Sometimes people ask us: why is your adoption fee so high?!
Actually, the adoption fee rarely covers the amount House of Hope spends on each dog. A dog’s very first intake veterinary visit includes a physical exam, vaccinations, fecal test, deworming, and heartworm test, along with any other treatments/medications our vet recommends – this usually runs between $350 and $600. Most dogs also need to be spayed or neutered at the cost of our rescue. Many of our dogs also test positive for heartworm – the treatment can cost up to $1500 per dog, depending on the situation and severity of infection.
The cost to transport our dogs north to their forever homes is roughly $150 per dog. Once the dogs are in foster care, not only do our volunteers give so much of their time and effort, but the rescue continues to pay for dog food, flea/tick prevention, crates, leashes, etc.