raise a good point about a family living from paycheck to paycheck taking in a dog... something will happen that will result in the dog having to be treated/vetted for care. If the family budget is already fully allocated then it leaves no room for proper care of the pet. :shrug:

And read my response before both of you assume that I was looking for a dog.

 

[kwillia]

And read my response before both of you assume that I was looking for a dog.

I didn't see your post until after I posted, but I also didn't direct my post at you. It applies to all families including mine. I've had my dogs for over 10 years and I can honestly say that now that I am having to cover sizable expenses each month in order for my daughter to attend college, I found the $600 bill for a well baby visit to be a big hit on my monthly budget. I can say that when I purchased the one and adopted the other over 10 years ago the expense of college was not on my mind, but I recognized that I was making a long term financial commitment to those dogs.

In the case you brought up... If it were me I'd have to consider how elderly my aunt was, and how much extra money she has in her monthly budget because your aunt is looking at the same long term commitment to whatever dog she brings into her life... who will take the dog if she becomes too ill to care for it or if she passes? Who will help her fund the dog if/when extra vet expenses are required... it is a long and expensive commitment to everyone who choses to take in a dog.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

I bought my dog for $75 in FL.

Got home, found out she had worms and skin mites. Bad.

$3,000 and countless trips to the vet later. She's great. It's to the point where she gets excited to go get a checkup.

Next dog will be a resuce. $250-$375 is a fare price rto pay for what you get, and if you can give a previously abused/abandoned dog some love for the life they have, well, that's priceless.

 

[sockgirl77]

In the case you brought up... If it were me I'd have to consider how elderly my aunt was, and how much extra money she has in her monthly budget because your aunt is looking at the same long term commitment to whatever dog she brings into her life... who will take the dog if she becomes too ill to care for it or if she passes? Who will help her fund the dog if/when extra vet expenses are required... it is a long and expensive commitment to everyone who choses to take in a dog.

My aunt is 62 and has a steady income.

 

[kwillia]

My aunt is 62 and has a steady income.

Okay... but my point is in 10 years she will be 72 possibly needing assisted care and probably on a fixed budget...:shrug:

I showed you what I paid for well-baby vetting and mine were already spayed, already chipped and didn't need all the vaccinations and didn't have any worms or mites, etc. and the vet bill didn't include the cost of food and any other supplies. Based on my personal experiences with pet expenses I don't see where the fee is outrageous.

 

[sockgirl77]

Okay... but my point is in 10 years she will be 72 possibly needing assisted care and probably on a fixed budget...:shrug:

I showed you what I paid for well-baby vetting and mine were already spayed, already chipped and didn't need all the vaccinations and didn't have any worms or mites, etc. and the vet bill didn't include the cost of food and any other supplies. Based on my personal experiences with pet expenses I don't see where the fee is outrageous.

You don't know the stubborn women in my family. None of them have needed assisted care. She's okay with money and will continue to do well between her retirement and what her husband left her. She has in her head that she wants a pure bred Chi. I told her to start looking at rescues. She did and basically said "screw that, I'll get what I want for a little more". I have a feeling that a lot of people would opt for the pure bred if they were looking at $375 for a rescue.

 

[Chris0nllyn]

You don't know the stubborn women in my family. None of them have needed assisted care. She's okay with money and will continue to do well between her retirement and what her husband left her. She has in her head that she wants a pure bred Chi. I told her to start looking at rescues. She did and basically said "screw that, I'll get what I want for a little more". I have a feeling that a lot of people would opt for the pure bred if they were looking at $375 for a rescue.

Give them this:

The Reason

I would've died that day if not for you.
I would've given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would've used my teeth in fear if not for your gentle hands.
I would have left this life believing that all humans don't care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn't matted
skin that isn't flea bitten
good food and enough of it
beds to sleep on
someone to love me
to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands
Your big heart saved me...

You saved me from the terror of the pound,
Soothing away the memories of my old life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved.
I have seen you do the same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of despair
Why you do it
When there is no more money, no more room, no more homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little tighter
Make just a little more room...to save one more like me.
I tell you with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.

I am the reason
The dogs before me are the reason
As are the ones who come after.
Our lives would've been wasted, our love never given
We would die if not for you

 

[ArkRescue]

Last year the average adoption fee was $225 and now I see this. I just think it's a bit much.

It usually costs MORE for the care of that pet than you are actually paying in an adoption fee. Most rescues folks are not out chilling at Outback on the money from the adoption fees. Not all expenses can be recouped in adoption fees or they would be REALLY high, not just $300 or $400. We feed quality food to our rescues, not $11 for a 40lb bag of Ole Roy. The newest rescue dog Lacey the JRT is eating small breed Blue Buffalo. Her buddy Clinton the pit mix had a bag of Nature's - something? sensitive when he went to his foster home in Waldorf. 2 bags of dog food was $77.

