You think $250.00 is a "huge re-homing fee"?
Have you ever seen some of the ridiculous prices (I am referring to some, not all) registered, reputable breeders charge for their pups?
Have you ever seen some of the ridiculous prices (I am referring to some, not all) registered, reputable breeders charge for their pups?
Wow....interesting logic there.
Reputable breeders incur costs before they even have a litter. First of all, they've likely spent good money on their foundation stock. They often have travel expenses when they visit potential stud dogs. They may travel out of the country even in order to be thorough in their selection of a match for their bitch. (and visa versa)
They most often show their dogs in some venue so they can prove their dog's aptitude for the job the dog was bred to do because reputable breeders don't breed dogs that don't cut the mustard. That showing, often traveling long distances to show or trial costs big money.
Reputable breeders not only have a vet to consult with throughout the pregnancy, they also feed good food and nutritional suppliments which cost money. (not saying that no byb does this, but many do not)
Reputable breeders research way ahead of time what genetic faults their dog and their dog's ancestors may carry and get the appropriate DNA, X-ray etc...testing done. Very expensive!
Reputable breeders worm and vaccinate their puppies before they leave their care. They keep them in their care for at least 8 weeks. All the while, they are keeping up the high standards of nutrition for their bitch and beginning to feed their puppies. Premium dog food is not as cheap as Kibbles and Bits.
I know there's more that I'm missing. But the point is that reputable breeders' selling cost of their puppies is commensurate with what they put into the puppies. They're purebred dogs with a long line of research behind them...a long line of ancestors which have had money put into them. Oh, in the case of my Doberman, ear cropping costs the breeder about $200-250.00.That's part of the purchase price. Plus, the breeder has to keep the ears clean and take care of them for a few weeks before the pup goes to his new home.
An adoption fee should cover vaccines and worming and the cheap food the byb fed the dogs....enough to make the person comfortable that the dog is going to a home where the people place a value on the dog....a monetary value. This may dissuade rotten people from adopting the dog....to some little degree anyhow. An adoption fee is not the same as a sales price. And an adoption fee when it's a shelter or rarely a byb, will cover the spay or neuter...if they do it when they're super young.
So, there is NO comparrison between a sales price of a reputable breeder's purebred dog and an adoption fee for finding a home for a dog of unknown heritage, with unknown health testing/genetic faults, with nothing to show for conformation or working ability....no titles, no ancesteral history, no nothing.