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Pet Adoption: How Much Does It Cost?
By Susan Doktor MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
Are you thinking of adding a furry friend to your family? Thousands of adoptable animals in shelters across the U.S. are waiting to find their forever homes.
Shelters collect an adoption fee that helps cover some of the costs incurred while your pet is in their care, as well as helping the organization with its overhead expenses. That said, buying from a shelter should save you money over a purchase from a breeder. And you’ll be potentially saving an animal’s life in the bargain.
The costs of pet ownership do not stop in the shelter’s parking lot, of course. Acquiring a new pet is to make an ongoing financial commitment to paying for medical care, food, training and pet insurance, should you chose to purchase the latter.
Here’s a rundown of what a pet adoption will cost and what is and isn’t included in the shelter fee. We also set out the other expenses you should be prepared to incur from welcoming a new furry member to the household.
Table of contents
- Why do you have to pay an adoption fee?
- What is included in an adoption fee?
- How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
- What additional costs should be considered when adopting a pet?
- What is the process for adopting a pet?
- Pet adoption FAQs
Why do you have to pay an adoption fee?
Pet adoption centers and animal rescue facilities charge an adoption fee in large part to help keep their organization running. Operating expenses include rent for their facilities, utility bills, pet supplies and food. Animals waiting to be adopted may also require veterinary care.
Even so, the pet adoption fee you pay may not entirely cover the total cost of caring for your pet during its time in the shelter or with its foster family, according to many animal rescue organizations. Shelters and other such groups also typically rely on donations and volunteers to help them continue to rescue animals and help them find forever homes.
What do you receive when you pay an adoption fee?
Paying a shelter allows you to own the pet, of course. How much veterinary care your new companion will receive before you take him or her home depends on the adoption organization.
At the very least, expect a dogs or cat to have received a veterinary check-up, core vaccinations and flea, tick and heartworm prevention. Other medical care may be performed as necessary, such as deworming.
Most adoption fees include spaying or neutering the pet before it’s adopted — which helps control the animal population and limit the future pet population that might end up in shelters. To help keep the animal safe, the shelter may also perform microchipping. Microchips allow veterinarians, shelters and other organizations that take care of lost pets to more easily identify their owners.
Some rescue organizations give adopters initial supplies like a bag of food and a collar to help them get started.
How much does it cost to adopt a pet?
Adoption fees vary widely depending on your area and the organization — you’ll likely pay somewhere between $50 and $600. Adopting puppies or kittens may be more expensive than adult dogs and cats. Likewise, dogs are usually more costly than cats, and purebreds might cost more than mixed breeds. In any case, you can feel good knowing your contribution will help your local humane society care for the many pets under their custody.
We surveyed adoption fees for animal shelters and rescue organizations around the U.S. The table below shows the costs as of November 2022 from a handful of organizations in different regions.
| Shelter | Dog adoption fees | Cat adoption fees |
| Humane Society of Greater Miami | $149 – $259 | $59 – $89 |
| North Shore Animal League (New York) | $125 – $375 | $75 – $200 |
| Humane Society of Charlotte | Rates are set individually but are typically about $75 – $150 | Rates are set individually but are typically about $75 – $150 |
| Animal Humane Society (Minnesota) | $129 – $767 | $39 – $317 |
| KC Pet Project (Missouri) | $75 – 300 | $25 – $125 |
| Villalobos (Louisiana) | $300 | Does not receive cats |
| Arizona Animal Welfare League | $50 – $500 | $50 – $150 |
| Sacramento SPCA | $110 – $200 | $45 – 100 |
What other costs should you consider in pet adoption?
Adopting a pet is a financial commitment. Assume it will live a long healthy life and you’ll need to provide food and care every day for many years. You can expect to spend more during your first year of pet ownership than in the years that follow. According to the ASPCA, first-year expenses can be as high as $3,221 for a dog and $1,904 for a cat.
Here’s what you should expect to pay for:
- Supplies
- Food
- Veterinary care (including vaccines, treatment and wellness exams)
- Flea, tick, heartworm and other preventatives
- Professional training
- Boarding, daycare, pet sitters or pet walkers
- Licensing
- Grooming
- Emergency vet care
- Pet insurance
Some of the initial costs include an ID tag, bed, toys, leash, collar and harness, crate, food and treats as well as cat litter (if you’re adopting a cat). If you adopt a dog, you’ll likely be required to pay a license fee to your local government (typically no more than around $15 to $30 per year). Pet food is the surest expense you’ll encounter when you adopt a dog or cat.
You may decide to pay for professional training classes for your pup. Many rescue organizations recommend doing this to help your pet learn manners and get acclimated. In some cases, you may also want behavioral therapy for your pet.
Pet veterinary costs
Less predictable, but often even more expensive, is veterinary care. At a minimum, you’ll have to keep up with periodic vaccinations (such as those for distemper, hepatitis, rabies and feline leukemia).
