What is a reasonable fee for adopting a dog?

[itsheresomewhere]

We are looking at other dogs lately and are shocked at some rescue groups adoptions fees. They vary from 600-1500 dollars on a mixed breed. Now I don't mind a reasonable fee but I think these are kind of excessive. Most of these rescues only include shots and some don't even include spaying or neutering. So what is a reasonable fee to you on a dog?

 

[stichy]

I don't think those are real rescue groups. I paid $150 for my mutt. She's part rottie and it was a rottie rescue group. Are you looking for a specific type of mix breed like a labradoodle? Because I would think you are actually only finding sellers. My dog adoption did not include spaying but I would only expect that a shelter would include that. We have an aging boxer who eventually will cross the rainbow bridge. We believe in rescuing a new puppy in honor of our passed pets. The local boxer rescue group charges about 300 for a younger dog. But they also nurse alot of the dogs back to health that they have saved because their owners could not afford to care from them.

 

[luvwinnie]

I can't imagine a rescue group nowadays that allows a dog to go to a new home WITHOUT being spayed/neutered. I volunteer for a bulldog rescue and every dog is fixed before going to a new home. Adoption fee is about $5oo. We have very high medical expenses though.

 

[minkydog]

$1500? Are they kidding? You could buy a pedigreed dog from a breeder for that. We have some kind of gigantic poodle mix. We know his mom was pedigreed standard poodle and he looks very poodly. We paid about $120 and that included his first shots and neutering. No way would I pay $600-1500 for a dog of ANY sort. It's a DOG, for heaven's sakes!

 

[DawnCt1]

We are looking at other dogs lately and are shocked at some rescue groups adoptions fees. They vary from 600-1500 dollars on a mixed breed. Now I don't mind a reasonable fee but I think these are kind of excessive. Most of these rescues only include shots and some don't even include spaying or neutering. So what is a reasonable fee to you on a dog?

Between $100 and $200 depending upon what health care they have had; spay, neuter, vaccinations, etc. The fees you are describing seem outrageous to me.

 

[itsheresomewhere]

I don't think those are real rescue groups. I paid $150 for my mutt. She's part rottie and it was a rottie rescue group. Are you looking for a specific type of mix breed like a labradoodle? Because I would think you are actually only finding sellers. My dog adoption did not include spaying but I would only expect that a shelter would include that. We have an aging boxer who eventually will cross the rainbow bridge. We believe in rescuing a new puppy in honor of our passed pets. The local boxer rescue group charges about 300 for a younger dog. But they also nurse alot of the dogs back to health that they have saved because their owners could not afford to care from them.

The breeder in my area are cheaper for a pure breed dog. I am not breed specific. I just don't want a pit or chow type. I need one good with kids and a very lazy dachshund. I called on a lab/dachshund mix today and it was 750. We just want a dog who like to run and take walks with the kids.

 

[JoiseyMom]

There was a post about this recently. We paid about 500 for one dog about 1 1/2 years ago, and we just paid 350 for our new pup a month ago. For the new pup, we will get 100 back once he is neutered, and he was chipped.

I agree withthe others...the prices you are given are high. Are you looking at petfinder.com? Do you have local shelters?? Private rescue groups tend to be higher, because of expenses. Good Luck.

 

[itsheresomewhere]

$1500? Are they kidding? You could buy a pedigreed dog from a breeder for that. We have some kind of gigantic poodle mix. We know his mom was pedigreed standard poodle and he looks very poodly. We paid about $120 and that included his first shots and neutering. No way would I pay $600-1500 for a dog of ANY sort. It's a DOG, for heaven's sakes!

I could buy a great dane puppy and a all its shots cheaper. I know some groups have good intentions but think who is going to pay that kind of money.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I can't imagine a rescue group nowadays that allows a dog to go to a new home WITHOUT being spayed/neutered. I volunteer for a bulldog rescue and every dog is fixed before going to a new home. Adoption fee is about $5oo. We have very high medical expenses though.

Both my adopted pups (Monmouth County) were not altered. They were too young. We did it when they were old enough. Our newest pup is 4 months old...vet said to bring him in when he is 6 months to be neutered.

 

[kidzmom3]

thats crazy high. We got our dog from a shelter for the donation of $220. Although, i don't think its really a donation when you have to pay it. I really don't understand it. They say the dogs will be put down if they are not adopted but will only let you have them for several hundred dollars. i know they need donations, but come on. Get them the right way.

 

[itsheresomewhere]

There was a post about this recently. We paid about 500 for one dog about 1 1/2 years ago, and we just paid 350 for our new pup a month ago. For the new pup, we will get 100 back once he is neutered, and he was chipped.

I agree withthe others...the prices you are given are high. Are you looking at petfinder.com? Do you have local shelters?? Private rescue groups tend to be higher, because of expenses. Good Luck.

Our local shelter only seemed to get pits. I do use petfinder and local vets to led the way. I will find the right dog soon.

