Why is there a fee to adopt a rescue dog?

[blueamy66]

We were watching a doggy for a while for a friend who was going through some difficulty in his life. Unfortunately, we got very attached...the owner took him back. We are both still heartbroken.

Anyway, I want another dog. The companionship worked wonders for my fiancé and his mental state. I just don't have the $$ for these adoption and/or "rehoming" fees at this time. I do have $$ for food and a collar and have a lot of time and love to give.

Do people want good homes for their doggies or not?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

1. Shelters have costs...

http://www.dogsonly.org/adoption_fee.html

[blueamy66]

3. Okay, shelters have costs.

I get that. But if they let me have a dog, they would no longer get have to pay to feed and house that dog. I would do that.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

11. Did you read the article I

linked to? They would like to know that you will be a responsible pet owner and take the dog to a vet at least once a year for the necessary shots etc. If you can't raise the money for adoption fees, how will you raise the money for the other things for which owners must pay? Shelters have too many dogs because people didn't account for the costs of ownership over and above feeding the animal.

I'm sorry money is tight right now, perhaps in the future you'll be able to truly afford a dog.

[blueamy66]

13. No I didn't read the article.

I don't have the cash now (for a $200 adoption fee), but we are both working now and will be able to afford a dog in the future.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

20. Great! Dogs are

wonderful companions. I have a Cocker Spaniel...but he has cost me a fortune because of allergies. Be sure to research dog breeds on line as some dogs end up being more expensive to own than others.

Good luck to both of you.

[blueamy66]

25. Thanks.

What is really tough is seeing the dog every day.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

26. I know. n/t

[avebury]

52. Have you considered volunteering either at your local

animal shelter or with a rescue group? You would be able to get you doggie fix in and help out at the same time.

Or you and your wife could consider becoming foster parents where you take a dog in short term while it is going through the process of getting ready for adoption. I have a co-worker and his wife who have fostered several dogs and they keep a scrapbook of their successes. Again, it would allow you to get your doggie fix in while helping out at the same time. When you can afford to adopt a dog and know that you will be able to provide with all the necessary vet care then you can adopt.

[Xyzse]

2. The fee is to be able to maintain the shelter.

Even if they do things at a voluntary basis, there are still costs associated with running a facility.
Hence the fees.

Also, the fee is indicative of some financial stability. It is one of the ways an organization can tell if a person would be stable enough to provide for a pet.

[blueamy66]

7. Don't like the financial stability aspect.....

A few sites wanted at least $200 to adopt a dog. That's a lot of money.

I can provide love and food and shelter and time and a warm bed and kisses....do I need to pass a credit check first?

Not happy...

[Xyzse]

19. No, it isn't something I like either...

However, it is something that was explained to me as well.

It means some disposable income for sudden emergencies, if you have to go to the vet or something.

They won't go through a credit check.

Some shelters here, the interview proccess is long to see compatibility with the owner.

So no, it is not something I am happy about, but it makes a bit of sense to me if I were about to hand over an animal I bond with.

They have to think that the adopter has to be stable enough to handle the care of the animal as it is like a child to them. They would want to make sure that they child does not get endangered. Paying the fee, is one way they tend to ascertain if a person has some kind of emergency fund.

It sucks, but that is how it was explained to me.

Like me, I can't have a pet right now. I work too long and my commute is crazy. I wouldn't have the time to properly give the attention a pet would deserve for the initial months of bonding. So it won't be fair for the pet or me, as much as I want a puppy, I can't have one till I have more time. It will probably be a few more years.

[MADem]

53. In the northeast, it can go higher than that, particularly if you adopt a dog rescued from a

high kill shelter in the south. There's a transport fee on top of the adoption fee.

I had been looking at the pet rescue sites (Adopt a Pet, e.g.) for another dog to replace one of my pals who died, when a dog just fell into my lap from a friend of a friend whose mother got sick in a hurry and died. The poor thing was older than I might have chosen, had a few minor medical issues (she's a vegetarian due to liver issues and is on milk thistle and sam-e) but she's turned out to be a great dog. She keeps my other dog on her toes, they get along well, and they play together.

I took her because it was either me, or the needle and the Rainbow Bridge--no one wanted to take on a dog that needed pills and a special diet. Turns out it's no trouble to accommodate her little needs. When I go away and leave her with relatives, I put her on Denemarin (one pill instead of two, purpose-compounded for dogs) to make it easier, but for every day medicating, I keep her on the cheap stuff straight out of the health food store.

