How much is a rescue pet?

How much is a rescue pet?

This is a question that pops up frequently and it’s easy to see why some people would think that, because they are willing to adopt a homeless dog or cat, there should be no adoption fee.

Well, in a perfect world, it would be perfectly reasonable. But all rescue pets must be examined by a vet, vaccinated, microchipped and desexed, and dogs need to be tested for heartworm too. The rescue groups pay for all of this out of their own pockets, so in order to make the rescue process sustainable, they need to recoup these costs, at least in part, by charging an adoption fee.

In most instances, the adoption fee you pay covers the basic medical expenses incurred. However, if the pet received any extra medical treatment, it's likely that your adoption fee won’t cover these additional costs.

Adoption fees generally sit somewhere between $50 and $1,200, with the average adoption fee around $184 for cats, and $480 for dogs. Compare this to the going rate you’d pay for a puppy from a pet store (that in all likelihood came from a puppy farm) or a breeder, that can be anywhere between $1,000 to sometimes more than $10,000, or potentially over $1,000 for a kitten. On top of that, you still have to pay for vaccinations, microchipping and desexing.

So, when you add it all up, rescue pets are a bargain.

In fact, many shelters offer fee-waived promotions at different times throughout the year, and some offer year-round discounts to seniors or pension card holders.

If cost is a major obstacle to you, but you feel you can provide a great home for a pet, then it's worth discussing your situation with your local shelter or rescue.

Find your new best friend on the PetRescue website today!