Pet adoption fees -- wow

Temp108743750006959

When I adopted my dog 15 years ago, she was $25.

I am looking around on petfinder -- just to look at this point because it's a serious commitment and I'm not sure if I'm ready again -- and adoption fees are $300-500! Some require an electric fence around your property. Do they WANT dogs to be adopted? I get the home visit and spaying/neutering thing, of course -- and I get some of the child restrictions...but a fence and THAT much money??

I looked at a breeders site for mini Schnauzers (a friend directed me there -- I'd rather adopt) and a puppy is $900 -- maybe not the 'pick' of the litter or whatever -- but they start housetraining, crate training, socialize them and treats their pups like family from the start.

wtf? I guess I am out of the dog adoption loop.

jettagurl

OMG.  Is that just your area?  When we got our mini Schnauzer 9 yrs ago, he was $350 (breeder)....we've looked recently and they are still about the same ($300-400).  

I think the Humane Society dog adoptions around here are about $90, and from a rescue (out of state) is about $200-250.

 

Temp108743750006959

jetta -- what do you think of the mini schnauzer? I'm a fan of large dogs but I just don't think it's a good fit. I can't even believe I'm thinking about a dog again. I worry about hair and I worry about a very yappy dog. I loved my Shelby (shep mix) so much but the HAIR was insane. Just insane.

It's just what I saw on petfinder, but those prices are also for resuces in my area.

 

j-w

We just adopted a dog from a shelter in July.  She was $350.  We saw prices from $200-400.  Be careful on petfinder.com...for some reason, I think it is virus prone...it knocked out DH's Blackberry and my coworker's computer!

Temp108743750006959

fredalina:

I did Great Dane rescue for quite a few years and we usually asked $300, and we NEVER came anywhere close to breaking even in a given year, and on very few dogs, usually just healthy young dogs that were already spayed/neutered. Most of our dogs came from shelters that asked us to pay the $50-150 adoption fee, then we had to spay/neuter (even with discounted vet fees was $100), then shots and chips which we did ourselves to save money, and of course food. The vast majority of dogs were emaciated so they ate extra of course, and heartworm preventative, wormings, and flea meds.  So if they were in care 2 months, which it took to assess temperament and get healthy, you've hit $300 already on most healthy dogs. Now take the ones who need heartworm treatment (discounted it was $600) or to have tumors removed or need to be hospitalized and it's very expensive. There are never enough foster homes for the dogs, so you have to play musical homes because this one can only take males and this one can only take puppies and this one will only take dogs we've had for a while because they have a toddler, and this one will have space next week when Bubba is adopted so we'll board for a few nights here or there at a discounted rate of $25/night (IF the kennel that works with us has space; better not be a holiday weekend or spring break!). And for this the adopter is getting a purebred (usually in our case) dog who has lived with a family and is usually housebroken or heading in that direction, has a good temperament, has seen a vet and is healthy or on its way to healthy, and will love them forever. A bargain in my book!

This explains a lot -- and it's a pretty selfless thing to run a rescue. Maybe my $25 vs. $400 is just sticker shock -- and I obviously need to get over it!

happy_momma

Yeah, ditto PP.  A good rescue organization incurs a lot of costs.  Around here, adopting from a shelter is still pretty cheap, but they can't give you nearly as much information about the pet as a rescue group can.  If it's a rescue that has animals living in foster homes, then they will be able to give you so much information and it's much less of a gamble for finding a pet that's a good fit.

 But for sure, it's a shock if you were expecting cheap!  And I personally don't like the requirement for a fence.  I've known plenty of people who are very responsible pet owners without a fence. Not all rescues require that.

jettagurl

OMG - the nest just ate about 5 paragraphs of info, so here is the shortened version..

Love him - he's 9.  He got hit when he was about 1.5 and had surgery for a dislocated hip.  He's done great though, and we're amazed about how active he still is. 

Schnauzer (purebred) don't shed and don't have dander....so it's the perfect way to have a pet - no vacuuming 2-3x/day, and don't have to worry about pets with allergies (usually). 

They have to be combed a lot if you keep the Schnauzer hair cut - which we do.  H combs him 1-2x/month (like a full, all-over comb) when he trims his hair.  We do a groomer about every 3 months. 

He's pretty yappy, but we have friends with a schnauzer who isn't yappy at all.  I was really worried when the kids were babies, but the yappiness doesn't bother naps or startle them at all. I just drives me bonkers in the summer (when lots of people are out - he thinks he owns the entire neighborhood).  

We're going to look for a std. or giant Schnauzer soon - probably late spring. Bruno is very protective, and will growl at people if they reach quickly for the kids or he gets a bad vibe from them.  H wants a bigger dog that is more sheltered and more protective, mainly because he is gone a lot.  

Let me know if you have any other questions.  He has been awesome with our kids, has never nipped at anyone, and is very tolerant of their crazy. 

AndiG

I just wanted to chime in and say how much we adore our mini schnauz!

When Dh and I started thinking about a dog, 7 yrs ago pre-kid, we also looked into rescues but were not eligible because we live in a condo (no fenced yard) and we both worked full time.  We were set on getting a mini and eventually came to get ours from a pet store - unplanned and I know its awful, but I just couldn't leave her there. 

Anyways, she's been awesome.  Ours is extra small (she's a runt which is why she was at the pet store...), she has adjusted great to the kids - loves people in general.  She's been pretty healthy, only some minor gastrointestinal issues that resolved with the right food.  We get ours groomed every month which is pricey - that's the only negative I can think of.  Our cat adopted her as her own and they get along great too. GL

Jaylea

Yeah, it's crazy. Make sure you check on what's included too - some come spayed/neutered, for others you have to pay for that once you receive them.

We were turned down by several rescues because we both work FT and/or because we had a 2 year old, despite excellent references from our vet.  One rescure was telling me I needed to send the dog to daycare, despite my H going home every day at lunch for a walk/play time.  It's ridiculous.

We did end up rescuing a lab mix in the end, but it was a total PITA process.

BubblyToes

It was $200 to adopt Lulah.  But that included all of her shots, and her spay.  We actually are going through our vet to have her spayed though.  I could have them refund me that $ from the rescue, but I'm going to send them a note and have them keep it as a donation.  

It is a bit of sticker shock at first, but well worth it to have this gorgeous creature snuggled up beside me right now. 

expectingnothing

I know you are near me.  For other resources check out https://francisvalehome.org/ (my family adopted from them), and findingshelter.org.  I have also pulled from high kill shelters in NC and had dogs transported up here (one from NC lives with my sister in NJ now).

DandelionMom

Check shelters and animal control.  They usually have lower fees.  The smaller rescues don't have the same resources the big guys have so their costs usually run a lot higher, resulting in higher fees.  My group has been able to keep our fees at $250 but we're struggling.  

cristiana

DandelionMom:

Check shelters and animal control.  They usually have lower fees.  The smaller rescues don't have the same resources the big guys have so their costs usually run a lot higher, resulting in higher fees.  My group has been able to keep our fees at $250 but we're struggling.  

Ditto Dande. We just adopted two kittens (which I know are cheaper than adopting dogs) from the animal shelter for $25. That included shots, spay/neuter, and microchipping. They're probably not as well screened as the rescues though.