She's doing GREAT and acts like a much younger dog--people are shocked when they discover she's almost ten.

[mulsh]

4. Check with your local shelter. Sometimes fees are waived. When we adopoted our rescued dog the local

was waiving all fees on put bull adoptions.

While we were adopting our dog (a corgi mix) we encounter a couple of families who adopted pits. one of the pits is in our neighborhood. She's a wonderful dog and her family is pretty cool too.
good luck.

[blueamy66]

9. Thanks, I'll try that route.

nt

[Honeycombe8]

58. Please reconsider. Pits require special care and knowledgeable owners. And if you can't afford a fee

to buy the dog, chances are you can't afford to provide proper care. Dogs need annual exams and vaccinations, monthly flea treatments, collars, leashes, kenneling at times (you'll be limited on kennels that would take a pit, I'm afraid), vet bills for illnesses and injuries, quality food, a few treats, a few toys.

I'm frugal, so you can do this frugally. But there's no getting around it. Dogs, like children, cost money. If you can't afford to provide vet care in the event of an illness or injury, you are not doing the dog any favor in adopting it. Even putting it to sleep costs money.

[Still Blue in PDX]

10. I'm always happy to read something positive about pits.

My Daizie is a pit, and she's my best friend.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

12. I love Pits...

the smile on their faces always makes me smile in return.

[Still Blue in PDX]

31. I know, me too!

It's uncanny that they can be so silly and goofy and smart and loving all at the same time.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

32. When my

cocker spaniel was a pup the only dog in the neighborhood that would play with him was the adult male Pit. Ernie was my late BF's choice...he was afraid of Pits and used to get anxious when he'd see Ernie with Gunner together. I'd have a Pit in a heart beat, but where I currently live there is a size restriction.


edited for spelling...someday I will actually learn how to type.

[Still Blue in PDX]

5. It's one way to gauge the level of commitment of the people who are adopting.

People tend to value more the "things" they have to pay for.

I hope it works out that you can find a dog to adopt. I know all too well what it is like to lose furry family.

[Xyzse]

21. This is also what I mean.

It really sucks, but that is how some shelters have to view things.

I've volunteered for a shelter and they told me stories at how some of the dogs had to be returned due to finances. So they try to limit that.

[NV Whino]

6. Yeah, it hurts, but it pays for...

Food, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, and supports the shelters. I paid $200 to get two kittens. The shelter where I got them captures ferals, neuters or spays them and adopts out the kittens... after spaying or neutering the kittens. Kittens had all their shots. I would have had to pay for all that separately, and it would have cost me more.

[onehandle]

8. Costs, as mentioned about, but also... Because of animal testing.

There was a time when someone would 'adopt' a dog or cat, then head over to PharmCo to pick up a little pocket money.

[blueamy66]

14. No freaking way!

That is horrible.

[Still Blue in PDX]

15. It's all too true.

There's that, and there are also dogs that are used as "bait" dogs in dog fighting.

It breaks my heart.

[onehandle]

17. Forgot about that little chestnut.

[sadbear]

40. Yep, I'm sure someone like Vick could afford the adoption costs.

What a lazy way to ensure the dog and cats go to good homes.

[onehandle]

16. And listen to this...

My wife and I used to volunteer at a no-kill shelter.

Guess why we never adopted out black cats in October, even for money.

Actually, you probably shouldn't guess.

[Xyzse]

23. I've heard about these... Some people are disgusting

Though yeah, it is a good policy not to adopt out Black Cats in October.
That is how it is here too.

[mythology]

43. Some sorry pieces of filth even adopt animals from shelter to practice surgery on

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Frist#Medical_school_experiments

In this case, he even went on to be a Senator instead of in jail where a sociopath belongs.

[Honeycombe8]

59. Yes, it's true. You should never give a pet away for free, for that very reason. nt

[davsand]

18. I've always just paid the shelter's adoption fee, but you might check Craig's List as an option.

If you REALLY want a dog and just cringe at paying a $200 fee to adopt (which DOES seem kinda spendy to me too) you might want to check Craig's List for adoptable animals. You might also contact a local rescue group and see if you can work out a deal to provide some kind of service for them in place of the adoption fee--or maybe even foster a rescue for them if you can.

Either way you are giving a loving home to an animal that needs one...





Laura

[hamsterjill]

24. I was also going to suggest Craigslist.

Personally, I would NEVER advertise a pet on Craigslist. I've seen too many instances where dogs and cats were taken by people with less-than-honorable intentions.

