We constructed this page to explain what we use adoption fees for and why we
charge adoption fees. Rescue Organizations typically charge higher adoption fees
because they invest more in rehabilitating an animal. We do not euthanize because
of lack of space and address all health issues such as heart worms, eye problems, or
other health or surgical needs. Many shelters charge less adoption fees but do not
completely treat the animal before it leaves. This doesn't mean they are negligent, it
simply means that there is no way for them to do so given the large numbers of
homeless animals of all breeds and species they are faced with. For those who
oppose adoption fees or come to rescues and shelters in the hopes of finding a
"cheap pure bred dog", we challenge you to take in the seemingly never ending
number of homeless dogs and injured dogs, vet them, feed them, and see how
"cheap" it really is. Here are some of the questions we have heard from people who
oppose adoption fees:
"If you're pet is homeless, why would you charge someone a fee to take it home?
Would you rather see your pet remain in foster care than give it away to someone who
wants it?"
"Why are the adoption fees different for some dogs?"
"You are not adopting your dog, you're selling it only to those who can afford a pure
bred animal."
In order to help clear up any of these misconceptions and to answer some frequently
asked questions, we constructed this page. Here are some of the reasons that
Mississippi Boston Terrier Rescue, as well as other rescue organizations and
shelters, charges adoption fees:
Operating Costs: Although none of our volunteers receive payment or
reimbursement for their work, other than the satisfaction of saving Boston Terriers
from a life of abuse and neglect, there are many other costs of operating a rescue
organization. Many people who donate want to know that their money is going to a
legitimate, non-profit organization. An organization cannot just "declare" themselves
a 501 (c)(3) organization. There are state and federal forms that must be filed along
with filing fees. Many people need the help of accountants and attorneys to file
these papers. This process alone can average a couple of thousand dollars.
Facilities and supplies are also needed to house and care for the dogs.
Veterinary Costs: Many Boston Terriers come to us with minor to severe medical
issues which must be addressed and treated. All dogs are vaccinated,
spayed/neutered, tested for parasites, treated for heart worms if positive, and then
started on heart worm preventative before they are adopted. Shelters and Rescue
Organizations always charge an adoption fee. Most people don't seem to mind, in
fact, they expect it. Most people who seek to adopt are already responsible pet
owners who realize that rescues need to cover operating expenses, pet care,
medical bills, and so forth. The standard cost to spay/neuter one of our dogs is
$125.00 and that is only one cost that they will incur while in our care. Heart worm
treatments range from $400-$600 depending on the veterinarian. Rescue
organizations do not turn away or euthanize dogs with treatable illnesses or injuries.
Often dogs have been injured and their owners cannot afford the surgery.
Orthopedic surgery can easily start out at $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 and go up depending
on the amount of difficulty involved in the surgery. How many dogs do we see that
have been "hit by cars and their owners can't afford surgery". Most people who seek
to adopt are caring animal lovers who understand the nature of a rescue organization,
the tremendous operating expenses incurred rehabilitating a dog, and also
understands that these costs must be covered. Most people come to a Rescue
Organization to adopt and give a dog a second chance at a great life and both expect
and are prepared to pay a reasonable adoption fee....not with the intent of "finding a
cheap dog". Those people who choose to adopt are a special group of people who
understand the costs of rescue, have usually rescued animals themselves, and know
that the lives of our dogs are not "cheap"!
Insuring Commitment to the Pet: Giving your pet away is misguided. People tend
not to value what they don't pay for. While this is not always the case, if an owner
pays a fee for their new pet, they are more likely to take their commitment to the pet
seriously. Paying a fee for a pet shows good faith on the part of the new owner and
demonstrates their willingness to properly care for the animal. The truth is, there is
no such thing as a "free" pet anyway. By the time a cat or dog is checked out by a
vet, including shots, worming, health testing, and spay/neuter, a "free" pet will easily
cost in excess of $200, and that's just for starters. A responsible person who would
properly take care of an animal will understand this and will not be opposed to paying
a reasonable fee for a healthy pet, especially if some or all of these health checks
have already been taken care of by the rescue organization. Still not convinced?
Then ask yourself this question, "If a person cannot afford to pay an adoption fee for
a pet, how will they be able to afford the normal expenses of proper pet care? And
how will they ever afford vet bills when/if the pet gets sick?"
NOT Free to Good Home: Most people are decent people. The sad reality though, is
that some people are not - and charging an adoption fee helps to protect animals who
need re-homing. Here's an example... it's no secret that labs experiment on animals
an there are people who gather "free" animals to sell to these labs. These people
are usually very persuasive and friendly. They know all the "right" answers to your
questions because they do this sort of thing on a regular basis. Some may even
bring their kids along to make you think they are a loving family! It's also no secret
that dog fighting rings still exist today, and use animals as "bait" to train their fighting
dogs. The dog you "give" to someone and expect to be a pet could be used to "bait"
fighting dogs and be literally torn to pieces. If you "give" away your unaltered pet,
especially if they are pure bred, they could be used as breeding stock in puppy mills.
