Where do adoption fees for rescue pets go?

100% of the adoption fee paid by an adopter for a rescue pet listed on PetRescue goes directly to the rescue group, shelter, council facility or vet with the pet in their care. 

The PetRescue platform remains completely free and accessible for both adopters and member organisations to list and rehome the pets in their care.

But where do adoption fees go? To prepare them for their new homes, all rescue pets must be examined by a vet, vaccinated, microchipped, heartworm tested (for dogs) and desexed. Then there’s the ongoing costs of food and flea and worming treatments whilst the pet is in care. The rescue organisation pays for all of this out of their own pocket, and they’re generally run by volunteers. So, to make the rescue process sustainable, the rescue organisation needs to recoup these costs (at least in part) by charging an adoption fee.

In most instances, the adoption fee you pay covers the basic medical expenses incurred. However, if the pet received any extra medical treatment, it's likely that your adoption fee won’t cover these additional costs.

Adoption fees for dogs generally sit between $200 and $800. In some cases, dogs may be offered for a donation only or for a higher-than-average adoption fee if the pet is a popular breed or a puppy. If a rescue group can gain on the adoption fee in these instances, this allows them to cover the expenses of another pet that might need more extensive medical treatment over and above what the standard adoption fee would cover. Some pets may have had thousands spent on specialist medical treatment, yet they will be offered at a standard adoption fee.

Compare this to the going rate you’d pay for a puppy from a breeder, which averages between $3,000 and $6,000. On top of that, you still have to pay for vaccinations, microchipping and desexing. So, when you add it all up, rescue pets are a bargain!

At PetRescue, we take the legitimacy of our member organisations and private rehomers in the Home2Home Program very seriously. We work with our members daily to ensure PetRescue remains a safe place for people to find and adopt pets.

Find out what to look out for when looking to adopt a pet and how to choose a reputable rescue organisation by reading these helpful guidelines.