BUT...in your case, since you feel you have the means to give a dog a good home, I would LOVE to see a dog already being advertised on Craigslist going to someone like you. So I hope you will check out the ads for your area, and give a loving, needy dog the good home you indicate you have available for it.

Keep us posted, and the best of luck to you.

[blueamy66]

28. I have started to look at CL.

I'll keep you posted.

[Myrina]

22. I am a foster for a rescue. Here's why:

There is a fee for rescues to pull dogs from shelters.
Rescues then vet the dogs - anything from heartworm test/treatment ($600+) to spay/neuter ($200-$300) to dentals ($100-$200) to major surgeries.

Rescues also get the dogs on preventatives ($10-20/mo), microchip ($50), and provide them beds, leash/collar, grooming, etc.

On average, a rescue will spend about $600 on a HEALTHY dog, and then you get that dog, in great health, with vet records, for usually less than $100.

"Maintenance" expenses once you have the dog include annual vet visits for vaccs, preventatives, GOOD food, leash/collar, dental, grooming, insurance and/or a 'nest egg' for emergencies.

If that's too expensive for you, you obviously aren't prepared to be a dog owner.

[riderinthestorm]

27. +1 That $200 fee doesn't even reimburse for the basic vet care the animal got at the shelter already

In fact, $200 is a real deal. Your shelter dog comes chipped, neutered or spayed, with their basic vaccinations done for the year and usually outfitted with a collar and leash.

You'd have to put out that much money initially AT LEAST if you got a dog free.

If you're struggling with the basic costs already, it gets worse - in fact plan on it being worse financially. There's almost always some unexpected costs that come up with pets - everything from heartworms, injuries, allergies, chronic conditions like diabetes and more.

[blueamy66]

30. If what, exactly, is too expensive for me?

Sure, I realize that there will be expenses....but I find it a bit crappy that a possible great pet owner may not be able to get a pet cause of an adoption fee.

[riderinthestorm]

39. I would suggest you are looking at the "adoption fee" the wrong way.

Its a reimbursement fee for the work the shelter's already done for the vet work you'd have to do yourself. Except the shelter got it at a great price and is passing on that discount to you with the reduced fees.

Truly, $200 is very, very cheap for the initial outlay for the vet care the shelter has already provided before you take him/her home. The shots, treatment of conditions (like ear mites or heartworm), dental care - that's not even mentioning the cost of spay/neuter - those costs add up very, very rapidly. The shelter is doing them for you to ensure you get a healthy pet. That $200 barely reimburses them (and most times its a dramatically subsidized fee).

If you think that fee is too steep, you really should re-think owning a pet at this time. That's a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of whats to come in the future even if your pet remains relatively healthy their whole life.

[Myrina]

41. Did you even read my post?

That $200 adoption fee ensures that you don't have to pay out several hundred other dollars for the things I itemized, which you obviously haven't considered as possible expenses, or prepared yourself to have to cover.

What happens if you do get a free one that needs heartworm treatment or injures itself & needs ER care? You gonna send it back to the shelter?

[Honeycombe8]

60. If you can't afford an adoption fee, how can you afford vet bills and proper care for a dog?

Dogs are expensive. One illness or injury can get you a $500 vet bill easy. Annual exam and vaccinations - mine here in my area are $200 a pop per dog. I have two dogs.

Collars, leashes, food, toys, treats, and possible kenneling.

It's different owning and being responsible for a little creature from having one for a while, w/o all the responsibility.

[a la izquierda]

34. +2

My husband and I, both employed, just shelled out $900 for an emergency for one dog, and have another who will require regular vet specialist visits, for the rest of his life. He's 4 years old and has epilepsy.
My husband also works part time at a rescue shelter and I volunteer. People have no clue the expenses shelters incur.

[riderinthestorm]

29. Can you arrange "play dates" with your former foster dog?

Will the owner let you spend some time with him?

Otherwise look into fostering as a way to ease the hole in your life! There's a lot of great rescue organizations that need people with lots of time and love on their hands to help. In fact, the fact that you don't have another dog will be a great thing - some foster dogs don't "play well" with others and they are always looking for homes where those special cases need careful socializing.

And (bonus!) its possible that foster dog will stay forever! I've seen it happen.

Good luck!

[sadbear]

33. Poor people shouldn't have dogs...

or babies....or color TVs.....or microwaves.....or refrigerators....or air conditioning.....

