That was my issue Twisterdog. The fact that fixing and vaccinations are NOT covered in the adoption fees. The other shelters typically put these charges into their adoption fees. It also raised my curiousity about the fee charges for these services. You can only use their vet at first. Who is announced as their "Friend". The volunteer worker then gives a quote/estimate of the cost of the fixing when done. That price is a little higher than normal. The worker then told my friend this is "Below the typical prices of other vets". They give them a "discount". This obvisously isn't true. But who is going to "shop around" at the point of adoption?
My point being is their adoption charge is $70 for a kitten. That doesn't include vaccinations or fixing. (They did put frontline on the kitten for free and not very nicely). They then require my friend to pay the additonal $100 for the spading later or they take the cat back. I've never paid $100 for fixing here. There are soo many special programs for fixing cost reductions that it typically costs 3/4 to 1/2 as much. Before the animal shelter installed their policy of fixing before adoption, they gave you a coupon to use at a vet's office. I got my kitten fixed for $75 and used any vet I liked.
I understand selling cookies and doing other fundraising for costs at a shelter. However, if you look at the business set-up of this business it does NOT have the same requirements as other shelters. I think that is why the Animal Control people are soo anti-against them. I've gotten it straight from an Animal control officer's mouth that this place is NOT recommended for putting an animal up for adoption. They've given out other resources instead. That is quite odd in my opinion. Since the Animal control center is soo overfilled even they are willing to make room for an animal BEFORE going to this shelter?
These people who run this shelter are not trained or licensed in animal care. They are licensed to have a business ONLY in pet sheltering. BIG difference. I reckon it was just the way I saw them actually care for animals while I was there that upset me the most. I was holding the kitten at the time they applied the Frontline. The worker applied it soo rough it hurt the kitten. The wrapper was scraping the kittens skin almost cutting it! I had to move the kitten and try to shield it from the woman. Then a dove accidently flew into the window. It fell to the ground and was unconscious. It was almost bleeding from it's mouth. I thought it may have broken it's neck! The worker saw it and wasn't going to do anything at first. I finally went outside to check on the bird myself. My friend's 4 year old was with us and ready to cry over the bird. The worker did come out and just picked up the bird and put it on the hood of a car. Then left the bird there and resumed the paperwork! I was dumbfounded. There is a local wild bird rescue group in town that may have been called or even their own vet.
That too me symbolized that this place wasn't caring about the animals as they are their profit lines. I reckon my idea of caring for animals is just different.