| |
ADOPTION FEES
-We are an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Adoption fees vary based on age and the breed of the dog - please check each dog's profile for its adoption fee. Additionally, from time to time, a high-profile pet may have a slightly higher adoption fee. All adoption fees and donations are used to cover the many expenses incurred in caring for the dogs in rescue – medical expenses, food, monthly preventatives, etc. Adoption fees cover but a fraction of the cost of rescuing and caring for the HUGS dogs. If you can afford to donate over the adoption fee, please do so. All donations are tax deductible, gratefully accepted, and we will gladly provide a donation receipt.
-HUGS dogs receive all necessary veterinary care and will be up-to-date on vaccinations (rabies, distemper/parvo, and bordetella) prior to their adoption. All of our dogs are tested for heartworm disease, if 7 months or older, and will be treated prior to adoption if found to be heartworm positive. All HUGS dogs are treated with monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventative while in rescue. HUGS dogs are all microchipped. Dogs 3 months and older will already be spayed or neutered. Dogs under 3 months are sometimes adopted prior to spay or neuter, in which case the spay or neuter is required by 3 months, per our adoption contract, and is included in the adoption fee if scheduled through HUGS, at our veterinarian. We do not make any future health or hip guarantees beyond what may be apparent to our veterinarians while the dog is in foster care.
  
-We are sometimes asked to negotiate our adoption fees. Unfortunately, we cannot afford to do this. As it is, our adoption fees do not begin to cover the expenses that we incur in rescuing and caring for the HUGS dogs, including, but not limited to: transportation and veterinary bills; spay and neuter costs; and all of the food, heartworm, and flea and tick preventative that we provide while the dogs live in foster care. We hold many fundraisers throughout the year just so that we can continue to help the dogs that need us the most, which includes sick and injured dogs in need of costly surgeries, as well as reservation dogs. Reservation dogs often have had no vet care when they come into rescue, so their veterinary care bills tend to be a lot higher. Many rescues are unable to assist the reservation dogs because of the added expenses they bring to rescue, and we want to be able to continue to do so, as they are some of the dogs most in need of rescue.
-Additionally, please keep in mind that proper dog care (quality dog food, regular and preventative vet care, and incidentals) is costly, and that German Shepherd Dogs (and mixes) tend to be especially costly to vet and maintain throughout their lives. If you are not able to afford the adoption fee, chances are that you will not be able to afford the care that your German Shepherd Dog (or mix) will need. Please see Health Problems under the "Is a HUGS Dog Right for You" section for more details about common health issues for German Shepherd Dogs.
| |