[a la izquierda]

35. Nobody is saying that. Jeez.

All people here are suggesting is that the OP be realistic when thinking about getting a dog. Dogs, like children, can be very expensive, especially when they get old.

[sadbear]

37. There's essentially no difference in what you said and what I said.

[a la izquierda]

38. Okay then...

I need more coffee. And to pay a bit more attention to this instead of my actual work Thanks for pointing that out.

[Myrina]

42. I'll say it.

If you think its going to be "free" and doesnt come with regular expenses for care etc, then basicallly I would argue that person is either naieve or not bright enough to be a parent OR have a pet.

Dogs and cats from people like that end up in shelters all the time, no fault of their own other than a dumb human who was unprepared for what they were getting into. "Food? Who knew a dog needs food?"

[mythology]

44. I'll say that if somebody can't afford the bare essentials of owning a pet,

then they shouldn't have one. All four of the animals in my family were shelter animals. One of them was found in a dumpster and one was so abused she is still terrified of 95% or more of people. There were weekend visitors and she had such stress about it, she gave herself an illness.

But in addition to the cost of just providing food, there is also the cost of necessary drugs, routine vet visits, taking care of the pet when you go on vacation, unexpected illnesses etc.

I have a former friend who once put a 7 year old cat down because the cat had a hyperactive thyroid. The pill was about 30 bucks a month, but she wasn't willing to pay that amount. She obviously shouldn't have had a cat if she wasn't willing to spend the money to care for it.

Likewise, people who can't afford to do the same for a kid shouldn't have one.

As for a color tv, that's not an ongoing expense in the same way and the tv can't be neglected or abused and die as a result. I've got no problems with a poor person buying a tv or having air conditioning.

[Honeycombe8]

61. Don't be sarcastic. There's nothing funny about not being able to provide vet care for a sick dog.

Nothing funny about it at all. Dogs are not like color tvs or microwaves or fridges or a/c. Those things are inanimate objects that don't get sick or injured and require medical care, or annual vaccinations, or monthly flea treatments.

Some people can't afford to properly care for a dog. There are other pets that are cheaper. Hamsters, rabbits, even cats.

[sadbear]

64. Oh, I'm sorry...

This whole argument just sounds a bit too much like the wingnuts who complain that people shouldn't have children if they they couldn't afford EVERYTHING that goes with that. Or are we on that side, too?

Personally, I'd rather a dog have a chance at life than be immediately put down for no goddam reason.

[Honeycombe8]

65. Of course that's true. But that is often not the choice...it's either a life

with someone who can't afford care, or life with someone who can. Even I, a single woman working at a mid-range job, have been able to provide care for all my pets, whatever was necessary. It takes willingness and saving your money for the day he'll get sick (and he will)...you don't have to be rich. But I've run across too many people who just thought it'd be fun to have a dog w/o giving it much thought, and they couldn't, or wouldn't, pay the $ it would take to get the dog annual vaccinations or heartworm preventive, etc.

Now, if you just find them on teh street and can't find a rescue org to take them, that's another matter. I have one like that. I can pay for her vet care (and toys and such), but even if I couldn't, she's better off with me. No one wanted her. Thrown away like garbage. Now she's spoiled rotten and living the life of riley. And she talked me into adopting a companion for her from a rescue organization. I love them bunches.

[sadbear]

66. I don't know where you're at, but where I am...

there are no rescue orgs and the animal shelter is a death sentence.

Perhaps that's why I feel the way I do.

Plus, I've seen lots of people who can't afford vet care, but compensate by taking extra precaution with their pets. It's done all the time and it would be a shame if these loving, caring people are turned away from animal adoption just because they couldn't afford the fees.

[Honeycombe8]

69. Oh, I see. I'm in a big city with rescue orgs, and shelters in the main city and suburbs.

They're all struggling and hard up for money. They turn away tons of dogs that are found. Still, they are there. Operation Kindness, petfinders.org, cocker rescue, and others.

You're right...if you're talking about an overwhelmed shelter that will kill them, I suppose it's better to give them a happy life for a few years. But make no mistake...w/o medical care and preventive care, they won't live a long life, probably, and they may suffer in the end.

