We all know, you can’t put a price on love. But, with pet ownership, you can put a price on the responsibility and care that goes along giving your furry friend all the love they deserve. This year, at My Furry Valentine, we’ve been able to get most of the kitty adoption fees as low as $10 and some dog adoption fees as low as $40 – thanks to our sponsors and the support of participating rescues/shelters. But, there are three important things we want to be sure you realize about the cost of adoption/pet ownership and animal availability before you join us in a few weekends:
- Adoptions fees will vary from organization to organization and pet to pet.
- Some rescues require a home visit before you’re qualified to adopt.
- While adoption fees are lower, be sure to plan for the total cost of a pet ownership for a year.
WHY ADOPTION FEES VARY
The adoption fees are set by the participating rescues/partnerships. The fees they set help their organizations continue to provide homes and high-quality care for all the animals they take in and help to re-home. This includes helping to pay for special animals with diseases such as diabetes and heartworm, medical supplies, food, litter, water, additional medical procedures, emergencies and so much more. All the money from your adoption fees goes directly to participating shelters or rescues, not to support the My Furry Valentine event itself.
Keep in mind, though, ALL animals at My Furry Valentine are fully vaccinated, in good health, and spayed or neutered.
DO HOME VISITS MEAN I CAN’T TAKE MY ANIMAL HOME THAT DAY?
It could mean this, but we will note which rescues allow same day versus requiring home visits in the program you’ll get when you arrive. Some rescues/shelters will actually work in your home visit that day or over the weekend, whereas others may take a little more time. If you already know there’s a particular recues or shelter you want to adopt from ahead of time, your best bet to make this process go as smooth as possible, is to fill out an adoption form for the rescue or shelter you’re interested in ahead of time.
Take a look at our 2017 animal groups to get a head start: https://www.myfurryvalentine.com/animal-groups/.
WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR A CAT/DOG IN A YEAR?
This can obviously range, depending on your animal’s health, emergencies, and cost of dog food or other preferences. However, this infographic helps you start to visualize the range of costs associated with the type of animal you’re interested in adding to your family – though, if you’re like me, you’ll wind up spending way more on treats and toys. Some other articles, like this one, will quote the associated costs at $1,300 – $1,800 for a dog over the course of a year and $1,035 for a cat. It’s not cheap, but if you break the cost down to a monthly budget, it may help you manage the cost better. Plus, the love you’ll get in return will more than make up for it.
