free vs adoption fee?

Question

so there this debate going on at craiglist about free vs adoption fee what you think

another one is should the poor own dogs?

Answer 1

I think an adoption fee is reasonable. When people pay for things other than getting them for free, they tend to take better care of it. It also helps protect against free dogs being used as bait or being used in testing labs.

I am not wealthy by all means and have, and will go without to provide for my dogs. So to answer that question, yes, I think poor people should be able to own dogs providing they do not neglect any of their needs.

Answer 2

I volunteer with a rescue, and we charge an adoption fee.One reason is that if something is free, you don't value it as you do when it costs you - it's part of the comittment.

Another reason is simple economics. Suppose it costs $35.00 to pull a dog from a shelter He's all up to date of his vaccinations, been neutered, doesn't have heartworm or any of that. He adopts out quickly, say only three months. If food is $20/month, there's $60, so we're up to $95.00 Heartworm preventative is about $5/month, so now it's $110. He costs you nothing else, and the adoption fee is $300. Wow, you say, that's a net of $190, ignoring the fact that he may be transported to a new home a few hundred miles away, at a cost of something like 40 cents/mile.

However, the next dog is found as a stray. It's intact, has every parasite known, and is heartworm positive. If the group is lucky, there will be a vet associated with the group who will take care of the neutering, vaccinations, etc. pretty much at cost. So let's guess $50 for neutering, $300 for the heartworm, another $75 for vaccinations. It's not so easy to place and is in foster for 9 months, which is a pretty typical figure. So we have $180 for food, $45 for heartworm. So that dog's $650. Now you're $350 in the hole. But suppose you only put $100 more than the fee into a dog, and you have 20 dogs. Where does that $2000 come from? Out of the recue volunteers' pockets. Plus you have other costs, like insurance, paying for a website, etc. The point is that fees don't begin to cover the costs of rescuing and placing a dog. So the next time you pay a fee to a rescue, keep in mind that the people in rescue have probably invested quite a bit more than that in the dog. It would be nice if it were at least a break-even proposition, but it hardly ever is.

If you think rescue dogs should be free, I invite you to work with a rescue for a while before you answer that question.

The irresponsible shouldn't own dogs, regardless of their income level.

Answer 3

I don't think there is anything wrong with paying a fee to adopt a dog. However, I do have to say that depending on where your from, some people may think its nuts to pay for a mutt. I live in a small town and if people starting charging money for the mutts you see in the paper as free right now, I don't think they would find homes very easily, therefore those dogs would be dumped or sent to the pound by their irresponsible owners. I am not saying this is right by any means, I'm just saying that regardless thats how some people are, and just because they feel that they shouldn't pay for a mutt does not make them bad owners. I can't think of anyone that I know that has gotten a free animal and not taken good care of it.

As for the poor having pets. I say why shouldn't they have pets? If they can take proper care of them why not. As for the vet bills, yes you should always be prepared for the worst, but if your not that doesn't mean you can't find a way to take care of it. Like so many on here have said vets usually will let you make payments. And really it does depend on where you live as to how much you will be spending on the average vet bill. I have had animals all my life and never had a vet bill for more than $80 at one time, and that was for spay/neuter. I am just trying to say that pets are for everyone, not just the rich, and I don't think you have to be rich to own a pet.

Answer 4

Do you mean getting a dog for free vs. adopting a dog. Or giving away a dog for free vs. adopting a dog.

I think that if you are trying to find a home for a dog, you should be adopting it out, ask for an adoption fee, and do a home visit before sending the dog with someone. Sometimes dog fighters pick up 'free to a good home' pets, and use them as bait.

If you are going to get a dog I think adopting is better. Someone WILL pick up that free dog. The dog's in animal shelters and rescue groups have a lower chance of getting adopted, and could be euthanized. So I always adopt my animals from animal shelters. But I'm not really against someone getting a dog for free, I just prefer adoption.

As for the poor owning a dog. I think that everyone should be aware of the costs for owning a dog before they decide to get one. This includes food costs, and routine medical care. I think it is cruel to get a free puppy, then realize later that you can't afford to keep up with food costs and vaccines.

But that being said, I know that there are homeless people who have dogs, and I don't see anything wrong with that. Usually homeless people will find a homeless dog, and they kind of just stick together. They keep each other company, and work together to find food and shelter.

Answer 5

You may get many different responses to this one.

