boxer said:
The money you pay for a rescue dog covers the cost of care that particular dog has received (including medical expenses, though not necessarily in full), and helps to cover the cost of future rescues.
I wish more realized what ONE rescue costs. I am getting ready to take in THREE rescues in a couple days (11mo old momma Boxer and her 2 100% full-tailed/dew-clawed female Boxer pups, currently in isolation/ICU type situation at my vet's home while I prepare mine for them), and I know I am looking at HUNDREDS of dollars in medical in the next 3-4 months. Momma (28lbs) looks like a skeleton with tightly stretched skin, so will need LOTS of good food and supplements to get her back to a suitable weight (vet wants to see her "pushing 60"). Her vaccinations are coming due in a couple months, and I am sure she'll still be here. She had Whip and Hookworms, so was wormed. She has been bathed, de-flea'd and started on Program. Her *ahem* owners (I say that lightly) felt that heartworm meds were a waste of money and when their 6mo supply ran out, they didn't get more (luckily, this was just a couple months ago and she has tested HW-). Her babies have already had 1 round of vaccinations, been wormed, started HW meds, started Program for fleas (what I use), and more rounds coming. 3 spays to do, momma's will be more, since she is in such poor condition and we need to work quickly with lighter "knock-out gas" than normal. She also has a considerable umbilical hernia which will be repaired at that same time, not to mention a large lump in one of her breasts - could be infection, fatty mass or tumor, will not know til the pathology report post-surgery. One of the pups has an umbilical hernia as well, so she will be spayed in the near future and that repaired. Momma has a broken "fang" needing a cap or removal, depending on how damaged the tooth is. Even with price breaks and "group rates", the surgeries alone for momma (her "owners" never named her, she is just called "Dog") will be in excess of $250. This is ONLY the spay, lump removal, hernia repair, and dental check/clean/repair. The "owners" brought them in to have them put down, they thought the momma had parvo because she was throwing up and so skinny. The vet actually "pumped" her stomach and what was there was the remnants of moldy food and garbage. She was most likely eating anything she could just to stay alive. By the marks on her neck, she was chained up too. The vet let the "owners" know that she WAS in poor shape, but not dying from parvo. When he told them she WAS cureable, they said she was worthless - she had 10 pups and only these 2 are still alive....the vet had a tech call me about taking them in, and then gave them the "they can go to a rescuer" option, which they took. Animal control was sent to their address after a report from the vet to look for the male dog. He was seized for neglect among other violations, and is currently staying with friends of mine while the legal case is pending (since momma is showing signs of possibly going into heat again). He too was skeletal and near death, and not more than 11-14 months old. I have already agreed that if the "owners" are not given back the dog, and do not pay his medical bills (pending legal proceedings) that I would do it, and then place him also. So, there is a chance of my taking on a 4th dog in this mess.
I know that despite the hundreds I put in to each one, anyone interested in adopting will NOT consider paying what it cost for the medical on that particular dog. I will be lucky to see $100 each. My vet knows me well enough to know that if the "right people" don't come along, my crew just grew by 3 or 4. So be it. They are welcome here and will be loved just like the rest - even if the pups have (ouch) tails.
In the past, when I worked with a rescue here, people calling to ask about our prices/dogs/cats would grumble at the price. At the time (10 yrs ago), cat adoptions were $35 and dogs were $45. This barely covered their sterilizations (our prices were: cat neuter-$25; cat spay/dog neuter-$30; dog spay-$35), much less routine vaccinations, food, heartworm meds, worming, de-flea and de-tick baths and dips, and anything extra they might need like collars, leashes, training classes. We (as a board, which I was on at the time) decided that with each adoption we would include in the packet a cost breakdown for that animal. It was AMAZING how the adopters changed their tune! Many even started getting friends and family to make small donations to help us out. When they realized that we put $100-$200-$300 more than they paid for an adoption fee into the animal, they sure weren't grumbling anymore!
I know many here on BW have complained about being turned down by rescues for one reason or another, but it happens, and it is the decision of the rescue. Some have even grumbled about the "high" adoption costs. Stop and think about it. The rescues and rescuers have invested a lot of time, money, sweat and tears into these dogs - more than they will ever be repaid for. They don't do it to make a profit, they ask the fees they do so they can affort to continue helping other dogs. Many that come to rescues nowadays are in such pathetic condition that the rescuers don't know from one day to the next if the dog will survive even the most basic of medical treatments - they are THAT BAD OFF. Those dogs still incur bills, and those must be paid just as the bills of the dogs that survive must be.
