CatandJim wrote: Anywhere from $200.00 to $400.00 is about typical for rescue groups these days, much of the pricing depends upon how the rescue grous is funded, i.e. private donations, local non-profit, national breed rescue organization, etc. Considering the costs for vetting these days, which includes vaccinations, blood panels, fecal exam/testing, heart worm tests, micro chipping, spay/neuter, etc. around $350.00 doesn't seem that high.
Ditto.
Me and the DH
Two boys and two dogs (and two cats who prefer to stay home)
2008 Forest River Georgetown 350DS (bunkhouse model)
2001 Honda CR-V
I once heard a pet store owner tell someone if they couldn't afford the dog they couldn' afford to take care of it either.
Jim & Jeanne Both now retired, fulltiming and loving it.
Buddy and Emma (Silky Terriers)
2003 Ford F350 Crew Cab "King Ranch" Power Stroke 6.0
2007 Mobile Suites 36SB3 N0MSU
chrisnpat wrote: Too bad its all about money, and not about the pet.
I'm not sure I understand... are you talking about places that sell animals? Since your reply was right underneath a post about a pet store that sells pets I'm curious if that's what you are talking about. If so I agree... the breed for greed industry is ALL about the money.
If not and you are saying this about rescue groups please consider that not every pet given up is healthy. Many of them need other veterinary services like teeth cleaning & extraction, heart worm treatment, parasite control, if they come into rescue injured there are x-rays & surgeries or setting broken bones, and let's not forget the costs of grooming &/or boarding until they have room in a foster home. So if they actually charged what they have invested in an animal that received additional services nobody would adopt that one, now would they? In most rescue groups the costs are averaged and there is plenty of unpaid expenses left over. That is why they need donations to help them cover the additional expenses.... Even then, especially in these economic times, most are lucky if they break even.
Cat (Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
Our toys:
Sunline Travel Trailer
ProCraft Fish & Ski
Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, trust in those Who cherish you.
When, not if,I get a dog hopefully I'll get alot more for my large sum of money then just the dog. As someone stated pets cost money to take care of. Therefore I'd rather take care of a dog then pay a large fee for the dog.
I think a big part of the problem over adoption fees is that people compare rescue group adoption fees with those of county-run shelters, w/o taking into consideration that county shelters are funded by tax dollars. Rescues have to cover costs through adoption fees, donations and fundraisers.
IMO $350 for a spayed/neutered, up-to-date on vaccines and heartworm tested dog is a huge bargain. If you don't think so, call around to a few vets and see what just a spay/neuter costs. Many vets give rescues a discount, but they don't (can't) do it for free!
* This post was
edited 10/19/09 03:06pm by Pawz4me *
Also, spaying is more expensive for a pug because of the tendency of their trachea to collapse under anesthesia. I had several vets refuse to spay our pug and then we had to find one to do it as an emergency when she got pyometra, a uterine infection.
$350 is a lot for someone looking to rescue, but pugs are delicate and need special care. It's also what the market will bear for a given breed. This is a puppy, and her initial price plus the "work" done would no doubt be several times that. Someone who pays that much is likely to take good care of her. She will find a home and the $$ as mentioned, will go to help others that are possibly not as much in demand.
If those of us who work hard to find homes for the countless pets that need a home had our way the adopting family would keep their pet forever. So adoption in the true sense of the word is what we hope for, that the pet will live out their days knowing love in a home where they are provided for and treated well... hopefully the same home. Perhaps not an exact interpretation of the word for those who enjoy nitpicking, but it's what those of us involved in rescue hope will happen.
Remember - part of your fee also goes to pay for care for all of the dogs that the rescue organization takes in. I work with a rat terrier rescue and they often get dogs in that need heartworm treatment, long broken bones that need to be re-set and other injuries that need to be taken care of. Even if the dog that you choose has not required expensive medical treatment, other pets cared for by that organization have needed care.
Another reason for the higher fees is to discourage someone from just "dumping" a dog that they adopted (for cheap) if/when the going gets tough.
Julie
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