Veterinarians recommend taking your pet to the office for a wellness visit once per year. Every time you visit the vet, you’ll have to pay an exam fee on top of the cost of any treatment performed.
Your pet will also require other routine or seasonal care. Heartworm, flea and tick prevention medicines are among these important treatments, as is dental care. If you intend to board your pet at any time, the boarding facility will likely require a bordetella vaccine.
Pet insurance and other ways to pay for care
Pet parents should consider setting money aside to pay for unexpected pet emergency care, should that crop up.
Alternatively, you can consider pet insurance. For a monthly or yearly premium, plus deductibles and co-pays, it could help cover some of the out-of-pocket veterinary charges discussed above.
However, pet insurance will cost you hundreds of dollars every year, and you may not ever recoup that spending unless your pet becomes very sick or has a major accident. The cost of pet insurance varies by breed, age and more.
What is the process for adopting a pet?
If you’re ready to jump into welcoming a furry addition to your household, first consider what type of pet you are looking for. Do your research and see the types and ages of dogs, cats or other animals that are available for adoption. Pay close attention to the listing details to ensure they are a good fit for your lifestyle and family.
All rescue organizations have different processes, but most start with an online adoption application. Adoption centers are devoted to animal welfare and want to ensure they send their animals home with responsible pet parents.
If you adopt through a shelter or other rescue organization or humane group, you’ll typically be asked to complete a comprehensive questionnaire to evaluate your eligibility for adoption and may need to do an interview and home visit.
Can you adopt a dog online?
Some shelters don’t accept online applications. If that’s the case, you’ll need to visit the shelter in person and determine if the pet is a good fit.
Review the shelter’s requirements online ahead of time — some require you to make an appointment rather than simply walking in. You can also attend adoption events in your area. Adoption centers often host mobile events at pet stores, for example, and people can attend to meet pets and begin the adoption process.
If you’re adopting a dog online, the pooch might now be residing with a foster family rather than in a shelter. Sometimes, the animal may even be in a different state and will need to be transported to you. In much instances, you may not be able to meet the dog before you adopt it. Make sure you get the opportunity to talk to the foster family, to ask questions and request pictures and videos.
Pet adoption cost FAQs
What are the requirements for adopting a pet?
Most adoption centers and rescue organizations will ask you to fill out an application to help them assess if you are fit to welcome a pet into your home and provide it with the care and attention it needs. The organizations may also set adoption requirements for certain pets as well. When they have the animal in their care, they evaluate it to see if it has any particular demands.
For example, if you live in an urban apartment, they might limit your choice of pet to a small animal. Some dogs might require a fenced-in yard or be unable to live with children or other pets.
Some other general pet adoption requirements usually include being of a certain age (usually at least 18 years old, but some shelters require older), completing the adoption process and paying the adoption fee.
What are the factors that affect pet adoption costs?
Adoption fees vary according to several factors, including the pet's age, health, breed, size and how long it has been in the shelter. Younger animals (puppies and kittens) tend to cost more. Adoption fees may also be higher depending on the kind of healthcare provided — including spaying or neutering, microchipping, and sometimes even basic training. Some shelters charge more for small-breed and purebred dogs.
How long does adopting a pet take?
The length of time it takes to adopt a pet varies. If you're adopting in person, it may take just a few hours — shelters often allow you to take your pet home the same day, provided you meet specific eligibility requirements.
Suppose you're adopting a pet online from a rescue that operates through foster families rather than a physical shelter. In that case, it could take a few weeks to a month, especially if the pet is being transported from another state.
Some rescue organizations have more comprehensive eligibility requirements than others. You may have to sit for an interview and some organizations even perform a home visit to assess how suitable your location is for raising a pet.
How can I find animal shelters near me?
Depending on how populous your area is, you may find several nearby shelters. Try searching online to see what is available for animal shelters, humane societies and rescues. Many shelters use Petfinder.com to post their available animals — you can search on this website to find animals near you.
You can also search social media sites, as many rescues post their available animals on these outlets. Word of mouth is another excellent way — ask a friend or family member who recently adopted a pet for suggestions of organizations with which they had good experiences.
Summary of our guide to pet adoption costs
Most communities have multiple animal shelters and rescue organizations. Overall, pet adoption is more economical than purchasing a pet from a breeder; costs for the latter typically range in the hundreds of dollars, rather than the thousands.
Shelters charge a pet adoption fee to help cover some of the costs associated with your pet being in their care until you adopt it. They also rely on donations and volunteers. Your adoption fee helps the organization continue to operate and rescue more animals.
The specific rates vary by the shelter and are determined based on the type of animal, its breed, age, size, health and how long it has been in the shelter. You will also be responsible for other ongoing costs of your pet, like food and medical care (some of which could be partially covered by pet insurance).
The animal rescue organization you choose will help you determine if a pet is a good fit for you and your family through its adoption process. Adopting a dog is a rewarding experience that allows you to save a life and add a new family member to your pack.