I had a friend who couldn't resist rescuing dogs. She had nine at one time. She couldn't afford treats, or to feed them more than once a day. She couldn't afford preventive care or annual exams. She provided for them as best she could. One by one, they'd just die suddenly. She never knew why. That's because she wasn't paying attention, and even if she had been, she didn't take them to the vet. No telling how long some of those dogs had been ill. They could've had heartworms or pneumonia or bad hearts or a disease. Still, they had a home with her, whereas they had none before. But once her daughter brought home a puppy to add to the brood. Now a PUPPY can be adopted out almost certainly. But my friend kept that one, too, knowing she couldn't pay for medical care or proper food.

My friend died suddenly, just like her dogs. Brain tumor (well, it took about 3 months). I don't know what happened to the dogs.

[a la izquierda]

36. There are organizations around that will waive fees in exchange for volunteering.

There was one sort of like that in Oklahoma, where I used to live. I don't know if they waived the adoption fee. But, for instance, if your pet needed surgery, they'd pay it. Then you'd work off the cost in volunteer hours at events and things like that. So look around.
If you do get a pet, always look for low cost vaccination clinics. They have those almost anywhere nowadays.

Good luck...but keep in mind, shelters aren't looking to get rich. There's many reasons, many of which have been listed by other DUers, that shelters charge what they do.

[LisaL]

45. Because they pay for vaccinations, spay or neither, vet costs, etc.

At least they want to recoup some of the costs.

[applegrove]

46. I know for cats they charge because they don't want cat abusers to get them for free.

[MissB]

47. You might be shocked at how much vet care is nowadays.

We have a 16 yo Aussie that we adopted from a rescue organization at 9 mos of age. The fee was pretty minimal, about what the local shelter charges for a young dog.

At her age, I'm spending $400 a year just on blood tests/urinalysis. Her meds run about $100/mo and her food runs about $70/mo. I can't go cheaper on any of it. When she was younger, I could give her vaccinations myself, except for rabies. Now that she is very old, there isn't a cost savings to be seen, as her blood work = prescription renewal. Prescriptions = happy dog in less pain. Food = good for her allergies and her weight.

When we adopted her, we agreed to make her a part of our family for the rest of her life. The fee we paid to the rescue org probably didn't cover their expenses. But it was really here to make sure we understood there was a serious commitment to adopting her.

[Honeycombe8]

63. My vet charges about $200 for annual exam and vaccinations. Then there's monthly heartworm

prevention pills, and flea prevention. That's over $100 a month, I think, for two dogs.

[mrmpa]

48. I haven't adopted a dog since 1987..............

she died in 2002. I now live where pets are not allowed. My cost for adopting her from the shelter was $25, which included the cost of getting her spayed and a rabies shot.

$25, wasn't much at the time, she wasn't an expensive dog to maintain, there was her normal visits, the occasional ear infection, and her rabies shots.

She had one overnight stay, which was a cost of about $150.

$200 seems steep, but if it includes, the cost of spaying or neutering, vet check and rabies shot, it seems reasonable. I would also suggest that you check with shelter if you can bring the dog back to their vet for care, often it's less expensive than a private vet. My parents did that when they adopted their dog.

[Mr.Bill]

49. I paid $300 for my rescue mutt.

That's a lot, I know, but the rescue organization I got her from rescues dogs from kill shelters who would be euthanized because they have medical problems, and the shelters don't have the funds to pay to correct these issues and make them adoptable. While my dog's only problem was that she was malnourished, I figure some of the money I paid for her helped other dogs.

My dog was rescued from a kill shelter 700 miles from here, and they drove there to get her. They paid to have her spayed, microchipped and a professional groomer donated her services to make her more presentable. These were all procedures I would have had to pay for with any other dog, and while it may have cost less, the entire $300 I paid the rescue organization was tax deductible. She is four years old now, and is a wonderful little dog.

I know not everyone can afford to pay what I did, and the rescue people would have worked something out with a good adoptive parent. I'm glad I was able to contribute. I figure because I was fortunate enough at the time to pay more, others may have been asked to pay less.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

50. My daughter runs a rescue.

Not for dogs but for cats. She pays out of pocket to have them spayed or neutered.
They live with us and eat with our pets.

Adopting out a rescue animal that isn't altered isn't responsible due to the probability of continued overpopulation.
Try to find someone who will alter a cat for the $65 adoption fee. We spend ~ $65 a week on food.

Dogs are easily double the cost of cats.

Bravo for you for being wiling to help both a pet and its owner.

Best of luck finding a new friend.

[Coyote_Bandit]

51. Every dog I have ever had

was in immediate need of a home - and none of them came from a traditional rescue group.

