Do You Have to Pay to Rehome a Shih Tzu?

Whether you have to pay to rehome a Shih Tzu will depend on several factors, including where they’re being rehomed. The method of rehoming is a factor, as is whether you’re looking to adopt or you’re the owner. Below, we’ll look closer at who typically has to pay rehoming fees and when.

When Does an Owner Pay a Rehoming Fee?

Owners may have to pay a rehoming or surrender fee depending the method they use to rehome their dog. Some rehoming websites require fees before you can put a dog up for adoption. These types of sites that charge the owners will be ones you’ll generally want to avoid. There are better free options available for owners, such as Rehome by Adopt-a-Pet.

In cases where you have to surrender your dog to a shelter or a rescue, you’ll have to pay a surrender fee. While it’s not technically a rehoming fee, it’s still money you’ll have to pay. This money is used by the facilities to ensure they can continue to run. The cost of the surrender fee will vary, but you can expect it to be a minimum of $50.

Do Adopters Need to Pay for Rehoming?

If you’re the one that’s adopting a Shih Tzu, though, you can and should expect that you’ll have to pay an adoption fee the same way you would at a shelter or rescue. The only time that you probably won’t need to pay a fee would be if you’re adopting them through a friend or family member who needs to give up their dog.

When you’re looking at local shelters and rescues to adopt a Shih Tzu, you can expect to pay an adoption fee. The cost varies based on many factors. This could include the location of the facility, the age of the dog, and whether they’re a pure breed, for example. Generally, the cost will be from $50 to $150. However, this can vary substantially.

If you’ll be adopting online through a site like Rehome or another site, there’s a good chance you’ll be paying a fee as well. This is true through Rehome, which charges about the same amount as a shelter or a rescue. The money helps other animals get adopted.

Why Are Rehoming Fees Needed?

Some people wonder why rehoming fees are charged by individuals and online sites. They may understand why shelters and rescues charge fees but can’t figure out why an individual who needs to get rid of their dog charges money.

The reason is simple.

Owners have no idea who the potential adopters are or the intentions they have toward their dogs. By charging a rehoming fee, it helps to weed out those who don’t have the financial capability to take care of the Shih Tzu and to reduce the risk of people with bad intentions getting the dog. Some people look for free dogs online, which they then use as bait dogs for fighting, or that they sell to labs. Rehoming fees cut down on this practice.