Why does it cost so much to adopt a pet from a shelter? Susan Tarczewski - Claremont, NH
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ne of the common questions staff at shelters and humane societies all over the country are asked during the adoption process is, “why does it cost so much to adopt a pet?” Some members of the public think that rescue groups make money on adoption fees, but this is simply not true. Rarely do those adoption fees even cover the full expenses incurred while an animal is in the shelter’s care. To begin with, there are the costs of maintaining a rescue facility: rent or mortgage and taxes, heating and cooling expenses, electricity and water bills, and of course, office supplies and other “overhead” expenses. Caring for animals requires specific types of enclosures, which not only must be purchased but maintained. Rescue facilities with dogs need fenced outdoor areas in which the dogs can run, play, and “do their business.” Shelter staff needs equipment such as heavy-duty gloves in order to handle some animals during routine care. Daily care for animals in a rescue facility includes providing food and water but much more than that. Litter boxes for cats are needed, as are outdoor areas for dogs. Bedding and toys are also necessary for the comfort and enrichment of their lives. Most rescue operations have a routine protocol for pest control, which requires medications and treatments. Animal enclosures need to be cleaned daily, which calls for cleaning equipment. Responsible rescue organizations routinely spay or neuter all animals that come through their facilities, helping to stop the cycle 6 4 Legs & a Tail
of unwanted animals. All of these tasks need people to do them, meaning that trained and reliable volunteers and/or paid staff are a necessity. Every bit of this effort has a cost, whether it be in dollars or in donated items and volunteer time. Please note that we haven’t yet covered anything other than the maintenance of a facility and routine care of rescued animals! Often when animals come into a shelter, they are in poor health and in need of more than routine care. Animals who enter a shelter in good health, and already “fixed” usually require a minimal amount of care. Sadly, this is not the most common situation. Strays and surrendered pets may be injured, underfed, infested with fleas, or have an underlying health condition. Owners having financial troubles may surrender their animals to a shelter because they are unable to afford expensive care for a sick animal. Worse, truly irresponsible pet owners may simply dump an animal, under the misguided notion that they can fend for themselves. They can’t. The luckier of these poor animals will be brought to a rescue facility where they will receive the care they need to live healthy lives. As anyone with a pet knows, good veterinary care is not inexpensive and it can be hard to get veterinary appointments especially during the current pandemic. At Sullivan County Humane Society, in large part, because we took in a high number of cats needing extensive medical care, our veterinary bill for one month recently was over $16,000! Spring 2022