We pay less for vet services than the general public, therefore you are getting 2 or 3 times as much in value than you are paying. Many times we do not charge adoption fees for small mammals, older critters, special needs critters, so in those cases we take a loss.

 

[ArkRescue]

Yep... I'll repeat...

I just took my two dogs to their well-baby check-up and the cost is about $300 per dog. They didn't get spayed or have to be treated for any ailments so the adoption fee seems reasonable to me considering that amount includes spay/blood check/stool analysis/vaccines/ and then some...

If I elected to get their teeth cleaned because they do have plaque build-up it would cost about $800 apiece to get it done.

We took in a rescue kitty that was a senior, had bad stuff going on in his mouth for years per the vet, and we paid almost $400 for his dental care.

 

[ArkRescue]

You don't know the stubborn women in my family. None of them have needed assisted care. She's okay with money and will continue to do well between her retirement and what her husband left her. She has in her head that she wants a pure bred Chi. I told her to start looking at rescues. She did and basically said "screw that, I'll get what I want for a little more". I have a feeling that a lot of people would opt for the pure bred if they were looking at $375 for a rescue.

Many times those $4-$600 purebreds are living in hellish conditions pumping out litter after litter. If you go to a quality breeder you'll pay more than $1k for a dog. It's easy to make money off of puppy mill breeding when you do the bare minimum for the dogs. Anyone who compares the cost of an adoption fee of a "rescue" to that of purchasing a purebred dog doesn't realize how many purebreds ARE rescues.

 

[migtig]

Many times those $4-$600 purebreds are living in hellish conditions pumping out litter after litter. If you go to a quality breeder you'll pay more than $1k for a dog. It's easy to make money off of puppy mill breeding when you do the bare minimum for the dogs. Anyone who compares the cost of an adoption fee of a "rescue" to that of purchasing a purebred dog doesn't realize how many purebreds ARE rescues.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have two beautiful well loved purebred dogs. I've been contacting rescue groups in DC, MD and VA that "specialize" in my breed of dog, because I know I can afford one more and am willing to give an older dog of this breed a home.

Yeah. It doesn't seem to be happening. Why? Because the rescues want me to jump through ridiculous hoops - and I do mean ridiculous - and pay almost as much as I paid for my fully papered dogs that I got as babies. That high of a cost for an older dog that probably has a few temperment issues as well as health issues???

I'm not feeling the love. I think it's a damn shame that these rescues are not being more cooperative.

Fact - I applied to adopt a dog in VA. I supplied all their paperwork, including personal recommendations, to adopt a one-eyed dog with health issues. The adoption cost was outlandish. But since I didn't have a "site inspection", and their lazy butts wouldn't come out and they didn't seem to believe since I have two in perfect health and good care - with personal letters of recommendation, that they could trust me. So they said no citing that I had no site inspection so I couldn't pick up the dog. That damn sad dog is still sitting at the rescue waiting for someone to adopt his pitiful butt months later.

Things like that are enough to say no thanks to any rescue group. If I can get a full bred dog as a baby with no health issues and no drama for the same cost as adopting an older dog with no papers and health issues with a ton of drama, which one should I choose?

 

[Beta]

is this a good time to mention that October is National Adopt-a-Dog month?

but only if the adoption agencies deem you worthy...

 

[kwillia]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have two beautiful well loved purebred dogs. I've been contacting rescue groups in DC, MD and VA that "specialize" in my breed of dog, because I know I can afford one more and am willing to give an older dog of this breed a home.

Yeah. It doesn't seem to be happening. Why? Because the rescues want me to jump through ridiculous hoops - and I do mean ridiculous - and pay almost as much as I paid for my fully papered dogs that I got as babies. That high of a cost for an older dog that probably has a few temperment issues as well as health issues???

I'm not feeling the love. I think it's a damn shame that these rescues are not being more cooperative.

Fact - I applied to adopt a dog in VA. I supplied all their paperwork, including personal recommendations, to adopt a one-eyed dog with health issues. The adoption cost was outlandish. But since I didn't have a "site inspection", and their lazy butts wouldn't come out and they didn't seem to believe since I have two in perfect health and good care - with personal letters of recommendation, that they could trust me. So they said no citing that I had no site inspection so I couldn't pick up the dog. That damn sad dog is still sitting at the rescue waiting for someone to adopt his pitiful butt months later.

Things like that are enough to say no thanks to any rescue group. If I can get a full bred dog as a baby with no health issues and no drama for the same cost as adopting an older dog with no papers and health issues with a ton of drama, which one should I choose?

