Q: I’m looking into adopting a small dog for my family and I’m shocked at the price that some rescues are asking for adoption fees. All I want is a nice family dog that is housebroken. It seems to me if they want to find homes for these dogs, they would give them away for free. It’s absurd to pay $300 for a used dog. Do you know where I can get a free dog?

A: I think it is wonderful that you are considering adopting a dog for your family. There are so many dogs in shelters in need of a good home. I know it may seem like a lot of money to pay for a second-hand dog, but in reality $300 is not very much money. Most rescues charging that much are adopting dogs who are already spayed, vetted and vaccinated. Considering one visit to the vet for annual check-up and full vaccinations can run around $250, if you add spaying on top of that, it can bring the charges up to more than $500 at some clinics. Even if you go to a spay/neuter clinic, you are looking at a minimum of $50, and usually more for a spay.

Animal rescue organizations have to pay a lot of money every year to take care of the animals they rescue. Many dogs arrive in poor condition. From ear and skin infections, to far more serious problems like broken limbs, heartworms and heart problems, these dogs receive full vet care including surgeries that can climb above $3,000 for just one animal. When figuring out their adoption fees, most shelters average the number of animals they help in a year and the amount of money they spend overall on care. They then take the average per animal and spread that out for all the animals adopted. One animal may come in fully vetted, vaccinated and spayed, costing the organization very little money before adopting. Another animal may be heartworm positive costing into the thousands for treatment before going into a forever loving home.

There is no such thing as a “free” pet. All animals will cost a certain amount of money at some time. You never know when the unexpected will happen. I know a few people who have spent more than $8,000 on vet care for their “free” pet. If you feel you do not have the funds for an adoption fee, you may want to reconsider whether you have the money to care for a pet at all. Pet insurance is a good idea for those who may feel they will have problems in the event of a major occurrence. I know many people who are thankful they invested in pet insurance. One dog I know has had two surgeries to have ingested items removed from her stomach. Thankfully they had the foresight to get insurance as the dog is only two and has already had two major surgeries. They are now also spending money on training to help the dog learn not to eat everything in sight.

If you purchase a pet from a breeder, you will pay anywhere from $300-$1,500 or more depending on the breed. Usually you are getting a puppy or kitten which will require you to pay for monthly visits to the veterinarian for vaccines and check-ups as the animal grows. Young animals require a lot of your time while training them to live in a human household. If you are looking for a fully housebroken dog that tells me you possibly feel you don’t have the time to housebreak, so a puppy definitely is not the way to go.

One last note about expecting to get a dog that is housebroken—most animals whether from a breeder or a rescue are not going to come completely housebroken. Even an animal that was housebroken in the last home will need some training in your home. Dogs and cats don’t instantly know where to go when they are moved from one location to another. They need to be shown where the litter box is located or which door they are to go to when they need to go outside. They need to learn what signals to give to you to know they want to go out. Then they need to practice these skills with guidance. An adult animal usually takes less time to housebreak, but they still need training. A more important question to ask is whether the dog is used to being in a crate. A crate trained dog is often more easily housebroken, provided that dog has not lived in a crate so long that the dog was forced to eliminate (pee and poop) in the crate. A crate provides a safe place to keep the animal when you cannot keep close watch.
Whether you decide to adopt or find a free dog for your family, be prepared for some expenses and time spent training your dog to fit into your household. The money and time spent will be well-worth it in exchange for a lifetime of tail wags and love from your furry companion.