Pet Adoption Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Pet?

The reality is, it costs a lot of money to care for shelter animals and to keep a shelter clean and safe. Find out what you can expect to pay when bringing a new pet home.

by Kelly Villa, | August 10, 2023

Pet Adoption Fees: How Much Does it Cost to Adopt a Pet?

Lucas Ottone / Stocksy

Almost every single rescue group and every shelter charges an adoption fee. These fees help cover everything from medical costs to transportation to essential needs such as food. All these costs add up, and adoption fees help cover them and enable shelters and rescue organizations to continue their work.

Why do animal shelters and rescue organizations charge an adoption fee?

Rescuing pets is expensive work. First, there are medical costs: The rescuer often pays to have the pets spayed or neutered (if they aren’t already) and vaccinated. Many also pay for all medical care the pets in their rescue may need.

Some rescue organizations have to pay to transport pets from one part of the country to another — generally from crowded, high-kill shelters to another area where a pet has a better chance of finding a home.

Shelters with facilities need to pay their staff, who care for the animals, clean up after them, and take care of the shelter’s operations. Some rescue organizations don’t have facilities and run out of foster homes, so they often have to pay to board the pets while trying to place them in foster or forever homes.

How much is the typical adoption fee?

The typical adoption cost is typically between $50 to $350, but this amount varies depending on a number of factors, such as the shelter or rescue organization’s location, size, and the dog’s age. Puppies and kittens generally have the highest fees, while seniors and adult pets with health conditions tend to have the lowest fees.

Can I negotiate or waive the adoption fee?

Many shelters and rescue organizations offer discounted fees, or may even waive fees, for certain pets (including older pets or those who have been at the shelter for extended periods of time) or during certain times of the year (such as summer, when shelters are most likely to be overcrowded). For example, many shelters waive adoption fees in August in honor of Clear the Shelters while others reduce fees in October for Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Those who cannot afford adoption fees otherwise can monitor their local shelter or rescue organizations for these promotions and wait to adopt a pet until then.

Are adoption fees necessary for animal shelters to operate?

Adoption fees help animal shelters operate, but most are not solely reliant on adoption fees to operate. Some animal welfare organizations, including Best Friends Animal Society, advocate for reduced-fee and no-fee adoptions because they believe lower fees help more animals find homes more quickly (especially hard-to-place pets such as seniors and pets with special needs), which in turn allows shelters and rescue organizations to increase their save rates.

What benefits do I receive with the adoption fee?

The main benefits of adoption fees for pets are that your adopted pet will likely be vaccinated and spayed or neutered upon adoption, as the fee helps ensure the shelter or adoption organization can provide those services.

Additionally, while you generally cannot claim the adoption fee as a tax deduction, any additional donations you may choose to make to the shelter or organization are tax deductible.

Can I get a pet for free from a shelter or rescue?

Pets may be available for adoption without a fee during promotions when shelters or rescue organizations waive fees. Be wary of free pets for adoption from anywhere other than a shelter or legitimate rescue organization.

Commonly asked questions:

Why do animal shelters and rescue organizations charge an adoption fee?

Adoption fees help shelters and rescue organizations cover the costs of caring for the pets in their care and enable them to continue their work.

How much is the typical adoption fee?

The typical adoption fee is typically between $50 to $350.

Are adoption fees necessary for animal shelters to operate?

Adoption fees help animal shelters operate, but most are not solely reliant on adoption fees to operate.

Can I negotiate or waive the adoption fee?

Many shelters and rescue organizations offer discounted fees, or may even waive fees, for certain pets or during certain times of the year.

Can I get a pet for free from a shelter or rescue?

You may be able to adopt a pet for free during promotions through which shelters or rescue organizations are waiving fees.

What benefits do I receive with the adoption fee?

The main benefit of an adoption fee is that it means your adopted pet will likely be vaccinated and spayed or neutered and otherwise cared for.

Why is adopting from a shelter better than getting a pet from a breeder or pet store?

Adopting from a shelter saves lives — not only the life of the pet you adopt but by creating space for the shelter to continue saving pets in need.

Can I claim the adoption fee as a tax deduction?

Adoption fees generally aren’t tax deductible, but any additional donations you make to the shelter or organization are.

Do all pets in shelters have adoption fees?

Most pets in shelters have adoption fees, but these fees are sometimes waived depending on the pet or if the shelter is running a broader promotion.

What if I can’t afford the adoption fee?

If you can’t afford an adoption fee, ask your local shelter or rescue organization if they’re waiving fees on certain pets or during specific times of the year.