? for rescuers

[nancyweNW]

I got my wonderful Mickey, a border collie mix, from a great place called Old Dog Haven who try to find homes for older dogs. Mickey was 8 when I got her. Some of the dogs they just keep until they die and have a great life there. She fosters some of the dogs out until they are adopted. She only asks for donations which I do every year. I agree w/you, that it shouldn't be so expensive but yet they still have to pay for food, vet care, etc.

http://www.olddoghaven.org/

[CathyBogart]

We got Star for a few hundred dollars.

The rescue paid over two thousand dollars for her to have heart surgery. They paid for a week of hospitalization, and kept her in recovery for two months after the operation. Where does that money come from? It certainly wasn't covered my the few hundred we gave them.

[Ginger's Mom]

There are many dogs that come into rescues with other medical needs beside spay/neutering. In the two years that I worked with Eskie rescue they had two stray Eskies that came in pregnant, and two other strays that had heartworms and required three months of treatment. In addition some dogs are so nervous and scared that they need to be retrained (or just trained) so that they can fit into a household again. My area coordinator had a trainer and a vet who worked for reduced rates for her and made themselves available to her whenever needed. And, as stated above some dogs that are rescued never find a forever home and spend their lives in foster care. Plus, many of the people who pick up their new dogs don't come with things like leashes or crates for transport, so the rescue may end up providing these for the safety of the dog. But these are things that most people don't see or think of. She didn't keep a running tab of three weeks at two sessions a week at a personal trainer for this dog, or one two trips to the vet for that dog. She just asked for a flat fee of $250.00 per adoption (that was almost three years ago, it has probably gone up since then). I think that $300.00 or $350.00 for a new family member is a fair price to pay.

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

See I have thought of a lot of these things too and I agree there is more expense than the average person probably realizes. When I explain to him why the rescued dog is "so much money" I will use some of these reasons. I hope that he understands. I guess back when they got their other dog(a beautiful collie/spaniel mix) she was free and that is what I think he has his mind set as, if it is a mutt you should not have to pay for it(or very little) and pure breds should not cost and arm and a leg if you are just wanting a pet.

[Ginger's Mom]

If your area has state or county run shelters they probably don't charge as high a fee for adoption. That is because they don't spend the money to train dogs with problems or correct things like heartworm (they will just euthanize dogs that cannot be adopted-I am not saying that as a put down, unfortunately it is just a financial necessity). There is nothing wrong with getting a dog from a government shelter, as a matter of fact those dogs are just as worthy of rescuing and a loving home as a dog in a privately run rescue. So you may want to do a search of state-run shelters. The ones up here I think charge something like $50.00 for dogs.

[Pam]

If your area has state or county run shelters they probably don't charge as high a fee for adoption. That is because they don't spend the money to train dogs with problems or correct things like heartworm (they will just euthanize dogs that cannot be adopted-I am not saying that as a put down, unfortunately it is just a financial necessity). There is nothing wrong with getting a dog from a government shelter, as a matter of fact those dogs are just as worthy of rescuing and a loving home as a dog in a privately run rescue. So you may want to do a search of state-run shelters. The ones up here I think charge something like $50.00 for dogs.

I got Ripley from such a shelter almost 5 years ago. He was $39.00. (The prices have no doubt gone up some since then). They did not spay/neuter. It was the prospective owners responsibility to do that. Once you have your pet spayed/neutered you take the form from the vet to the shelter as proof and it is submitted to the state. The state them reimburses you $20. Soooo, Ripley was my $19 dog!!!! Honestly, he was the best purchase I ever made for many many reasons!!

We were actually at the shelter that day turning in the proof of spaying papers for my daughter's cat. After doing that we walked through the kennel area "just to look around." HA! Next thing I knew I was filling out an application for Ripley!

[Freedom]

I got Lacey from the animal control. They pick up strays on the street. $10 adoption fee. NO vetting. NO grooming. If he wants a mix, or wants to hold out for what may appear to be a pure breed, that is one route. (I believe Lacey is a purebred but you never know when a dog comes this route.)

If you want a pure breed, then go through that breed's rescue groups. They set the fees based on quite a few things. Obviously they can't charge based on what they spent on the dog. So the fees have to average out. Many dogs coming in to rescue have issues, health, behavioural or both. Most breed rescues are also pulling their dogs from puppy mills to a greater or lesser extent. And that cost varies based on whcih breed in "in" at the moment.

I sent you a PM about Sugar and Small Paws Rescue. That may be something of interest to you.

If he doesn't mind a mix, scan craigslist; here in RI, we have loads of wonderful dogs on there at reasonable prices; and some at ridiculous fees.
Sandie

[lizbud]

If your area has state or county run shelters they probably don't charge as high a fee for adoption. That is because they don't spend the money to train dogs with problems or correct things like heartworm (they will just euthanize dogs that cannot be adopted-I am not saying that as a put down, unfortunately it is just a financial necessity). There is nothing wrong with getting a dog from a government shelter, as a matter of fact those dogs are just as worthy of rescuing and a loving home as a dog in a privately run rescue. So you may want to do a search of state-run shelters. The ones up here I think charge something like $50.00 for dogs.

I agree with looking for pups on the local level. Those fees from pet finder do seem high to me, but I was never looking for one particular breed when
I wanted to adopt. I was particular about the dog, but never the breed .