Shelter adoption fees

**krazyaboutkatz** · 08-14-2011, 12:47 AM

When I adopted Storm from the Humane Society he was $60 and I thought that was very high. This was back in Jan. of 1997. He was vaccinated for FVRCP and neutered but he still needed his rabies shot and I also had to test him for FELV/FIV. He was sick when I adopted him and I didn't realize this until almost a week later. He had fleas, ear mites, internal parasites and an URI.

I had to spend a little over $250 to get him well again. After this bad experience with the Humane Society, I didn't adopt from them again for many years until I eventually adopted Sky.

Sky's adoption fee was $125 back in June of 2003 and he was microchipped, neutered, FELV/FIV tested, and he had his shots. He had also been treated for an URI while he was at the Humane Society and he was also treated for fleas. He wasn't,however, treated for any internal parasites and I later found out that he had tapeworm.

I just looked up the Humane Society online and this is a list of their adoption fees:
$175 for cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies
$70 for rabbits
$30 for a guinea pig
$20 for hamsters or rats
$10 for mice

Twice the love (adopted at the same time)
$275 pair of cats, kittens, dogs, or puppies
$110 pair of rabbits
$40 pair of guinea pigs

Included in our Adoption Fee:
Spay/Neuter surgery
Vaccinations and Intestinal De-worming
Feline Leukemia testing for all felines
Identification tag
Home Again Microchip with life-time registration
Two weeks of sponsored veterinary care
Reference material on pet care and training
Post Adoption Support
All of our animals have been examined by a veterinarian and assessed for temperament.

Both Pearl and Ziggy Stardust didn't have adoption fees because I got them from another Pet Talker who rescued them. I did have to fly to Arizona and I did have to purchase a spot on the plane for them. Pearl was spayed, FELV/FIV tested, microchipped,dewormed, had some of her kitten shots, and her rabies shot. Ziggy Stardust was too small to spay so I had it done later. She was also FELV/FIV tested,microchipped, dewormed, and had some of her kitten shots. She was too young for a rabies shot. Neither one of them had any fleas.

I saw Alani & Blaze on petfinder and they were from a rescue group,Humanimal Connection, and they had to be adopted together. I paid $225 total for both of them so I did get a slight discount but not much. Now I think they're charging a bit less than they did before. Here's their information about cats:
Why would you pay for a kitten?

Humanimal Connection charges an adoption fee to cover the costs incurred for the kitten/cat you will be adopting. This adoption fee covers more than most rescue groups and at a greater discount than you could receive as an individual pet owner. We receive discounts because we are a non-profit organization that has teamed up with local vets to keep costs down for our adopting families.

What are the rates?

Humanimal Connection Kitten OR Cat:

Cost of Kitten: $115 (Discount for adopting 2 together: $20 total) OR Cost of Cat: $100
Spay/Neuter: Included
Wellness Examination: Included
FIV Test: Included
FeLV Test: Included
FVRCP Vaccinations (to-date): Included
De-worming (to-date): Included
Microchip Implantation: Included
Microchip Registration: $9.99 (paid to HomeAgain Recovery Services; also includes 30-days pet health insurance up to $500 and lost pet insurance up to $1000)

Total Cost for Humanimal Connection Kitten: $124.99 OR Total Cost for Humanimal Connection Cat: $109.99

"Free" Kitten:

Cost of Kitten: "Free"
Spay/Neuter (at a local clinic): $35/$50 (at vet): $300/$500
Wellness Examination: $50
FIV Test: $15
FeLV Test: $15
FVRCP Vaccinations (at vaccination clinic): $15/vaccination x3 (at vet): $50/vaccination x3
De-Worming (at vaccination clinic): $10/vaccination x2 (at vet): $50/de-worming x2
Microchip Implant: $15
Microchip Registration $9.99

Total Cost for "Free Kitten": $204.99 to $854.99

Additionally...

Adopting a cat or kitten for "free" from a neighbor or friend means bringing a kitten into your home when you are not sure the kitten is entirely healthy. This entails allowing your family and children to become emotionally attached to a kitten that may be severely ill. Humanimal Connection tests for FIV and Feline Leukemia to ensure the kitten you are bringing into your home is both healthy and happy. Please, think twice before bringing a "free" kitten into your home!

**Asiel** · 08-14-2011, 07:42 AM

Our fees are anwhere from $70 to $375 and is sometimes increased to off set the money the shelter has had to spend on the dog or cat while it was at the shelter. This includes spay/neuter, shots, tags , microchip and other minor vet cost if needed.
I've heard countless times why people refuse to adopt because of the cost, they can always get a free dog if they just want a mutt, as for cats they're a dime a dozen in the newspaper ads so no one will pay to adopt for that price. If the shelters asked for a donation or charged a nominal fee they would find homes much easier.

