Adopting Out

[Dogsareme]

Well I have started a semi sorta small rescue by word of mouth more or less. Right now it's just open to abandoned puppies because I don't yet have the facilities to house older dogs who are undersocialized, or not kennel trained. In the future though I plan to.

I have my first 'rescue'. He's about 7 weeks old and was given up because the persons who's dog had him can't find a home and doesn't want him any longer becuase he keeps messing, they were considering putting him down Some people!


The pups an Alaskan Malamute Cross, he's georgous. I have named him Baron. I won't be putting Baron up for adoption until he's 14 weeks old. I want to make sure he gets properly socialized and receives all his shots(we have a massive parvo outbreak happening in town right now )
When Baron gets adopted out he will be going out with free training lessons, or if he's not adopted out right away will be previously trained. I was wondering what you think would be an appropriate adoption fee for him? Also I am wondering how I can do up a Spay/Neuter Contract?

I honestly am falling in love with the little guy and it will be hard to give him up... so as long as I know he is going to a good home it will be a bit easier. But who knows maybe I will decide to keep him myself though right now just having 3 dogs is alot of work, not to mention having a puppy now lol, but I love it.

[Rivsky]

I've got no idea about the spay/neuter contract but have you maybe considered adopting him out for a fee of say $200 (just plucking a figure out of the air here) and then upon proof of spay/neutering offering say $50 cash back or something similar - just to provide a bit more of an incentive for people to actually stick to the contract - just a thought.

Maybe check out shelters around your area and find out what sort of adoption fees they're charging - would probably be the easiest way to find out what a good figure would be.

[Dogsareme]

That's a great idea. I think I will do something like that. $50 back sounds like a great gimic to get them to stick to the spay/neuter contract. Maybe this isn't legally possible but is it possible to put in place a take-back agreement if the dog is not spayed/neutered within an alloted amount of time? I know that may seem silly, but around her it's VERY important to me for the dog to be spayed/neutered. The area is just horrible and puppies are all the time being born with pretty much no place to go and end up dead, or else are given homes and then left to wander when older. Not enough laws in place, or enough rescues/shelters, or enough people who actually care enough to treat dogs properly. So behind the times

[fancychicken]

Why don't you just include the spay/neuter fee in your adoption fee and get them done yourself?? That way you can be sure it's done.

[KennelMom]

Originally Posted by fancychicken

Why don't you just include the spay/neuter fee in your adoption fee and get them done yourself?? That way you can be sure it's done.

<<nodding>>

[Punkygirl0101]

Me and my friend do rescues, and try to stick with 1 at a time (Unless they are small, and then 2 is fine)..I have 12 dogs to care for, so its easier to stick with 1 foster. (They stay at her house).

Anyway, we get the dogs spayed/neutered before adopting out, its easier that way because you never can be sure if someone is going to breed them! We actually have not charged anyone for any of the rescues we have adopted out..we check their vets, make sure they have gotten everything done with current/past dogs, we do an in home check to see where the dog will be sleeping, if the home is safe. We see how the dog reacts to the possible owner, and their children or other dogs/cat (if they have any)..and then when the person we chose gets the dog, we keep in touch..and then in a month we check up on them, to see how everything is. I am still in contact with the people we have adopted the past dogs out to.

Me and my best friend are planning on doing actual non-profit rescuing in the future..we actually already have our plans donea; How we want it to look, how many acres we want (We plan to have our own houses ON that land, and I really want horses in the future), etc, etc..of course, we are still young people..so a lot of work, and years before our dream rescue is open.

Good Luck with everything! And I would love to see a picture of the pupper!

I currently do rodent rescue (Thus, why my rodent numbers flucuate so often!) and its hard work, but it pays off! And all of our cats are rescues , no more cats for us though!

[ewarp]

I highly recommend speutering before sending the dog home. Even the best intentioned people procrastinate, dogs get loose, and puppies are born. Perhaps look into low-cost spaying and neutering, or find out if your vet can give you a rescue discount. Look for vets who can provide pediatric surgeries.

Also, in terms of adoptability, people prefer small puppies. I understand why you want to keep him until he's 14 weeks, but at 14 weeks, they look less and less like a puppy and tend to be more difficult to adopt out as they get older.

If this is something you're going to be doing on a regular basis, I recommend factoring that into the adoption fee. You should be able to cover the cost of his vet bills (vaccinations, microchipping, and neutering) with his adoption fee, plus a little bit more. The reason I say this is not so that you turn a profit, but so that in the future when you take on a dog with serious health issues, you have a little extra money to help cover the bills.

When I do cattledogs, I can get vaccinations and microchips for cheap (under $50 to get DHLPP, Bordetella, Rabies, and microchip) and then I utilize a low-cost sterilization program- $25 to spay/neuter a dog. I usually charge a $100 adoption fee.

[KennelMom]

Just to expand on my <<nodding>> post earlier.

If you are taking on the responsibility of adopting out dogs, you take on the responsibility of spaying/neutering BEFORE you place them in a home. That's part of being a part of the overpopulation solution...which I think all rescues/adoption groups have an obligation to be. Otherwise, what's the point? You may "save" one life only to have that life create many more puppies that will go on to lose theirs in a shelter.

[Dogsareme]

All really great ideas.
I have gotten his first shots and will be purchasing the others (benefits of living with a nurse, cheaper to do shots )
However we do not have the benefits of the new spay/neuter procedure to get our dogs fixed here. It is still done the old fashioned way and you have to wait until they are six months old (elder vet). The closest area to me that does do the new spay/neuter procedure is 7 hours away and no way I am driving that anytime soon with our horrible winter we have been having.