I had the exact same issues while attempting to adopt a mini-schnauzer from a schnauzer rescue. They made their choice to handle their rescue and subsequent adoption as they do and I made the choice to say screw it and bought a beautiful 8 week old from a private breeder.

2nd mini-schnauzer was a private adoption from a family that needed to find a good home for her.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

I can't adopt anymore pets because I'm a terrible pet owner. The two shih tzu litter brothers I adopted 14 years ago at 2 years old from the ASPCA, only one is still alive because the other died last year. Poor tosh is still alive at 15. It's a damn shame I rescued him from the shelter being such a horrible person I am.

 

[ArkRescue]

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have two beautiful well loved purebred dogs. I've been contacting rescue groups in DC, MD and VA that "specialize" in my breed of dog, because I know I can afford one more and am willing to give an older dog of this breed a home.

Yeah. It doesn't seem to be happening. Why? Because the rescues want me to jump through ridiculous hoops - and I do mean ridiculous - and pay almost as much as I paid for my fully papered dogs that I got as babies. That high of a cost for an older dog that probably has a few temperment issues as well as health issues???

I'm not feeling the love. I think it's a damn shame that these rescues are not being more cooperative.

Fact - I applied to adopt a dog in VA. I supplied all their paperwork, including personal recommendations, to adopt a one-eyed dog with health issues. The adoption cost was outlandish. But since I didn't have a "site inspection", and their lazy butts wouldn't come out and they didn't seem to believe since I have two in perfect health and good care - with personal letters of recommendation, that they could trust me. So they said no citing that I had no site inspection so I couldn't pick up the dog. That damn sad dog is still sitting at the rescue waiting for someone to adopt his pitiful butt months later.

Things like that are enough to say no thanks to any rescue group. If I can get a full bred dog as a baby with no health issues and no drama for the same cost as adopting an older dog with no papers and health issues with a ton of drama, which one should I choose?

Each rescue is a group of people (usually, sometimes only 1 person) that make up their own rules. I was also turned down for a rescue dog in the past. Why? Because I refused to install a doggie door so that the Rottweiler could go into the back yard at any time to potty. Really? I was not installing a doggie door big enough for a Rottie in my home in Temple Hills, period.

Some require that the dog can go out a minimum of every 6 hours. Others say you must have a 6' tall fence, the list goes on and on. I am sure eventually we will come under fire for being too lenient. I'd rather see these critters get adopted into a decent home than be killed at the shelter. That doesn't mean we don't turn people down, we just don't have a bunch of hoops for people to jump that make it too difficult. And not everyone is going to have $5,000 in the bank or a similar credit line for vet bills. Unfortunate but true.

I'm sorry you were treated like that.

 

[kwillia]

I refused to install a doggie door so that the Rottweiler could go into the back yard at any time to potty. Really? I was not installing a doggie door big enough for a Rottie in my home in Temple Hills, period.

UFB...

 

[Merlin99]

I think it's a sign of the times. The economy has sucked for years, I don't care what anybody says. The donations have to be getting fewer and further between, so then the care for these animals starts coming out of the pockets of the rescue organization volunteers pockets. I suspect they'd like to recoup their money so they can pay their bills and put food on their tables.

The dog will probably sit in a rescue for a long time seeing as you can pick up a dog from the Amish for $150.00 that hasn't lost that new puppy smell.

 

[acommondisaster]

Forgive me, but the prices at some rescues make me wonder if they aren't businesses. I was all about rescues until I went to the Humane Society. When I heard one of the employees at the Humane Soc. giving their talk to someone surrendering their dog, about what could possibly happen, and how their dog might not be adopted, I realized that there were a lot of dogs never even fortunate enough to make it to a rescue.

There isn't a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky we are (and how thankful I am) that Tucker's previous owner surrendered him to the Humane Society. He has turned into such a happy, friendly, funny little boy, and we lavish him with love and attention. I can't imagine being without him, and we take him everywhere, and everyone smiles and says hello when they see him - he's just that sweet. If and when it's time for another dog (sometimes I think another little dog would help him with his separation anxiety), we'll use the Humane Society again, helping another dog who might not ever be lucky enough to make it to a rescue.

 

[crazykitty]

I had my dog spayed and vetted at the one in Lexington Park. I had my cats done there as well. They were great and I most definitely did not pay that much. I could not have afforded it.

Tell your aunt to come down to the adoption days on Saturday. The ARF adoption fee is $150 for dogs and we have several sweet Chihuahuas right now

I think we are able to keep our fees a little lower since the Well Pet Clinic works with ARF. Also, PAWS works with Calvert Well Pet Clinic so their fees are a little lower as well. I know some of the other rescues probably use the vet hospitals so their costs are more which makes them have to increase their adoption fee.