The living conditions in most of these establishments are deplorable and females
are forced to have continuous litters, one after the another. "Free" pets can also be
collected and used as cheap food for exotics like snakes and alligators or even
sacrificed in cult rituals. Some people find the latter hard to believe, but the FBI has
many files documenting this kind of activity in our country.
Not all people who adopt "free" pets intend to mis-use them and most people are
decent people. The sad reality though, is that some people are not. Charging
adoption fees does not always ensure that pets will be treated humanely or that they
will have permanent homes but it does offer a bit of an "insurance policy" for them.
Giving away a free animal makes them easy targets for people who would seek
animals for use in situations where the animal's life has no monetary value. If you
charge an adoption fee, it's less likely for unscrupulous people to realize a profit so
they will usually not even bother contacting you.
We hope that this sheds some light on the reasons behind adoption fees other than
the fact that they are needed to cover operating and veterinary costs. In most cases,
the adoption fee does not even come close to covering the costs incurred by
rescued animals.
MBTR's Adoption fees are USUALLY as follows: $65.00 for Mixed Breed dogs that
do not look primarily Boston, $125.00 for adult "special needs" Bostons, $175.00 for a
senior Boston (7 years and older), $250.00 for an adult Boston, $275.00 for a pup 6
months to 1 year old and $300 for a pup 6 months and younger. We say "usually"
because we do incorporate a sliding scale and do give discounted fees on dogs with
special needs, are older, or may need to be "only dogs". Why? Well, let's face
it...some dogs are just more adoptable than others. Many people only want young,
"pretty", or perfectly behaved dogs. They aren't willing to take up the responsibility
of caring for a dog with health issues or temperament problems resulting from years
of past abuse. Many people want cute puppies or younger dogs and aren't willing to
give their heart to an older dog. We believe those special people who are willing to
love these dogs deserve a reduced adoption fee because they are probably going to
be spending a bit more on future vet bills than someone who adopts a young dog
with no health problems. Adoption fees are determined by MBTR and are listed at
the bottom of each dogs' biography page which can be accessed by going to the
"Available Dogs" page and clicking on the dog's photo.
charge adoption fees. Rescue Organizations typically charge higher adoption fees
because they invest more in rehabilitating an animal. We do not euthanize because
of lack of space and address all health issues such as heart worms, eye problems, or
other health or surgical needs. Many shelters charge less adoption fees but do not
completely treat the animal before it leaves. This doesn't mean they are negligent, it
simply means that there is no way for them to do so given the large numbers of
homeless animals of all breeds and species they are faced with. For those who
oppose adoption fees or come to rescues and shelters in the hopes of finding a
"cheap pure bred dog", we challenge you to take in the seemingly never ending
number of homeless dogs and injured dogs, vet them, feed them, and see how
"cheap" it really is. Here are some of the questions we have heard from people who
oppose adoption fees:
"If you're pet is homeless, why would you charge someone a fee to take it home?
Would you rather see your pet remain in foster care than give it away to someone who
wants it?"
"Why are the adoption fees different for some dogs?"
"You are not adopting your dog, you're selling it only to those who can afford a pure
bred animal."
In order to help clear up any of these misconceptions and to answer some frequently
asked questions, we constructed this page. Here are some of the reasons that
Mississippi Boston Terrier Rescue, as well as other rescue organizations and
shelters, charges adoption fees:
Operating Costs: Although none of our volunteers receive payment or
reimbursement for their work, other than the satisfaction of saving Boston Terriers
from a life of abuse and neglect, there are many other costs of operating a rescue
organization. Many people who donate want to know that their money is going to a
legitimate, non-profit organization. An organization cannot just "declare" themselves
a 501 (c)(3) organization. There are state and federal forms that must be filed along
with filing fees. Many people need the help of accountants and attorneys to file
these papers. This process alone can average a couple of thousand dollars.
Facilities and supplies are also needed to house and care for the dogs.
Veterinary Costs: Many Boston Terriers come to us with minor to severe medical
issues which must be addressed and treated. All dogs are vaccinated,
spayed/neutered, tested for parasites, treated for heart worms if positive, and then
started on heart worm preventative before they are adopted. Shelters and Rescue
Organizations always charge an adoption fee. Most people don't seem to mind, in
fact, they expect it. Most people who seek to adopt are already responsible pet
owners who realize that rescues need to cover operating expenses, pet care,
medical bills, and so forth. The standard cost to spay/neuter one of our dogs is
$125.00 and that is only one cost that they will incur while in our care. Heart worm
treatments range from $400-$600 depending on the veterinarian. Rescue
organizations do not turn away or euthanize dogs with treatable illnesses or injuries.
Often dogs have been injured and their owners cannot afford the surgery.
