Why aren't rescue dogs free?

[Anonymous]

So many people complain that there are too many dogs in shelters and people shouldn't buy purebreds when there are perfectly good dogs who may be euthanized.

But then it costs $400 and a home visit to make sure you have a fence to be allowed to adopt.

Wouldn't those shelters be less filled if it's actually easier to adopt?

I don't get it.

[Anonymous]

Who would pay for the vet visits when the dog is in foster care?

[Anonymous]

Shelters by and large charge low fees, and do not do any sort of checks. They usually are subsidized by the government, and depending on the shelter will bring the dog UTD on shots, and alter. Rural shelters especially have extremely low fees (like 40 - 50 bucks), and sometimes no fee at all. This means that anything beyond the basics is the responsibility of the adopter.

Rescues OTOH are not funded by anyone other than supporters and adopters, and the fees charged go towards taking care of the dogs. Most are registered 501c3s (non profits), have mandatory filing requirements, and their financials are available online.

These days, upwards of 50% of the dogs that rescues pull from shelters are HW+. That’s upwards of $500 to treat a dog. They often pull dogs with other problems, anything from mange to entropian, hit by car, tumors, and orthopedic wrecks. Someone has to pay for all this.

When you have invested so much in dogs, it’s not good to see them bounced around or returned. As such, rescues go to the trouble of doing their best to vet the adopters. As someone that has done this, I can tell you that a lot of people should not own a dog, but still apply for them anyway.

[Anonymous]

Yeah the high fee stopped us from adopting one

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah the high fee stopped us from adopting one

Dogs are expensive. How did you plan to cover food and vet bills?

[Anonymous]

Because a rescue would not be financially solvent. Your $400 adoption fee paid for that dog to get vetted, fixed, and fed until you adopted it. And usually not even fed, since fosters generally pay for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shelters by and large charge low fees, and do not do any sort of checks. They usually are subsidized by the government, and depending on the shelter will bring the dog UTD on shots, and alter. Rural shelters especially have extremely low fees (like 40 - 50 bucks), and sometimes no fee at all. This means that anything beyond the basics is the responsibility of the adopter.

Rescues OTOH are not funded by anyone other than supporters and adopters, and the fees charged go towards taking care of the dogs. Most are registered 501c3s (non profits), have mandatory filing requirements, and their financials are available online.

These days, upwards of 50% of the dogs that rescues pull from shelters are HW+. That’s upwards of $500 to treat a dog. They often pull dogs with other problems, anything from mange to entropian, hit by car, tumors, and orthopedic wrecks. Someone has to pay for all this.

When you have invested so much in dogs, it’s not good to see them bounced around or returned. As such, rescues go to the trouble of doing their best to vet the adopters. As someone that has done this, I can tell you that a lot of people should not own a dog, but still apply for them anyway.

In my experience, shelters in Maryland do home checks. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, but they put up barriers so that they discourage people from adopting.

I tried adopting a hamster from the county shelter, but I had to make an appointment for several days later to meet with adoption counselor. I didn’t and ended up going to Petsmart the same day and buying one for less than the adoption fee would’ve been. My point is that rescues and shelters are sometimes not adoption friendly.

I don’t think dogs should be free, but adoption fees should not be prohibitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because a rescue would not be financially solvent. Your $400 adoption fee paid for that dog to get vetted, fixed, and fed until you adopted it. And usually not even fed, since fosters generally pay for that.

+1

[Anonymous]

Dogs don’t come to shelters clean, groomed, spayed/neutered, free of worms, up to date on vaccinations. Shelters don’t give adopters dogs who are dirty, matted, flea and tick ridden, unspayed/neutered. How do you think these dogs get transformed? Where do you think the money comes from to provide their care? The cost to neuter my dog was greater than $400.

Adoption fees not only keep shelters solvent, but they discourage people from adopting on a whim, weed out people who couldn’t possibly afford veterinary care, and prevent shady people from adopting dogs to be used in dog fighting.

[Anonymous]

Shelters are usually cheaper.
A rescue group will have a dog in a foster home though and covers food/meds etc for the dog during that time. You can find out if the dog is good with other dogs, cats, kids, thunderstorms etc…. Because of that foster environment. Plus the cost of transporting the dog. Our lab mix came from rural SC where he would have been euthanized. It cost money to get him to the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah the high fee stopped us from adopting one

Dogs are expensive. How did you plan to cover food and vet bills?

Once adopted those are necessary expenses, until then, it's a choice.

[Anonymous]

Charging a fee may prevent acquisition of animals for abuse.

[Anonymous]

If you think $400 is too expensive, you probably shouldn't adopt a dog. I have two rescues and each had an adoption fee well over $400. I had years of good health with them, but they are aging. One needs RX food and is on chronic antibiotics, and the other has spinal issues and severe arthritis that requires pain medicine. Monthly preventatives also cost money. My advice is don't get a dog. This is a family member and you need to actually take care of him/her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many people complain that there are too many dogs in shelters and people shouldn't buy purebreds when there are perfectly good dogs who may be euthanized.

But then it costs $400 and a home visit to make sure you have a fence to be allowed to adopt.

Wouldn't those shelters be less filled if it's actually easier to adopt?

I don't get it.

Why aren't rescue dogs free??

Because rescue is an industry, not a mission.

[Anonymous]

8:56 and 8:57 - poor folks are not all bad and even people not as wealthy as you, have the right to save poor dogs.