The first cat we adopted cost us $40. The next cat we adopted cost $120. I expressed surprise, on social media, about how much more we had to spend for Geiger than for Hobbes. People immediately jumped to the conclusion that I was complaining about paying *anything*, as opposed to merely expressing surprise at the *difference* in cost. I'm glad we have both cats, they were certainly worth the money we paid for them. I know there *are* ppl who *do* whine about *any* cost for adoption, and it irritates me to think there are ppl who think I'm in that group. I'm not. As I said, it was the *difference* in cost between cats which surprised me, not the fact that adoption costs money.
Nope. Hobbes was $40, and we got him through the local county-run animal shelter. Geiger was $120, and he came from a private shelter. When I asked the ppl who ran Geiger's shelter why he cost three times as much as Hobbes, they said that the county-run places have their own funding, so they can afford a lower adoption fee. Private shelters have to hit ppl up for donations to keep things running, which is why they charge more for adoptions.
I volunteer for our local RSPCA branch, and we often get people telling us we should just give the animals away, or they assume that they're free.
Sure, we may be able to re-home more animals that way, but if someone has to pay for something, they are more likely to value it (obviously not everyone is like this, but the majority seem to be).
Also, the animal is vaccinated, microchipped, and desexed as part of that adoption fee, and the vets don't do that for nothing.
As for the 'take the animal home and shoot it' people, that's exactly what I'd like to do to them.
Absolutely true; I gladly paid a $250 adoption fee for my dog 10 years ago to a small (and now-defunct) rescue organization, knowing they were a no-kill, humane outfit that carefully screened potential adopters.
The Humane Society and Animal Care Centers of New York both offer rock-bottom prices for adoption fees; if you're adopting an animal out, you have to charge a fee-and in the case of both of these, they have to cover costs.
Our Jasper was $350 to adopt from the local shelter and IMO, that was a bargain. He came with all his shots (and they'd missed his 8mo heartworm checkup, so had us come back to do that for free), plus he was already neutered and micro-chipped. Such a deal and I was more than happy to pay that.
I really can't understand why people complain about adoption fees. You get so much for that small amount plus a loving companion animal.
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I don't get people who fuss about adoption fees. Do they think that animals don't eat or need medicine or grooming? $90 is fucking nothing.
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Sure, we may be able to re-home more animals that way, but if someone has to pay for something, they are more likely to value it (obviously not everyone is like this, but the majority seem to be).
Also, the animal is vaccinated, microchipped, and desexed as part of that adoption fee, and the vets don't do that for nothing.
As for the 'take the animal home and shoot it' people, that's exactly what I'd like to do to them.
Reply
The Humane Society and Animal Care Centers of New York both offer rock-bottom prices for adoption fees; if you're adopting an animal out, you have to charge a fee-and in the case of both of these, they have to cover costs.
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I really can't understand why people complain about adoption fees. You get so much for that small amount plus a loving companion animal.
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