Orthopedic surgery can easily start out at $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 and go up depending
on the amount of difficulty involved in the surgery. How many dogs do we see that
have been "hit by cars and their owners can't afford surgery". Most people who seek
to adopt are caring animal lovers who understand the nature of a rescue organization,
the tremendous operating expenses incurred rehabilitating a dog, and also
understands that these costs must be covered. Most people come to a Rescue
Organization to adopt and give a dog a second chance at a great life and both expect
and are prepared to pay a reasonable adoption fee....not with the intent of "finding a
cheap dog". Those people who choose to adopt are a special group of people who
understand the costs of rescue, have usually rescued animals themselves, and know
that the lives of our dogs are not "cheap"!
Insuring Commitment to the Pet: Giving your pet away is misguided. People tend
not to value what they don't pay for. While this is not always the case, if an owner
pays a fee for their new pet, they are more likely to take their commitment to the pet
seriously. Paying a fee for a pet shows good faith on the part of the new owner and
demonstrates their willingness to properly care for the animal. The truth is, there is
no such thing as a "free" pet anyway. By the time a cat or dog is checked out by a
vet, including shots, worming, health testing, and spay/neuter, a "free" pet will easily
cost in excess of $200, and that's just for starters. A responsible person who would
properly take care of an animal will understand this and will not be opposed to paying
a reasonable fee for a healthy pet, especially if some or all of these health checks
have already been taken care of by the rescue organization. Still not convinced?
Then ask yourself this question, "If a person cannot afford to pay an adoption fee for
a pet, how will they be able to afford the normal expenses of proper pet care? And
how will they ever afford vet bills when/if the pet gets sick?"
NOT Free to Good Home: Most people are decent people. The sad reality though, is
that some people are not - and charging an adoption fee helps to protect animals who
need re-homing. Here's an example... it's no secret that labs experiment on animals
an there are people who gather "free" animals to sell to these labs. These people
are usually very persuasive and friendly. They know all the "right" answers to your
questions because they do this sort of thing on a regular basis. Some may even
bring their kids along to make you think they are a loving family! It's also no secret
that dog fighting rings still exist today, and use animals as "bait" to train their fighting
dogs. The dog you "give" to someone and expect to be a pet could be used to "bait"
fighting dogs and be literally torn to pieces. If you "give" away your unaltered pet,
especially if they are pure bred, they could be used as breeding stock in puppy mills.
The living conditions in most of these establishments are deplorable and females
are forced to have continuous litters, one after the another. "Free" pets can also be
collected and used as cheap food for exotics like snakes and alligators or even
sacrificed in cult rituals. Some people find the latter hard to believe, but the FBI has
many files documenting this kind of activity in our country.
Not all people who adopt "free" pets intend to mis-use them and most people are
decent people. The sad reality though, is that some people are not. Charging
adoption fees does not always ensure that pets will be treated humanely or that they
will have permanent homes but it does offer a bit of an "insurance policy" for them.
Giving away a free animal makes them easy targets for people who would seek
animals for use in situations where the animal's life has no monetary value. If you
charge an adoption fee, it's less likely for unscrupulous people to realize a profit so
they will usually not even bother contacting you.
We hope that this sheds some light on the reasons behind adoption fees other than
the fact that they are needed to cover operating and veterinary costs. In most cases,
the adoption fee does not even come close to covering the costs incurred by
rescued animals.
MBTR's Adoption fees are USUALLY as follows: $65.00 for Mixed Breed dogs that
do not look primarily Boston, $125.00 for adult "special needs" Bostons, $175.00 for a
senior Boston (7 years and older), $250.00 for an adult Boston, $275.00 for a pup 6
months to 1 year old and $300 for a pup 6 months and younger. We say "usually"
because we do incorporate a sliding scale and do give discounted fees on dogs with
special needs, are older, or may need to be "only dogs". Why? Well, let's face
it...some dogs are just more adoptable than others. Many people only want young,
"pretty", or perfectly behaved dogs. They aren't willing to take up the responsibility
of caring for a dog with health issues or temperament problems resulting from years
of past abuse. Many people want cute puppies or younger dogs and aren't willing to
give their heart to an older dog. We believe those special people who are willing to
love these dogs deserve a reduced adoption fee because they are probably going to
be spending a bit more on future vet bills than someone who adopts a young dog
with no health problems. Adoption fees are determined by MBTR and are listed at
the bottom of each dogs' biography page which can be accessed by going to the
"Available Dogs" page and clicking on the dog's photo.
*****HOWEVER, PLEASE BE CERTAIN THAT JUST BECAUSE A DOG HAS A REDUCED ADOPTION FEE, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL COMPROMISE ANY STEP IN THE ADOPTION PROCESS. AN ADOPTER WILL BE REQUIRED, IF NOT EVEN MORE SO, TO MEET ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS FOR A DOG WHO REQUIRES SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.********* |
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