I am so sick and tired of people coming to me and saying "Ohhh the puppies on your website are so cute, but your adoption fees are so high! I really can't afford them, but I can afford XXX why are your adoption fees so high?"
For the record, my adoption fees for puppies are $150. That includes FULL bloodwork, treatment for whatever ails them (and 90% of puppies I pull come with kennel cough, coccidia, giardia, parvo, SOMETHING as they are all animal control dogs) all vaccines, microchipping, alter, monthly flea/HW, a 6 week puppy K class, and collar/leash and favorite toy.
$150?!?!?!? When the average yearly vet exam is $250? The average spay/neuter runs about the same from a private vet? When just running in to get a 6 month supply of flea control will set you back $150?
What is WRONG with people?! I always get the people who say "Well animal control adopts them out for $65 why shouldn't I just go there"
By all means! Go to animal control! One less dog for me to pull-
But remember, animal control does ABSOLUTELY NOTHING except vaccinate, alter, and adopt out. They don't do any health screenings. I guarentee you the percentage of dogs adopted from animal control that die soon after of parvo, distemper, giardia, coccidia, infections, heartworms, etc etc, is VERY high.
Why is it so hard for people to understand that?! Why do I get the people who look at the vet bills and go "Hey, it only cost you $60 to spay, vaccinate and microchip this puppy, why am I paying $150?"
Er... Did we forget feeding the puppy and nursing it back to health from it's emaciated state? How about the two weeks of antibiotics, wormer, or treatment of mange? How about the week where the dog wouldn't eat at all and I had to stay up all hours of the night and cook eggs and wet mash, and rice, and pry the dogs stuborn jaws open to get just a LITTLE bit of nutrients in there before calculating if it was necessary to use another one of my INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE IV ports and fluids, or rush her into the emergency vet.. again? What about gas driving too and from everything? Heating bills for the kennel? Bowls, blankets, towels, crates, all the things I cant get donated nearly enough?
What about the $1000 I spent on the sister to this puppy, that didn't make it? Or the $500 I spent on the brother, who DID make it, but whos adoption fee is still only $150?
If you blink at spending $150 adopting from a rescue that has poured their life into saving animals, what are you going to do when the dog swallows a sock and needs surgery? or jumps off the couch wrong and dislocates something? GAAH! I can't imagine anything more insulting then someone telling me my fees are too high, when I spend thousands of my own money, thousands of man hours, and people treat me like I am here for THEM, like my job is to make THEM happy, like I am some pet store employee who has to bend over backwards for them- I AM HERE FOR THE ANIMALS, THEY ARE MY ONLY CONCERN, I COULD CARE LESS IF YOU THINK I AM NOT TREATING YOU FAIRLY!!! I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP FIND YOU THE RIGHT ANIMAL, BUT 9/10 OUT OF TEN, I KNOW MORE THEN YOU!!!!!!!!!!
I will not PRICE MATCH. I do not care what other rescues are doing. I can, and will, deny you for any applicable reason and DO NOT HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOU ARGUE WITH ME.
most people I sit down with, go over their application, spend hours discusing breeds, possible dogs, debating their decision on a puppy when I have the perfect adult for them, really working with them to find the right dog, and they respect, and listen, and take advice, and understand that I have worked SO hard to save these guys, that my primary concern is NEVER having to see them end up in the condition they came to me in.
But some people.. like genius one, who says "Would it be cheaper if you dont fix her, because i really dont care"
or genius two: Can you get me a teacup yorkie?
they are too expensive at petstores.
genuis three: if I find a puppy I like better can I bring him back and get my money back?
Or how about this grandeur?
Lovely zoie, an 11 month old beagle/lab mix who has been in the rescue a paltry 2 months.
Application was put in on her, and it seemed great. I questioned them about their lab, did a homecheck, nice house, nice yard, nice people. Did first interview where they met zoie, all was well. Did second interview, where dog met Zoie, all was well. Third interview where they observed zoie at foster moms house, and took her home. All was well.
That third interview was 3 hours long. I sat down and went over everything. A housetrained dog can have accidents in the beginning, especially a puppy, because they dont know where they are and it takes time to adjust. Remember to crate at night and when not watching her, until she is used to the house.
Your lab isnt going to like a new dog coming into his house right away. Remember, his things are his things. Make it easy on him by putting him first, and not changing his schedule too much. Remember not to feed together, play together, or give treats together, until they are used to each other. remember to crate when you can not be supervising, until they get used to each other.
Them: Oh yes, absolutely, we understand, we have a crate, we know how to introduce the two dogs together, etc etc. Nod, smile, sign the papers.
....48 hours later I get a call. can we bring Zoie back? she and slugger aren't getting along. They are fighting whenever there are toys or food or something down. I am afraid to leave them together when I leave. I was giving them treats and slugger lunged at zoie and I was in between and got bit. Zoie wants to sleep on his bed and he growls at her. I am afraid my daughter will get hurt.
I calm her down, I talk about crating, AGAIN, tell her that in the situation she has put the dogs in, their behavior is normal, they are fighting out the pack order, she has to exhert herself, and create a situation where they dont HAVE to fight it out- give them seperate beds, bowls, crate zoie, give slugger alone time, get them used to each other SLOWLY- ALL THE THINGS I SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN DURING THE INTERVIEWS!!!!!!!!
No, thanks, we'd rather bring her back.
So now poor zoie is here, so confused. Again. For the record, this was her second adoption. Her first adoption fell through... 2 HOURS AFTER SHE WAS ADOPTED.. when they got her home and decided that she reminded them too much of their other dog who died a few months ago.
Sorry this is so long. I am so frustrated and tired, and upset. I'm gunna go cry and try to nap.