Punkygirl0101 your rescue sounds wonderful and I really wish I could afford to do that, but like someone else mentioned I need to make back what I put into the dog plus like they said a wee bit extra to put aside for possible emergencies with rescues. I am not at all looking to make a profit I'm doing this for the dogs because I'm tired of them going to our shelter who only gives them 3 days to get adopted out before they are put down.

Also, in terms of adoptability, people prefer small puppies. I understand why you want to keep him until he's 14 weeks, but at 14 weeks, they look less and less like a puppy and tend to be more difficult to adopt out as they get older.

You are right about that, I will consider putting him up for adoption sooner. Probably next week after his next set of shots (that would be on Monday). At least then its safer for him and he will have recieved that much more socialization.

[roman]

i think since this is basically shelter work (except not with a shelter)

you shoud charge $150 for mixed breeds and that will include the shots/spay/neuter/ and a microchip

purebreds around $230 and it will include the same as a mix

if you are doing training i think the prices will cover that too

if you want i can send you in a pm the spay/neuter contract my shelter uses unless it is stating the vets and stuff for where i live but mabey you can get one from a rescue and ask if you can use it to promote your little rescue

[ewarp]

Originally Posted by Dogsareme

However we do not have the benefits of the new spay/neuter procedure to get our dogs fixed here. It is still done the old fashioned way and you have to wait until they are six months old (elder vet). The closest area to me that does do the new spay/neuter procedure is 7 hours away and no way I am driving that anytime soon with our horrible winter we have been having.

It's not a new procedure, it's the same one, just done younger. Most older vets don't like to do them, but will do them if asked. If not, check with other vets in town. Check with area animal shelters and see if they have a vet that will do them. Again, same procedure, just done younger.

[Punkygirl0101]

Our HOPE animal foundation does neuters for 55$, and spays for 65$, so its not much of an issue price wise.And we train the dogs ourselves (House training and basic obedience..nothing to complicated).its just a lot easier to find the dogs a new good home without the high adoption fee. We screen really well, so I have no doubt they went to great homes, especially because I still get to see them, and I am in contact with new owners. Rebecca (Rottweiler) had a small adoption fee, and went pretty fast, but Lobo was not getting anyone who was interested. One of the couples interested in him is a coworker of my moms, and has a lonely lab..and she said they talk about that dog all day at work, and even have pictures of him in their wallet..so I am more than positive they will be perfect!

[KennelMom]

I have gotten his first shots and will be purchasing the others (benefits of living with a nurse, cheaper to do shots )
However we do not have the benefits of the new spay/neuter procedure to get our dogs fixed here. It is still done the old fashioned way and you have to wait until they are six months old (elder vet). The closest area to me that does do the new spay/neuter procedure is 7 hours away and no way I am driving that anytime soon with our horrible winter we have been having.

I still think my statement is valid. Expect that any dog you place will not be altered by the adopters. Especially if you aren't providing them with a discounted spay/neuter certificate. Are you willing to also take in all the puppies that dog then fathers/mothers...andthen all the ones those dogs father/mother? If you aren't, then don't place unaltered dogs. You can write a solid adoption contract, but to enforce it you'll have to go to court...which requires $$$$. Most courts, in this country, side with the adopted family when it comes to adoption contracts...and I know a couple adoption groups that have actually went to court to try to enforce theirs.

When you CHOOSE to do dog rescue/adoption I think you are morally obligated to alter all animals before placing them in homes. Otherwise, you are perpetuating the the overpopulation problem. Hard as it is to read or say, I'd rather see a dog put down in a shelter than produce a litter or two <or more> of offspring that may ultimatley face the same fate. Most adoption groups lose money on an adoption...that's why they do fundraisers and auctions and solicit donations from past adopters. It's not easy...in fact it's downright hard...but speutering before placement is the right thing to do.

[Dogsareme]

Originally Posted by KennelMom

I still think my statement is valid. Expect that any dog you place will not be altered by the adopters. Especially if you aren't providing them with a discounted spay/neuter certificate. Are you willing to also take in all the puppies that dog then fathers/mothers...andthen all the ones those dogs father/mother? If you aren't, then don't place unaltered dogs. You can write a solid adoption contract, but to enforce it you'll have to go to court...which requires $$$$. Most courts, in this country, side with the adopted family when it comes to adoption contracts...and I know a couple adoption groups that have actually went to court to try to enforce theirs.

When you CHOOSE to do dog rescue/adoption I think you are morally obligated to alter all animals before placing them in homes. Otherwise, you are perpetuating the the overpopulation problem. Hard as it is to read or say, I'd rather see a dog put down in a shelter than produce a litter or two <or more> of offspring that may ultimatley face the same fate. Most adoption groups lose money on an adoption...that's why they do fundraisers and auctions and solicit donations from past adopters. It's not easy...in fact it's downright hard...but speutering before placement is the right thing to do.

Exactly why I want the dog to be spayed/neutered. We have enough trouble with this kind of stuff in town and if I can throw my weight around a little in getting this little guy neutered it will be done! No ands, ifs, or buts about it. That is why I am wondering if I can do some kind of take-back agreement. If they dont' get him done by 6 months I have all legal rights to take the dog back.

However I will contact the vet about the younger spay/neuter. I did'nt know it was the same procedure I thought it was something entirely different, but I do know if it is the same procedure he does not offer it because he would not allow my friend to bring in her 4 month old boxer saying it can only be done once they hit 6 months. I will talk to him though about doing this and also about getting a spay/neuter certificate.