How much does adopting a dog cost
Introduction
Adopting a dog is one of life’s great joys. They’re a constant companion and an endless source of entertainment and love. But while adopting a dog provides you with years of unconditional love, that doesn’t mean it won’t cost you a few bucks. When thinking about how much it will cost to adopt a dog, the first thing to consider is the adoption fee itself. Since this can vary from $50 to $600, depending on the pet’s age, size and breed, it sets the tone for what you’ll be spending in total. Because after all, when you bring home your new furry family member, they need more than just their food bowl filled: they need shots, toys, beds and treats — all things that can start adding up quickly!
Adoption fees
Adoption fees can vary widely depending on the age and breed of the dog. Costs generally start at around $100 and go up to over $1,000 for puppies, purebred dogs and rare breeds. Fees are often tax deductible as a charitable donation.
If you’re considering adopting a dog, remember that there are many factors that will affect how much it costs to adopt your new four-legged friend. Before committing to purchasing one from a pet store or breeder, take your time to do some research about local animal shelters—you may end up saving yourself hundreds of dollars!
Initial medical costs
Another reason to adopt a dog is the cost. Adopting a pet is often significantly cheaper than buying one. If you’re not sure how much it will cost, consider this: in 2016, the average cost of adopting a mixed breed puppy from a shelter was $344; for an adult dog, it was $345. Compare that with the average retail price of an all-breed puppy at that time—$1,500—and you’ll see what I mean!
You should also bear in mind that there may be some initial medical costs involved in adopting your new pet. Before deciding to take on the responsibility of owning a dog (and putting yourself through these potential expenses), make sure that:
- You have enough money saved up to cover these costs; and
- You know what vaccinations and tests are needed before bringing your new friend home
Equipment for your home
You’ll also need to purchase some equipment for your home. You can buy these items new or used, but be sure to check their condition before you buy. Some things you’ll need include:
- A crate for the dog, which will keep it safe and give you a place to put it when you’re not at home.
- Food and water bowls
- Toys and treats
- Bed (unless your dog doesn’t mind sleeping on the floor)
- Leash, collar, and harness (depending on the size of your dog)
Additional medical expenses and ongoing care
As you might expect, the medical expenses associated with an adopted dog can vary. The best way to find out what your pet’s medical needs will be is by talking to your prospective veterinarian. They’ll let you know what their office fees are and how often they recommend visiting for checkups, vaccinations and other routine care like teeth cleaning.
If you’re looking for a vet that specializes in treating dogs like yours (for example, if your dog has a condition or behavioral issue), it’s worth paying extra attention when choosing one because these doctors tend to have higher prices than general practitioners who treat all kinds of animals.
You should budget for these costs if you plan to adopt a dog.
Here are some of the most common adoption costs you should expect:
- Adoption fees. These usually range from $100 to $250, and the amount varies depending on whether the dog is a purebred or mixed breed, how old he is when you adopt him, and where you get him from.
- Initial medical costs. If your new friend comes with initial medical needs—like flea treatment or spaying or neutering—those will add up quickly. Be sure to include these expenses in your budget as well!
- Equipment for home life. Depending on what type of home situation you have (apartment? house?), there may be additional equipment that’s needed for your new pal’s wellbeing and comfort such as crates and collars/harnesses/leashes/bootsies/beds etcetera etcetera etcetera… The good news is that most dogs are pretty low maintenance compared to cats so this shouldn’t cost too much extra cash upfront but it might add up over time if he becomes an indoor vs outdoor dog later down his life cycle which means more money spent on feeding him quality kibble every few days rather than just letting him graze like cows do naturally out in fields where they belong instead of having them locked away inside all day long without any access whatsoever outside unless supervised by humans who aren’t usually around 24 hours per day like vacuum cleaners are.”
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the costs of adopting a dog. It’s important to remember that although it can be expensive to adopt a dog, there is a myriad of ways to save money and still have the same quality dog. We also have another article about the costs of owning a cat if you’re thinking about adopting one!