just BECAUSE i can't afford an adoption fee doen't mean i can't care for a pet?

Question

mean that i can't afford to take care of a pet. the only reason i can't pay up front for a fee is because i have my money planned out ahead of time for the month. i have cut out certian things i used to do that cost money to be able to care 100% for the animal. so for any of you to judge that is wrong. college makes ya have to spend money wise. thats why i want to adopt. monthly costs is not an issue.

Answer 1

Sounds like you've got a good plan - just save up your money for the adoption fee if you can. You could look for "free to a good home" type ads in your newspaper to adopt a pet. Sounds like you're planning your expenses; so spaying/neutering, shots, etc. would have to be factored in if you get a "free to a good home" pet. Good luck!

Answer 2

Yes, it does actually. They don't use that for the day to day care, but what about when the animal gets sick? You can not plan that out ahead of time. Emergencies can be expensive. If you have a good credit card, then I would believe you, otherwise no.

I am a college student as well, so don't use that excuse- it is for emergencies that shelters care about, most people can afford the normal month to month care. Any emergencies I have go on the credit card to get paid off in the summer (I work 40 hrs a week as a full time student, but min wage during the school year and make a couple bucks more an hour in the summer doing 40-50hrs). I just found out my horse has cancer in her eye. Luckily, it is cheap right now to deal with, but it will get worse. That does not figure into monthly costs. Right now, 2 months after dianosis and 1 removal, I have spent about $500. Same time, my bird gets sick, so I bring her in, and that is about $100 for her. $400 on the credit card, and the rest came from picking up extra hours at work (by skipping classes) and not eating anything but plain homemade popcorn and ramen for a week or so (very cheap meal).

If you can not afford a simple $100 adoption fee (what it is here), what are you going to do if the pet needs emergency care ($300+) or even if you just euthanize, that costs about as much as an adoption fee.

Answer 3

The adoption fee is a good test as to whether or not you can afford to take care of a pet. If you cannot afford the fee, how will you pay for vet bills, unexpected expenses.

The other problem with adopting a pet while you are in college is that you do not know where you will be in a few years. Having a dog or cat can interfer with moving to new homes, traveling that a new job may require or the added hours.

May I suggest a small pet. Like a hamster, they are surprising companion, good "fuzz" therapy and they are not a long term commitment.

Answer 4

You should look into other places of adoption. In my county we have a very crooked group of people running the humane society. They make it nearly impossible to adopt on top of all their other immoral doings. But the county pound charges only the deposit for the spay and rabies vaccine. That money is paid by them to the vet and taken off of the bill you pay when the service is done. Technically the animal is free to adopt and the deposits are only $45 total. I absolutely agree that the huge adoption fees asked in some places are a whole different situation from caring for a pet. Did you also know some places charge you a spay fee when you drop off a pet? They get paid twice. I know not all adoption centers are bad and I not even most but at least a few definitely are. Try the pound. I hope you find a wonderful, deserving pet.

Answer 5

I'll be honest with you if you can't come up with a $50-100 adoption fee because it hasn't been planned out this month, then you may want to consider putting off adopting at this time. Ok, so you have planned to budget for regular monthly expenses like food and treats, but what about getting your new animal examined and vaccinated, spayed/neutered? What about if your new pet gets sick or injured? Most vets won't take payments and want to be paid upfront. You should consider waiting until you have a good bit of money saved up or you have a credit card for emergencies. Believe me hon, I'm not being hard on you and I commend you on your planning and understand your desire for a new pet but I have been where you are. When I was first married I wanted a pet and could afford the food and toys and treats, even the spay and vaccinations. But then my kitty got sick, my vet was wonderful and tried treating her with the least costly options but it wasn't working and I had to make the decision to put her down because I couldn't afford the $500 operation she needed. It was heartbreaking and after that I vowed I would never do it again and I haven't. It wasn't fair to my kitty to have to die because I couldn't provide her with the care she needed and it wasn't fair to me because I had to put my much loved kitty to sleep and I suffered with guilt for a long time.

Answer 6

Try an animal rescue group - esp. a breed specific group. Some of them are free but require an application and/or interview. You can also try being a foster parent for a pet. That doesn't usually require a fee. You can foster until you have the money for the adoption fee. Another suggestion is to spend time volunteering at a shelter. That will give you the joy of loving a pet until you are able to afford the fees and cost of other things - bowls, collar & leashes, food, crate/bed, etc. At a shelter, not only will you receive lots of love but you will be there to give lots of love.

Answer 7

That still doesnt make much sense to me.
You cant afford the upfront fee, but you will be able to afford food, shots, toys, other vet bills, treats, flea meds, etc etc etc.

What happens if you adopt a pet like mine? When I adopted my dog, she ended up developing severe skin allergies and has to get shots and pills every month.

Any pet can be expensive. You have to make sure you can afford the unknown. And if you cant afford an upfront adoption fee, how would you afford an emergency? How can you be sure it would be taken care? And if you are in college, do you have time for a pet anyway?

Im not saying dont adopt! Just be certain all will be ok with the animal. Save your money over the months and adopt when you can afford the fee. good luck!

Answer 8

What if the pet all of a sudden got sick? How would be able to put out that money to have the pet treated if you can't put out the money right now for an adoption fee? If your in college, you must be busy and prob wouldn't have time for a pet anyway. I'm not judging you, I'm speaking from experience. I deal with stuff like this on a daily basis. People who gets pets and then can't afford to take care of them when an emergency arises.

Answer 9

I get what you're saying, I do... and sure, it's probably better for you to take an unwanted dog than for it to be euthanized.

So, maybe you're okay with the monthly costs, but what if something happens to it? What happens if it needs emergency vet care? Do you have the cash to deal with that? Especially a little dog, they jump off things and get hurt, they just do... And then you have to pay for it to be spayed/neutered and the cost of all it's booster shots and what not.

I'm sure you'll be a good doggie parent, but I see this kind of thing frequently. No one is judging you, I just want you to consider costs. Luckily I was in a position financially to cover certain costs I'd never thought of, but when I adopted my dogs, I had grossly underestimated what they would cost. It's a legitimate concern.

Answer 10

The adoption costs go to help fund what ever adoption agency you are getting the pet from. Most are under funded as it is and adoption fees are a way of recooping some of what they spent on your pet before it was yours. Its not a matter of weather or not you are able to care for the pet. I would look for a free pet to a good home in your case.

Answer 11

Adoption fees are necessary to help keep the facilities that adopt the pets afloat. If you can't afford the fee then you can't adopt. There are always plenty of animals that folks are trying to give away if you look in the paper or online. They usually don't charge a fee if they are in a pinch.