rockhillmanor wrote: ...Please don't make a generalized statement that ALL RESCUES....The SPCA has issues all of their own that many do not subscibe to.
Personally I have never encountered the SPCA using petsmart and petco for adoptions. I find this a bit odd as both of these pet stores make a point of inviting local breed club rescues.
I'm know that there are issues with some SPCA policies, and I apologize if it sounded like I lumped all rescue groups together.
Whether it's odd or not, I did check the adoption information, and it specifically said SPCA.
What exactly is a "breed club" rescue? It sounds like dogs of a certain breed, and if so, none of the Adopt-A-Pets that I have been to are like this. They mostly have all types of mixes available.
I have two rescued Greyhounds, $200 to adopt one, includes everything, heart worm, shots, teeth cleaning spay/neutering. A bargain in my opinion. I have fostered a couple, too and they both had broken legs the organization paid for. Want to guess what that cost? 6-12 adoption fees probably.
Petsmart allows many rescue groups to use their facilities to find homes. Another plus is they do not sell dogs and cats so that helps the puppy mill problem. I have also gone to many Meet and Greets to educate people about Greyhounds, and the fees if they ask.
To be able to get unconditional love and affection for $200? Priceless.
Anyone who thinks that the fees are too high needs to volunteer and see where the money actually goes. If any is left, hopefully it goes to education the ignorant about spaying and neutering.
Make a fast friend!!! Adopt an ex-racing Greyhound!!!
katbyte wrote: Anyone who thinks that the fees are too high needs to volunteer and see where the money actually goes. If any is left, hopefully it goes to education the ignorant about spaying and neutering.
very well said, thanks.
31 ft Four Winds
Chevy Tracker 4x4 BlueOx Aventa LX We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
What guidelines do places practice when letting people adopt when set up at PetSmart or PetCo? I am curious because I had a family member adopt a cat not too long ago in Texas and knowing how many pets she has had in the past, I would not let her adopt a worm, much less a dog or cat. Are there questions asked about how many pets they have owned in the last 5-10 years or how many pets have they owned and kept longer than a year? I know they have had at least 30 dogs and cats in the past 15 years, and none of them have stayed longer than a year. I have just been curious as to what guidelines are used to be sure pet owners are responsible with the pets they adopt.
DH and I
2 teenagers
Buddy (dog) and Boo (cat)
'08 Dodge 3500 Megacab w/Cummins Diesel
'09 Heartland Big Horn 3400RE
Quote: Personally I have never encountered the SPCA using petsmart and petco for adoptions. I find this a bit odd as both of these pet stores make a point of inviting local breed club rescues but not to say that they don't use spca if a local club is not availabe.
SPCA publicize bringing cats/dogs to Petsmart's in this area (Eastern NC) also rescue groups for adoptions. Humane Society of Eastern NC here is a non-profit, no county funding, no kill shelter. The county run shelter is not a no-kill facility. Saw this online when I typed in SPCA. Just confused me more. Investigating any group is obviously key.
Can I be guaranteed that an organization with S.P.C.A. in their name will actually prevent cruelty to animals?
No. Each organization is an entity unto itself, sets it’s own policy, and may have different values from other organizations.
Isn’t it possible that S.P.C.A. in the name of an organization can be misleading?
Absolutely. It is tempting to assume that an organization with S.P.C.A. in the name will share common values and be working to prevent cruelty to animals. This is not necessarily the case. It is necessary to ask questions and examine the policies and practices of the organization in order to determine the effect that the organization has.
I've been a volunteer at three different SPCA shelters. The ones I've worked with had very similar policies. None of them based their adoption fees on the breed or mix of breed of a dog or cat. There is some variance in the fees based on size. It simply costs more to feed, house, & alter larger dogs.
I've participated in dozens (if not a hundred or more) of on site adoption days, many of them have taken place at Petco and Petsmart. It really isn't unusual to see breed specific rescue groups, cat specific groups and assorted shelters at the mall, Petco, Petsmart, festivals, and many other places. It just takes planning and plenty of volunteers to have an on site adoption day. Often times that means one per month or less depending on the availability of folks willing to work one.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle.... Live simply, love wholly, give generously, care deeply, speak kindly.
We are involved in a non-profit rescue organization, Schnauzer Love Rescue. Even though our adoption fees tend to be high, ALL proceeds go to help other mini schnauzers that need more care and/or treatment. For example, we have a 2 year old male that is currently in a foster home here in TN was in very poor health when he was signed over to the vet's office who then contacted us. He was heartworm positive, had hookworms, was infested with fleas and his coat was matted to the skin. After treating him for heartworms (cost almost $300; $288 to be exact), he began vomiting blood and had bloody diarrhea and was SEVERELY anemic. After extensive testing and spending a few nights in the hospital, he is on the mend... but his medical bill was right at $800. If we did not charge a higher adoption fee, we would not be able to care for and save the others that desperately need the care. Oh yeah, and I have yet to find a vet that will discount his/her rates for rescue.
ALL of our rescues are fully vetted, altered, brought up to date on all vaccines, are house broken, crate trained and have a temperment assesment. All dogs are kept in private homes with volunteers who are HIGHLY dedicated to the rescue and breed.
So, be thankful that there are volunteers and rescues out there that care for the health and well-being of these fur-babies. For those of you complaining about paying a higher adoption fee, why don'y you sign up to be a foster home and then you'll know more about what these rescues go through. After you foster a dog, then tell me that he/she isn't worth $195 or more!!! I doubt you'll be able to 'truthfully' agree with that then. Rescues are ALWAYS in need of foster homes!
Gary & Ashley
& Holly (our mini schnauzer)
& Buckets (our Blue Heeler)
Shelbyville, TN
2006 KZ Sportsmen Sportster 37K Triple Slide
2002 GMC Quad Cab 2500HD 8.1 Allison Trans
I'm sure just about everyone believes their pet is worth whatever they paid for it.
Using simple math, it seems to me that placing a single animal for $200 would not be as smart as placing 4 at $50 each and looking to another source for the bulk of shelter costs.
Also, what about pro bono vet services? My vet does them for the Humane Society.
Here's my OPINION on the higher price for adopting pets. Yes there are many costs incurred long before the dogs are ready for adoption that many people do not see and usually can't understand the cost of operation to rescue. The one dog that they spend 1,000 dollars to save his life is amortized over all the dogs. They certainly couldn't try and adopt that dog for 1,000 now could they? So their operating expense is spread out over all dogs that are adopted so the poor damaged one that cost a lot of money can still be adoptable. Non-profit yes, but the operating costs is far more money than most people can understand.
Agreed, and the number of dogs whose medical expenses are greater than the adoption fee/donation is a lot more than people realize. One of our dogs had to have two surgeries to repair a broken leg when he was turned in to rescue. After seeing his story we inquired about the vet bill - the rescue organization paid $500. Others have to go through spay/neuter, heartworm testing, heartworm treatment, etc.
Rescues and non-profit shelters aren't making money on adoption fees; they're trying to set a reasonable adoption fee to help with all those costs associated with saving and rehoming the animals.
mkc wrote: ...Rescues and non-profit shelters aren't making money on adoption fees; they're trying to set a reasonable adoption fee to help with all those costs associated with saving and rehoming the animals.
Michelle (also in Denton)
That's all well and good, of course and I know you are right. Just seems to me there's a better way to fund expenses, one that would allow the placement of more pets. The current method is falling short.
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