**pomtzu** · 08-14-2011, 07:42 AM

Wow - these rates are really all over the board.
Further breaking down what I had quoted:

Kent County SPCA - all fees include sterilization
This is a kill shelter
They are checked for disease, tho not treated. That is up to the person adopting.

dog, cat, puppy, kitten under 5 yrs of age
$110 for 1
$175 for 2

dog, cat over 5 yrs of age
$90 if intact
$65 if already sterilized

I personally would adopt elsewhere, as I had a bad experience with them many years ago. I adopted a tiny gray kitten, and 2 days later found it dead on the sofa. I called SPCA about it, and they informed me that they found distemper and had to euthanize all of their cat population. I asked why they didn't notify me, and they flippantly said they couldn't possibly locate all the people that they had adopted to. They had all my info and it had only been 2 days - just a big excuse and they just couldn't be bothered. Problem is, I had another adult cat in the house who had never been vaccinated since he was strictly a house cat (I know better now tho), and of course you know what happened to him. I know too that this facility has greatly improved over the years, but it still left a very bad impression with me that I will never forget.

On a much better note:

Delaware Humane Association - a no kill shelter

Dogs
$225 - puppies 6 months and younger
$150 - adult 7 months+
$75 - Senior 7 yrs+

Fees include spay/neuter, age appropriate vaccines, heartworm test, microchip, pre-adoption vet exam, collar & leash, certificate for free vet exam.

Cats
Kittens 6 months or younger
$80 for 1
$130 for 2
Adult 7 months+
$80 for 1
$120 for 2
Senior 7 yrs+
$40 each

Includes much the same as above for dogs. All listed rates recently reduced by $30 for 1 and $35 for 2, due to the increased cat population, so they had been higher.

Special needs dogs and cats - any age
$25 for cats
$50 for dogs

Senior discount: $50 for dogs 3 years+, and all cats

If I was looking to take in another pet - this is definitely where I would adopt. When I was still working and had United Way donation taken out of my check each week, I had 100% of my donation allocated to this organization. I started out at only $1 per week, but increased it substantially each year during the fund drive. Can't think of a better way for my money to be used, than to help organizations such as this.
ETA - too many people that pledge to United Way, never read the back of the pledge form to know just how many organizations are available to donate to, and just automatically check, Cancer Society, Heart Association, etc. While all this is well and good, the animals need our help too, tho most people would never think to have their money go there.

Of course there are many rescue groups around here too, but I have no idea what any of their rates are.

**Moesha** · 08-14-2011, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by krazyaboutkatz

"Free" Kitten:

Cost of Kitten: "Free"
Spay/Neuter (at a local clinic): $35/$50 (at vet): $300/$500
Wellness Examination: $50
FIV Test: $15
FeLV Test: $15
FVRCP Vaccinations (at vaccination clinic): $15/vaccination x3 (at vet): $50/vaccination x3
De-Worming (at vaccination clinic): $10/vaccination x2 (at vet): $50/de-worming x2
Microchip Implant: $15
Microchip Registration $9.99

I am sure glad that I do live in an area where vets charge $300 to spay or neuter. A spay is $75 and neuter $65. An office visit exam would be included in that cost. Vaccinations and worming are $35. I understand that the total cost would be more than the total adoption fee, but those prices for vets are unbelievable to me.

**moosmom** · 08-14-2011, 10:23 AM

Most of the shelters here in CT are reasonable. They try to wean out the undesireables, the ones that SHOULD be on a DNA list. It's based on the amount of money spent to vet the cat. That's what I do whenever I have a cat or kitten that is being adopted. I charge no more than what I put out. Every cat that comes into my house is vetted.

**catmandu** · 08-15-2011, 09:35 AM

I think that the Animal Welfare charges 150 dollars for a Cat, but taht includes neutering and spaying.
I think the Animal Control charges about 200 dollars , and also includes fixing. I have a Good Vet so Josephine Spunkette was around 250 dollars a bargain,

**cassiesmom** · 08-15-2011, 03:58 PM

Harmony House's fee (the shelter from which I adopted Cassie) is $75 regardless of the cat's age.

My best friend's cat is from the West Suburban Humane Society, and their fees are a little different:

Adult Cats - 1 year to 5 years old - $125
Mature Cats - 5 years and older - $75
Kittens - Up to 6 months old - $150

Take advantage of our 5-5-5 Program. Any person 50 years and older, that adopts a cat 5 years and older, can do so for the fee of $50.

We also offer an Adopt A Buddy Program. Adopt any cat and/or kitten for the regular adoption fee and get a second cat/kitten for half of the regular fee. This offer is good for up to 6 months after the first adoption.

**jennielynn1970** · 08-15-2011, 11:52 PM

The last cat I adopted, Laslo/Calloway, was FREE. He was originally $10 because he is a special needs cat (FIV+), but they wanted him to get a home so they gave him to me for free. I did however make a donation for him. He was neutered, microchipped and everything. It's amazing what some shelters will do to get animals that are special needs adopted.