I would suggest calling some of the vets in your area. They often have animals dumped or left overnight tied to their door. Some vets do medical rescue and take animals from shelters that would otherwise be euthanized because of treatable health issues. If you take in such an animal the vet may be willing to negotiate some of the initial expenses. However, they will want to verify that you will be a responsible pet owner and will provide appropriate housing.

The last dog I got came from a vet. He was about 8 months old and had lived in the vet office for about three months while they searched for his owner. Most likely he was an unwanted Christmas present as he was taken to the vet and surrendered as a "found wandering" dog on Christmas Eve. At the time he was surrendered, he was not underweight or matted, did not recognize people food and was not afraid of cars or heavy traffic. When he came to me he was housebroken, crate trained, walked nicely on a leash, knew some basic commands, was neutered and had his shots. I was not asked to pay an adoption fee or compensate the vets office for any of their services. Financial compensation was voluntary. I did, of course, give them a contribution and they continue to provide veterinary care for the dog to this day. They have a bond with him - and he with them. It has served us all well.

[Honeycombe8]

62. What a lovely story. Partly because the dog gets proper vet care!

That's part of the problem with adopting a pet you can't afford. They're so cute and lovable...until they get sick and injured, and the new owner then thinks that "I can't afford to take him to the vet" is understandable. In my view, it was foreseeable, and that's not a proper reaction. The dog WILL get sick or injured. It's not IF, but WHEN. And money will be required to provide medical treatment. Plus the annual exams and vaccinations, and monthly flea and heart treatments. I spend over $100 a month on flea and heartworm prevention treatments for two dogs. And that doesn't count the food and toys and treats and collars and leashes and kenneling.

[csziggy]

54. Here the fee really doesn't cover the "coupon" you get

To take your new pet for a full round of shots and spay or neuter.

I'm not sure if the fee is the same for adult animals who already have their shots and are already spayed or neutered. The last time I adopted a cat, he was very young (probably only four weeks old) and I actually got more in vet services than the adoption fee cost me. Many of the local vets do that - give the first set of shots and that all important operation for less than it costs them.

Check to see if any of the local agencies do the same - you may find that is how it works for you.

[Incitatus]

55. You can check craigslist.

Some people may need to find homes for their dogs because they are moving or some other reason. They may ask for a re-homing fee just to make sure you aren't going to use it for animal fighting or some other ill purpose. It doesn't hurt to shoot them an email and explain your situation and welcome them to bring the dog to your place to see the home you will be providing for it.

[Major Nikon]

56. My last rescue dog was free

He's also an AKC registered border collie. The owner was getting a divorce and she already had another dog and a toddler to worry about. Had I not gotten him he would have gone to a shelter most likely.

I always figured with some shelters the adoption fee helped to cover the cost of spaying or neutering which is a pretty good deal for the new dog owner.

[Honeycombe8]

57. If you don't have the $ for a fee, then you can't afford a dog. That's part of the reason.

Second reason: People pick up stray and free dogs to sell them to research labs. They don't do that, if there's a fee, since there would be little or no profit.

Third reason: Shelters and rescue orgs operate on a shoestring budget, often by donations. They pass along PART of the cost of prepping the dog for adoption. It costs more than you think: grooming and shaving, exam by vet, vaccinations, treatment for any conditions, collars and leashes, food, toys, gas expense toting them around to these places and to places to put on show for adoption. Believe me, the small fee to adopt is only part of what they paid to save and adopt out the dog.

Truly...if you can't afford the fee, then you can't afford to properly care for a dog. They cost money, like any living creature. They need quality food, vet care, annual vaccinations, licensing, leashes and collars, toys. If he gets sick and needs $500 in vet treatment (not a large sum for vets these days), what will you do? Have him put to sleep? That costs money, too. And if you need to kennel him, what will you do, since that costs money?

Dogs are like children, in a way. Awfully cute, but it costs to provide proper care.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

67. Probably because there are too many owners like my former neighbors,

a mother and daughter who acquired a beagle puppy (I don't know from where). Like all puppies, it was perpetual motion.

After about three weeks, I remarked that I hadn't seen the puppy for a while. "We got tired of him," the daughter said. "We dropped him off in the country."

I wasn't crazy about those neighbors in the first place--they were both chain smokers and their secondhand smoke permeated my apartment. Their treatment of the puppy clinched it.

An upfront fee is one way to make people stop and think about whether they really want a dog.

[blueamy66]

68. Okay, I've read all of the posts.

I have mixed feelings.

I'll take all info and advice to heart and make a decision soon.