Adoption Fees
Pit and Chihuahua Mixes (all ages): $250
Babies (under six months): $325
Youngsters (six months to three years): $300
Older and Wiser (over three years): $250
Babies (under six months): $325
Youngsters (six months to three years): $300
Older and Wiser (over three years): $250
Adoption Fee FAQs
What are the adoption fees used to pay for?
Many adopters wonder why there are adoption fees at all. If these dogs were going to be euthanized, wouldn't it make sense not to charge anything? The problem is running a responsible rescue group is very expensive. Even though our generous partner vets offer us discounted services, spay-neuter costs still account for over half of our adoption fees (regular spay-neuter prices at private vets would be more than our adoption fees). The cost of transporting dogs long distances from high kill shelters, vaccinations, dewormer, food and supplies make up most of what remains of the adoption fee. Finally, the largest component of our budget is for emergency vet care. Some of our dogs will come down with life-threatening illnesses such as parvo and pneumonia which require hospitalization and result in vet bills that are thousands of dollars. To make up the shortfall in our budget, we actually cannot only rely on adoption fees, but have to solicit donations from the general public. To learn more, read about the Tiberius Fund.
Why have fees recently been raised?
Our rescue has sadly had a disproportionate number of dogs fall seriously ill in the last year. In one particular case, a dog who was diagnosed with distemper had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks and total vet bills to treat him alone were $4000. The difference between our no kill rescue and most city shelters is that we do not give up on a dog as long as our vets tell us there is a reasonable hope that he or she will recover with treatment. In addition to dogs that fall seriously ill, many shelter animals are housed in less than optimal conditions at high kill facilities and arrive in the rescue with minor health issues that require vet attention. While these vet bills are more modest, they add up over time. Ultimately, every year, our costs to rescue dogs has always exceeded the adoption fees charged, and donations from the general public have made up the shortfall. Raising our adoption fees shifts a little more of the financial burden of doing rescue work from the general public to adopters.
Why are adoption fees for pit and chihuahua mixes less?
The unfortunate reality is that the two most common breeds in California shelters are pit and chihuahua mixes, and they make up the majority of dogs that are euthanized. Because of the sheer number of pit and chihuahua mixes as well as the unfounded stereotypes that pit mixes are inherently aggressive dogs, it is significantly more difficult for us to find these deserving animals loving homes. As a result, we use rescue funds to subsidize the adoption fees of pit and chihuahua mixes.
How is it determined whether a dog or puppy is a pit or chihuahua mix?
There is no certain way of finding out the breeds of any of our rescue dogs because most enter shelters as strays with no paperwork. As a result, we rely entirely on shelter staff determinations which can be imprecise. However, we urge all adopters to keep in mind that there is no evidence pit mixes are any more aggressive than other breeds of dogs. In fact, in the rescue's history, the most aggressive dogs we have encountered have all been non-pit mixes. In contrast, most pit mixes have made great family dogs and are often especially gentle and loving towards children.
Are adoption fees ever lowered for other reasons?
In rare cases, our rescue may decide to lower adoption fees for dogs with behaviors that will require special efforts and training to handle.
Many adopters wonder why there are adoption fees at all. If these dogs were going to be euthanized, wouldn't it make sense not to charge anything? The problem is running a responsible rescue group is very expensive. Even though our generous partner vets offer us discounted services, spay-neuter costs still account for over half of our adoption fees (regular spay-neuter prices at private vets would be more than our adoption fees). The cost of transporting dogs long distances from high kill shelters, vaccinations, dewormer, food and supplies make up most of what remains of the adoption fee. Finally, the largest component of our budget is for emergency vet care. Some of our dogs will come down with life-threatening illnesses such as parvo and pneumonia which require hospitalization and result in vet bills that are thousands of dollars. To make up the shortfall in our budget, we actually cannot only rely on adoption fees, but have to solicit donations from the general public. To learn more, read about the Tiberius Fund.
Why have fees recently been raised?
Our rescue has sadly had a disproportionate number of dogs fall seriously ill in the last year. In one particular case, a dog who was diagnosed with distemper had to be hospitalized for nearly two weeks and total vet bills to treat him alone were $4000. The difference between our no kill rescue and most city shelters is that we do not give up on a dog as long as our vets tell us there is a reasonable hope that he or she will recover with treatment. In addition to dogs that fall seriously ill, many shelter animals are housed in less than optimal conditions at high kill facilities and arrive in the rescue with minor health issues that require vet attention. While these vet bills are more modest, they add up over time. Ultimately, every year, our costs to rescue dogs has always exceeded the adoption fees charged, and donations from the general public have made up the shortfall. Raising our adoption fees shifts a little more of the financial burden of doing rescue work from the general public to adopters.
Why are adoption fees for pit and chihuahua mixes less?
The unfortunate reality is that the two most common breeds in California shelters are pit and chihuahua mixes, and they make up the majority of dogs that are euthanized. Because of the sheer number of pit and chihuahua mixes as well as the unfounded stereotypes that pit mixes are inherently aggressive dogs, it is significantly more difficult for us to find these deserving animals loving homes. As a result, we use rescue funds to subsidize the adoption fees of pit and chihuahua mixes.
How is it determined whether a dog or puppy is a pit or chihuahua mix?
There is no certain way of finding out the breeds of any of our rescue dogs because most enter shelters as strays with no paperwork. As a result, we rely entirely on shelter staff determinations which can be imprecise. However, we urge all adopters to keep in mind that there is no evidence pit mixes are any more aggressive than other breeds of dogs. In fact, in the rescue's history, the most aggressive dogs we have encountered have all been non-pit mixes. In contrast, most pit mixes have made great family dogs and are often especially gentle and loving towards children.
Are adoption fees ever lowered for other reasons?
In rare cases, our rescue may decide to lower adoption fees for dogs with behaviors that will require special efforts and training to handle.
