Adoption fees

[agilitydog]

Let's talk about adoption fees. I know shelters charge adoption fees to cover costs such as spay/neuter,microchip,vetting,etc.The adoption fee is well worth the services rendered

BUT...(you know there had to be one of those)

Why is there such an extreme difference in adoption fees.

For example(These are all within 2 hours of me)
Shelter 1: Fee for Dogs $110 or $50 if they enter shelter already neutered.
This shelter will euthanize aggressive dogs and are a county but do not euthanise because time is up. Have not dealt personally with this one. This is the one that goes to all etsmarts and petcos in area

Shelter 2: Dog fee is $98. A no kill shelter. Extremely friendly and have gotten a dog from there and will recommend in a heartbeat. They had a 3 legged dog for 2 1/2 years until it finally got adopted.

Shelter 3: Start at $175. The 175 is for those dogs who have socializing or aggression issues. Most dogs are $250 - $300. This is a no kill shelter. Got a dog from there and people were extremely rude and deceptive. Will never recommend again

Shelter 4: Just over the state line adoption fee for dogs is generally around $400. Have not dealt personally with this shelter but they are not a no kill.

These are just 4 examples and there are many many more. If they are all charging an adoption fee to cover the dogs why is there a $300 or more difference? Just curious.

I am not looking for a debate as I do rescue and understand fees but why are fees so scattered and we are not talking about poor and rich areas, no kill vs kill or county vs private. These are all run on donations and partial county funding. I picked shelters that were all extremely similar.

[Bclover92]

The ones i have been around and knwo are about 75-200. i dont really know there toher policies but they always seem friendly. i wish when i adopt a dog i could go back to the one in mi by our old house they were so nice and the dogs always seemed happy and friendly.

[lemonie]

I worked with a wonderful shelter that charged $250 for an intact pup. Then, you can get much of your money back through showing them your pup was altered, shots, microchipped, graduated obedience and passed CGC. I loved this because they were looking more for ppl to show responsibility and dedication than trying to get money out of it (which I know goes to a good cause). I know there is a rescue where I will likely get my next pup that costs $3-400 even though all medical care has been given. I'm sure part of this is because it is an akita rescue and they want to make sure this head-strong breed is going to the appropriate family. I also know that they do a lot of transports and paying to get this breed out of kill shelters and this leads to high costs. I imagine it would be similar to some pit rescues. I still wish there were more out there like the first shelter I talked about.

[agilitydog]

I have seen some places take deposits over the adoption fee that you get back with proof of completing a class. I think that is a good idea too.

[agilitydog]

I also saw a rescue that was $50 adoption fee and you got $30 back upon proof of alter. That leaves only $20.

[lakotasong]

Perhaps the no kill shelters charge more because they generally keep the dogs for longer, and perhaps invest more into training them? They also might be more likely to deal with more severe medical treatments than a kill shelter would, so the higher prices for adoption fees helps with this.

Just my thoughts.

[Bosley Slave]

Agility Dog, I've noticed the same thing in our area. There is a wide difference in prices for adoption. My only guess is amount of volunteer work they are able to get and charitable constributions they are able to raise. It has to have something to do regarding the money coming in I would think. Is there a difference in the facilities? I know one of our's charges more because they feel if you pay more you will have thought adoption through and can afford to give the dog what they need?????
Good questions, will really be interesting to follow up on this thread.

[Dignity]

I know the shelter I worked with priced by age and breed. If the dog was a purebred with or without papers they would charge up to $350 (probably do this for the designer mixes too). If the dog was young, the adoption fee was higher, they raised it just when I left, I believe it was 100$. 6 months - 6 years was 65$ and 6+ years was 35$. Cat's they run a 2-for-1 special all the time and have a $15 Thursday "special" (or kittens for $50 2-4 months). Confused?

[FairyDogMother]

I've also noticed the difference at the local HS. I was looking at their website last week and they had a labradoodle for $350. I had never seen a dog of any kind priced that much there before. In general they are $50 to $125. The $80-$100 dogs being the most common. I've even seen the pure breeds in the 80-125. The $350 because it's a so called designer dog really caught me off guard. She's still there too. I would adopt her but I don't want to own another. I'd rather foster and I'm getting ready for that venture. My Moms friend brought up an awesome smaller dog from Calif for $35... This is interesting and I'm curious about the differences too.

[RoughCollies]

This is taken from our rescue's site.

What It Really Costs To Rescue A Dog

11/30/2006 6:17:33 PM

All rescue events and activities are managed and coordinated through the tireless efforts of volunteers. We do not have any paid employees. All of our costs for rescuing, boarding, feeding, providing veterinary care, spaying or neutering, and making sure dogs are vaccinated and de-wormed are paid for through donations, adoption donations and fundraisers. It is very common for volunteers to pay or sponsor a variety of costs.

Then there are the countless hours donated by volunteers. Volunteers have a variety of duties such as driving to all corners of the county (and somtimes the state) to rescue dogs, fostering dogs, showing dogs at rescue events, conducting home visits, coordinating special events and fundraisers, selling merchandise, See's candy, and gift cards, updating the web site, coordinating mailings, baking goodies for bake sales, etc. The list is endless.

Many of the services and care mentioned above are just basic needs. For example, the rescue pays $12.00 per night per dog for boarding. If we have 15 dogs in boarding, that's $180.00 per day. The rescue can spend an average of $800 per dog before we are able to find him or her a permanent home. The adoption fee of $275 for adult dogs and $350 for puppies rarely covers the cost of caring for the dog.

While most of the dogs we rescue are in relatively good health, there are those that have special needs. Dogs needing special care obviously cost a lot more. One case of pneumonia can cost anywhere between $900 and $1200 to remedy (includes isolation at hospital). Yes, this cost is in addition to the other basic care we provide a dog.

Whenever our dogs are in the hospital isolation ward, we pay $27.50 a day for boarding. Frankly, we consider ourselves lucky to have places that will take the dogs for isolation--many hospitals tell us to deal with this ourselves.

We once rescued, a dog that did not appear to have anything at all wrong with her at the shelter, it turned out that she had kennel cough and a severe ear infection in both ears when we picked her up. She went from being a dog that would cost around $300 to care for (bail out, boarding, deworm, etc.) to becoming a $600 dog, just like that because she had to go into isolation.

Winchester's leg, for example, was supposed to be $1300 to remove the bullet and set the leg, but there were complications so it will cost more.

Willow required $3,000 in eye surgery, which did not include her follow up appointments. She also required many other medical treatments to regulate her diabetes. It's safe to say that we have spent over $5,000 in Willow's care.

Sheppy has also required eye surgeries, which cost $900. Nine-hundred dollars for the surgery alone--then you have to add anesthesia, post-op care, eye meds, etc. so you know how quickly those expenses add up.

We all want to be able to be there for the neediest of dogs, but in order to do so we have to build up our funding to prepare for these tough situations.

We will always be dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and re-homing German Shepherd Dogs that have no where else to turn, however we can’t do it alone. Remember: "It takes a village" to save a dog, and with your help through volunteering, fostering, adopting, raising funds, purchasing our products and/or donating, we can save MANY.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and for your list for Santa, please add that you'd like to find a loving and permanent home for all rescued dogs. Hey maybe, that home is your home!