I got my puppy off of craigslist. I posted an ad looking for a beagle or beagle mix puppy and a guy contacted me. We talked of a while and he sent me pictures of the female Ruby ( they had just adopted her from a shelter and found out she was pregnant and he was looking for homes for the puppies). He discussed what was expected, worming, shots, how they will live, etc. I ended up getting the puppy for FREE. My friends also got one and so did their parents.

Just because someone doesn't want to spend 50 or more on an adoption fee for a dog doesn't mean they do not have the money, time or love to care for a dog. I agree that the people need to be checked out (as I said we talked for a few months until the puppies were born and then after that waiting for them to come home) My dog is extremely spoiled and has many toys, premium food, and vet visits, he will be getting neutered soon. I am also going to school for an animal care specialist degree, so my dog will be in good hands. For what you spend on vets, shots, food, and such I can see why people don't like spending so much on the actual dog if is just going to be a pet and not showing.

Should the poor own dogs? IF they can afford them than yes. Dogs can help improve the quality of someones life and just becasue they don't have thousands doesn't mean they can not give them proper care. It also depends on how you define poor.

Answer 6

I give dogs away free if they are not "perfect" in some way. I see no problem with charging twenty or twenty-five dollars to be reimbursed for shots. If we have dogs come into the clinic from GS, hbc or "found" dogs, we keep them and try to fix them up cost effectively if possible. Our vet adopts them out just for the price of the rabies tag. If that is not possible, we call code who will ok an euthanasia on a 'found' dog. If a dog is very cute or very sweet and requires more care, we try to do it and just charge a little to cover the costs when we do find someone who wants it. Sometimes they just stay at the clinic or one of use will take them until we can find a good home.

Most adoption fees from private agencies are outrageous. If you want to adopt a dog and truly save it, go to the pound. The government oversees it, so it is reputable in most cases. It is reasonable to pay for shots, but to pay a large sum is not reasonable. It encourages dog dealers to take advantage of people and shove the "ugly" or large dogs off to the kill pound.

Answer 7

I think the "poor" can own dogs, as long as they have someone who is willing to financially help them keep the dog fed & healthy.

Adoption fees are useful, but I think that if your animal isn't up to date of vaccinations, not altered, not trained, not 100% healthy, or so forth........then what is there to charge for? At least with rescues, the adoption fee is including all the medical care.

Now, I think there's definitely a LIMIT on what's an adoption fee, and what's just ''selling'' the animal. Look at local shelters & rescues.....if you are charging more than them.....then it's ''selling''. I saw someone claim a $500 "rehoming" fee, just because their dog is purebred.

I've rehomed a few small animals (rabbit, lizard, & rats), and I said there would be a rehoming fee, but that was just to get rid of the people who wanted something for free. I never actually charged the fee, once I chose the new owner for my animals.

Answer 8

I feel that adoption fees are a good thing. I cringe every time I see a "free to good home" add. Not only does an adoption fee help with rescue and shelter related expenses, it is a good way to place a value on the animal. Some people feel the free animals can be easily replaced with another free animal.
I feel that people who can't afford to get pets shouldn't. I've seen situations where the children weren't getting good care... how can that person expect to care for an animal. I don't feel that every dog needs to wear a designer collar, but I do feel that they deserve medical care whenever needed. If you can't provide them with the care they deserve, don't get one.

Answer 9

Adoption fee is the best way to go . People are being warned about free puppies or dogs due to the "free nigerian puppy " scam . So yeah its best to have an adoption fee . But the dog can be free if its a mix breed .

Answer 10

I agree with those that have the philosophy that people tend to take better care of something they paid money for.

I also believe, if you can't afford the Vet you shouldn't have the pet. Owning a pet is more than just having an animal living in your family. To own one you owe it to the pet to see that it gets all needed Veterinary care, even the expensive, after hours, emergency care. You owe it to feed it a healthy food and not some grain filled junk that is $12 for 50 pounds. A dog or cat has nutritional needs and a grain filled food will not fill those needs. Dogs and cats do not eat grains in the wild. To own a pet you need to educate yourself as to the general needs of that specific animal. Know what is healthy and what isn't. Learn why it is important to spay/neuter that pet, why it is with love that you confine that pet to your property. Be responsible and train your pet to make it a more social and pleasant member of the family and not some unruly nuisance.

If a person cannot go into pet ownership committed to being the best owner he/she can be, to supply all that animal will need for the rest of it's life, then they should not venture into pet ownership. That applies no matter the race, religion, social standing or financial status of a person.