Adoption fees can range from $50 – $400 with an average fee of $275
Adoption fees charged by Animal Humane Societies in the St. Paul/Minneapolis metro area include:
- A general physical examination and behavioral evaluation by veterinary services staff
- Canine distemper combination vaccination and bordetella. Age-appropriate canines also receive a rabies vaccination whenever possible
Deworming medication- Flea/tick treatment (if needed)
- Canine heartworm test (if age appropriate and qualifies for testing)
- Spay/neuter surgery (if needed)
- Microchip implant
- Free follow-up examination by a participating veterinarian
- 30-day trial period
- Free medications for the first 14 days (if needed)
- Free ID tag
The fee amount and what it covers are similar between rescue organizations and shelters.
Some rescue groups are able to offer coverage for a short-term medical condition.
If you ever wonder whether or not you overpaid for the adoption fee, take this list to your veterinarian to find out what the cost would have been had you been the one who had to pay.
Each time there is a case where the fee seems too high, there are multiple others where, because of those extra funds, the dog received treatment for a medical condition outside of the list. That’s one less euthanasia and one more adoptable canine. Hooray!
photo credit: black dog by Alex Pearson via Wylio
