Rates charged for rescue dogs.

[release the hounds]

I'm very conflicted about the whole system. I know a couple people that run a cat rescue. They do a lot of spay and neuter, catch and release stuff. They also place a lot of unwanted cats and they practically built a whole other house to keep them in. They live a good freaking life till they can find something. She's built a good network with vet's and they aren't in it for recognition or for getting compensated for their work either.

They have minimal adoption fees, I think it's just donation actually, and they solicit for food and litter and blankets. The network of volunteers are just that, volunteers and they'd be doing it if there wasn't a money donation or not. That's what "rescue" is to me.

It seems more often though, they're nothing more than a dog re-sale shop. Get cheap/free dogs and sell them. I'm ok with 100 or less adoption fees. I think if you're having to charge 400 bucks as a "rescue" you're not. you're a second hand shop.

 

[Southpaw]

I don't know how I feel about purebreds being more expensive, in the case of all-breed rescues/shelters. I guess I'm mostly indifferent about that although I don't see why they should be more expensive.

Puppies costing more, yes I can understand that.

I don't necessarily think "special needs" dogs should be less money. On a case by case basis maybe, but I think an across the board rule would be hard. My sister adopted a terribly shy/fearful dog and she cost just as much as all the other dogs, however they offered her free (I'm pretty sure? Or at least heavily discounted) socialization classes. I think something in place like that is much more beneficial to new owners rather than just having a discounted adoption fee.

Happy's paperwork says her adoption fee was $175, however they waived that fee for me so she was "free." I believe the dogs from this rescue are normally around the $300 mark. Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to justify $300 for a geriatric, heartworm positive dog but I think the $175 would've been reasonable. I'm not sure why they waived the fee.

 

[SpringerLover]

It seems more often though, they're nothing more than a dog re-sale shop. Get cheap/free dogs and sell them. I'm ok with 100 or less adoption fees. I think if you're having to charge 400 bucks as a "rescue" you're not. you're a second hand shop.

How are rescues supposed to get dogs altered and vaccinated and fed while they wait for a new owner if they aren't covering their expenses? We have two mobile spay/neuter/vaccinate units locally. You still can't get everything done for under $100... Even if it's just Rabies, DHPP, heartwom test, and altered.