 

[JoiseyMom]

thats crazy high. We got our dog from a shelter for the donation of $220. Although, i don't think its really a donation when you have to pay it. I really don't understand it. They say the dogs will be put down if they are not adopted but will only let you have them for several hundred dollars. i know they need donations, but come on. Get them the right way.

1) they need the money to help take care of all the animals. Vet care is WAY expensive
2) rescues take money to make sure that the person adopting the animal really wants it. A person who is going to pay for an animal is less likely to hurt/abuse it.

As a side note, both my pups were brought up from NC and rescued from kill shelters.

 

[kidzmom3]

I have a dog so obviously I know that vet care is expensive. My point is they say these animals need homes. If they go to homes, they don't need to be held at the shelter. They would rather kill a dog then let it go to a good home for free or reasonable donation of 25-50 dollars.

 

[hereyago]

I adopted a kitten from a no kill rescue. His mom was a feral and ended having to be put down to all of her medical issues.

The lady at the rescue told me she had a couple kittens that had tested positive for FIV, but they were not quite 6 months old when it would be a true positive for FIV, as younger can show false positive.

DD picked him. At 6 months he did have a true positive, but they can have long healthy lives. I do have to watch if he gets a cold,etc.

I paid 20.00 for him, he was too young at the time to be neutered. And if he had not have the FIV or shown positive, it would have been like 45.00.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

We got a new dog in May from our shelter, he was $225. Here is what was included in that price: neuter, all shots, worming, heartworm test and medication, frontline, micro chip, a free vet visit, bag of food, and a bag of toys. Also this price included his transport fee, because he came from another shelter in another state.

Just have to add, we don't really know what kind of dog he is, but he is wonderful. We got a great dog.

 

[bballmom56]

We adopted our St. Bernard from a rescue group that got her from a kill shelter in KY. We paid either $200 or $250 to the rescue group to adopt her. She was spayed, had all her shots and was chipped.

 

[DMickey28]

We adopted Sammie from a No-Kill Shelter in S. Florida almost two years ago. He was $250 I believe ... that included all his shots, neutering, microchip and his first vet visit. He was an older dog, they estimated 7-8 then and came in as a stray. He had a scuffle with another dog the day before we took him home and had an hemotoma in one ear that they took care of and paid for the follow-up with our own vet as well. He's a 70lb hound mix of some sort and a great old man ... but he is an OLD MAN!

 

[mrsv98]

We rescued Sweetie in March and paid $310. COnsidering that included shots, deworming, spay and microchip I thought it was very reasonable. I doubt I could have done all that at our vet for less and most likely more.

The rates you are being quaoted are insane and will defeat the purpose of finding these animals their forever homes!

 

[simba928]

the shelter i work at has an 80$ adoption fee and that includes spay/neuter on ALL puppies and dogs. However, i have seen adoption fees ranging anywhere from $17 at an extremely high kill shelter up to $1000 at a rescue (it seems to be about $100 on average around here). Rescues tend to be very expensive and typically charge more for the 'highly desirable' dogs (puppies and younger dogs, no health issues, small breeds). I've been looking into yorkies for my mom. The least expensive ones i've seen were $450 puppy mill dogs (i had no issue with a puppy mill rescue but i was NOT spending that much on a dog that is certain to have all kinds of issues down the line) and i recently saw $700 rescue pups. Keep looking around. With some patience, you will find the dog that is meant to be with your family. Rescues are the best dogs around. Also, make sure you call and/or visit the shelters (and ask them for names of other area shelters that you may not have known or thought of). At my shelter, it is almost impossible to keep petfinder up to date. We try as hard as we can to have as many of our dogs up there as possible, but with new dogs coming in everyday, we just can't stay caught up. So just because you're only seeing a handful of dogs doesn't mean that that is all they have. You may be missing out on a gem of a dog by relying solely on petfinder, though it is a good starting point. Feel free to pm me if you need anything! Good luck! thngdjfhfhfhjfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhfhjfhfhfhffhfhfhfhfhfh

 

[Spacepest]

The last time I went to animal shelter to adopt a cat, the shelter wanted a $450 "adoption fee" that didn't include spaying, neutering, or really any veterinary care or shots. I asked the shelter workers what the cats' pedigrees were (I assumed they were purebred animals for that price) and was told they were basic stray cats and kittens that hadn't even been examined by a vet yet. I wanted to do the right thing and adopt, but $400 for a kitten of dubious health with no spay/neuter is highway robbery.

I went to my local pet store (a reputable store that I had been doing business with for years and buying animal feed from) and bought a kitten with shots, deworming, and a previous vet visit for $60. She was fixed later by a local vet for $100.

A couple hundred dollars for a pet from an animal shelter that is healthy, had its shots, and has been microchipped, and spayed/neutered is reasonable. $400+ for an animal straight off the street with no medical care is not. You can buy a purebred animal from a reputable breeder for that much!