Adopting a puppy via petfinder. How much $ is normal?

[castleview]

Does anyone know what a typical donation to the humane society would be if adopting a dog? We are looking to do this and I'm not sure how much is too much.

 

[Mickey's Minion]

Does anyone know what a typical donation to the humane society would be if adopting a dog? We are looking to do this and I'm not sure how much is too much.

It really depends on the dog and the rescue organization.

Most rescues/humane societies have fixed adoption prices on the dogs, you can't choose your donation.

The adoption price usually takes into account how much medical attention and other stuff such as behavioral training the dog needed to make it suitable for adoption.

Older dogs usually have much lower adoption prices as they are harder to place. Puppies are always the highest prices.

I have seen adoption prices anywhere from $100.00 for a senior or special needs dog all the way up to $500 - $800 for a healthy puppy.

 

[EllenFrasier]

If you adopt through petfinder, you are often adopting through a rescue group. Depending on the group, the price could be $150 up to $450. All
shelters have different prices, so just call the one nearest you and ask them.

Good luck!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

The amount really depends on the dog. If it required a large amount of veterinary care (ie. was ill or injured when it went to the shelter) or if it needed to be spayed/neutered/vaccinated by the shelter, I would add at least $100 right there.

Most animal shelters/rescues also charge depending on how "desirable" a dog is. If you're adopting a senior animal that required no veterinary care, around $75 is the norm. If you are adopting a puppy that is a "desirable" breed (like a purebred or a mix of very popular breeds), most rescues/shelters will charge more. I've seen some rescues charging up to $450 for a purebred small breed puppy (this includes shots and spaying/neutering).

I paid $375 for my purebred German Shepherd who was 1 years old when adopted - the rescue neutered him and gave him all his shots, as well as a preliminary vet checkup, as he came to the humane society with no vet records.

We paid $125 for our 6 year old German Shepherd who did not require any vet care.

This was both from the same rescue.

 

[Jeannie]

We just got our puppy this month! I saw him on petfinder and just had to have him. He was offered through a rescue group that fosters the dogs out. We paid $300 for him and I can get $50 back when I send them proof of having him neutered. He is a rat terrier, possibly toy smooth fox terrier. He will be 4 months old on Friday and at his check up 2 weeks ago he weighed 3 lbs 4 oz!

 

[dalt01]

there is a lady on the boards, her board name is Pickles, who knows a lot about such things. if you PM'd her she would be glad to help you.

 

[simba928]

it depends on the organization. I work at a shelter and our adoption fee is $80 for all dogs (small breeds, puppies, big dogs, they are all 80). That is on the low end. Some shelters charge based on the dog. Purebreds and small dogs are more. Puppies are more. Rescues typically charge more than shelters. There really is no set amount for rescues. It just depends on the organization. One piece of advice, from experience...talk to the organization about the specifics of the dog before having your heart set one. A lot of people fall in love with the picture on petfinder even though the dog is not that great of a match for the family.
Btw, petfinder does not adopt dogs out. It is merely a source (and an awesome one! I've had many dogs adopted because of it!) for shelters and rescue groups to get their animals out there for people to see. Therefore, you would not be adopting through petfinder, you would be adopting through a seperate organization.

 

[mrsv98]

We just adopted Sweetie from a rescue we found on PetFinder. It cost $310 and she was already spayed, microchipped and had all her shots. To me, that is a very good price since I didn't have any further expenses. For the record, she is small and young and those tend to be the pricier adoptees.

 

[castleview]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We're looking at four month old dog. The donation is $250, but we'd have to pay extra for transport. Sounds like they are in the ball park. Thanks again!

 

[pixiewings71]

We paid $250 for our Sheperd mix. He came already fixed and with his shots. He's an amazingly cool dog, it was the best spent $250 I can think of, honestly.

 

[samshane]

It all depends on the dog and organization. We got a rescue chihuahua through petfinder with a skin condition and he was $200 (he was nearly bald). He was fully vaccinated and neutered already - but because of his skin condition he was a hard placement and they knew whoever took him would pay extra for his treatment (he was diagnosed with dilute alopecia due to breeding and my daughter has alopecia (different causes - but still hairloss) so we knew it was meant to be... he has since grown much of his hair back).

And we paid $35 for a mutt from a shelter (fantastic little dog!) - of which $30 was refunded when he was neutered. But he hadn't had any vet care either (he was not on petfinder).

Good luck!

 

[Magic Mom]

I paid $75 and I thought that was really cheap.

 

[louey]

Thanks for the replies everyone. We're looking at four month old dog. The donation is $250, but we'd have to pay extra for transport. Sounds like they are in the ball park. Thanks again!

Kudos to you for adopting!!!!! I adopted our Cavalier King Charles all the way from Nebraska Hua.org. The adoption fee was $200 and to have her flown to me was $175. Before I got her they had done a dental, shots, microchip, spay, and surgery on both her knees due to luxating patellas Cost to the rescue was $1,580.00 (they sent me the invoice for my records), none of which I had to pay. This is just one example what rescues do to save the lives of animals. I hope noone thinks that rescues are getting rich from an adoption fee because I don't believe that is the case.
Congrats and good luck with your new family member

 

[webprinter]

We adopted our cat from Wags and Whiskers. Their adoption fee for dogs was $100 for most dogs. They are a wonderful organization out of TN. I would imagine they would be able to help get a dog shipped to another state. I know many of their adoptions have been to other states. We were at a festival yesterday in our town of MS and they had a pet petition going around. We mentioned we had purchased our cat from Wags and Whiskers and she said they had shipped pets to them from here. Their website is: http://www.wawpr.org . They take very good care of the pets and are wonderful people.

 

[AKL_Megs]

We got our old pup from Petfinders.com, and he was $100... that included his first shots and neutering.

 

[stsomewhere]

We just adopted a 6 yr old mini Australian Shepard.
It was from a small rescue. We paid $350. he is up to date on all shots and neutered.

 

[HsvTeacher]

We just adopted our two babies on Tuesday, and we found them on Pet Finder. They are from a local animal shelter. The fee for each was $83, and we paid a little extra for pain medicine when they were neutered. (We couldn't believe that was optional!)

 

[castleview]

Kudos to you for adopting!!!!! I adopted our Cavalier King Charles all the way from Nebraska Hua.org. The adoption fee was $200 and to have her flown to me was $175. Before I got her they had done a dental, shots, microchip, spay, and surgery on both her knees due to luxating patellas Cost to the rescue was $1,580.00 (they sent me the invoice for my records), none of which I had to pay. This is just one example what rescues do to save the lives of animals. I hope noone thinks that rescues are getting rich from an adoption fee because I don't believe that is the case.
Congrats and good luck with your new family member

Thanks! If all goes accordingly, we get her tomorrow. She was $250 for the adoption and $135 for the transport. We can't wait for the pup bus to pull in!

 

[mamamary]

We just adopted our two babies on Tuesday, and we found them on Pet Finder. They are from a local animal shelter. The fee for each was $83, and we paid a little extra for pain medicine when they were neutered. (We couldn't believe that was optional!)

They are adorable !!!!!!!!!!!!!