Why we are charging an Adoption Fee?

We've been asked...Why do you charge an adoption fee? Shouldn’t you give them away?

Rescue groups and individuals typically charge adoption fees of $200 to $600 in order to help defray the cost of medical bills, shots, food, and medication.  In 2008, we spent over $80,000 in vet bills alone.  While we have willingly contributed our personal funds to helping our rescued dogs, if we do not receive at least some of the monetary expenditures back, then it will not be possible to assist the next pound puppy we encounter needing our help.

We do not expect to recover these expenses completely.   In fact, by the time they are ready for placement, we anticipate that the required adoption fee may, if we are lucky, reimburse approximately 1/4 to 1/3 of their veterinary bills incurred while the pet is in our custody.

Sometimes there are pets that require extensive medical treatment before they are even available for adoption.  A puppy that comes down with Parvo Virus can require a 5-7 day hospital stay with constant care and IV fluids.  The cost for this can be anywhere from $800.00 to $1200.00. 

Some have said why don't you just have the puppy put down there are countless numbers of them out there?  The answer is simple, we are a rescue, we don't euthanize for space or because it is financially inconvenient to treat a pet.  If it was your puppy and you had held it in your arms for weeks before it got sick, would you be willing to make that decision?  The answer is probably not!  These pets are like our children, and we do everything that we can for them.   Some pets we make money on, some we lose money on.  Every dime that is made is put back into the Rescue to save other unfortunate pets that need us because they were abandoned by their families.