donation amount for a rescue dog?

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CazD

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I've got a dog on trial from my local rescue centre. The dog wasn't really what I was looking for as I wanted a youngish dog which would play with my other dog and this one is at least 7, maybe older. The centre persuaded me to take the dog '"to see how we got on" and although I initially said she was too old and isn't interested in playing but that I was happy to look after her until someone suitable came alone, she has now grown on me (I'm a complete soft touch LOL) and I've said I would adopt her. I haven't actually adopted her yet but have had her second vaccination done and paid for by me. At the vet check the vet said she has broken teeth and infected teeth and needs a dental, which will cost me £200. She also has the start of cataracts in both eyes. The centre have been told about her problems and have asked for a reduced donation of £80 - is this reasonable?
 
Offer the £80 - once they have paid the essential vet costs.

I have worked with several breed rescues over the years & its a case of you win some you lose some with rehoming. Some dogs cost us nothing, some cost us a lot but the rehomers should pay n average of this.
 
s4sugar said:
Offer the £80 - once they have paid the essential vet costs.

I have worked with several breed rescues over the years & its a case of you win some you lose some with rehoming. Some dogs cost us nothing, some cost us a lot but the rehomers should pay n average of this.
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No - they want me to pay the vet costs PLUS the £80.00. I feel like I'm being taken advantage of. She is a lovely dog - and I do feel sorry for her, being dumped at her age and with various health problems. She definitely isn't the dog we were looking for but is quiet and easy to look after and therefore fits in at home OK so I don't mind keeping her, although obviously I cant have three dogs so wont get the playmate I really wanted for my current dog. My current dog also came from this rescue and I feel like they will think badly of me if I don't make the £80 donation on top but it seems like a lot of money to shell out for an elderly dog.
 
SusieT said:
if cost is a big issue I would not be getting a dog let alone an older dog.
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Cost is not a big issue - but we are talking £280 for an elderly dog with cataracts and I just wanted to know what peoples opinions were.
 
The rescue that we got ours from tend to charge £100 for young dogs/puppies, £50 for middle aged dogs (6-8) and almost nothing for elderly dogs (9+), often paying for treatments that they need.

What have the rescue done already? First injection, spay, care for a month, transport when they got her..? That should influence the price a bit. Our dog was 14 months, so should have been £100, but they let have him for £75 as we went on to pay for him to be neutered and have his injections. TBH I didn't mind - this rescue do a lot for a lot of dogs, and the money would just go towards another dog in need..

Personally I would pay it.
 
I think they are wrong to ask you for that much considering the required vets fees, however if it were me I would just pay it as they are unlikely to come round to a more fair way of thinking. Sometimes its just easier to pay and move on..all the best with her.
 
I would pay it. They aren't trying to make money out of you and your donation will help save another dog. I paid £150 for my second one and he came straight from his home to me, so only "costs" were the volunteers time. However, same rescue has had other dogs who have "stuck" and cost them well and truly more than the donation so I never had any reservations about paying them.
 
You are not 'paying' for the dog. Whatever amount you give goes towards the cost of rescuing dogs, it is not a payment for this particular dog. If you want this dog you are becoming responsible for her welfare including vet bills. Think how many dogs the rescue will be able to save with the money they will not have to pay out for this dog's issues if you take her on. That is what they are thinking of, they are not trying to 'take advantage' of you. Some rescues are richer than others and do not have to count their pennies so closely, others carry on on a shoestring.
 
Elderly dogs with issues are big money drains for rescues but most rescues I know will fund initail treatment and quite a few sponsor ongoing meds as it is not easy to find homes for oldies.

I think it is a bit much asking for a set donation when known medical issues have not been dealt with. Are they essential to quality of life eg bad teeth or options like cataract operations which are often more for the people than the dog?

Rescues can often negotiate cheaper Vet treatment than an individual can.
 
I am very surprised the rescue haven't had this treatment done. I only paid £80 for my rescue dog and she was 9mths old and did not have health issues.

I am a sift touch too with dogs but it does sound a bit like this rescue have taken advantage of this a little bit and you shouldn't feel pressured or guilt-tripped in to taking a dog. From my experience, recue centres usually cover the costs of initial treatment and certainly thins like dental issues etc.
 
ladyt25 said:
I am very surprised the rescue haven't had this treatment done. I only paid £80 for my rescue dog and she was 9mths old and did not have health issues.

I am a sift touch too with dogs but it does sound a bit like this rescue have taken advantage of this a little bit and you shouldn't feel pressured or guilt-tripped in to taking a dog. From my experience, recue centres usually cover the costs of initial treatment and certainly thins like dental issues etc.
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Guys... rescues aren't some mammoth money making organisation (excluding RSPCA etc!). These are charities, run by volunteers on money brought in by donations and fund raising. So I give up some saturdays during the year to fund raise for Stafford Welfare and for a days work on Saturday, with 5 people on the stand, all giving their time for free, collecting bric a brac, asking for items to sell... we raised just over £740. Which is exceptional as would mostly expect to be around the £3-400 mark. So this charity will not be seeing you as a soft touch or trying to fleece you, they are trying to make very limited funds go a long way for too many dogs.
 
speak to the rescue and offer to pay for all treatment and on completion of current treatment needed request that she is yours to adopt at no extra cost.

i cant see why they would not say yes, it is not costing (you are saving them money and time) them anything and you have already fostered her for a while,
 
Most rescues seem to deal with any health issues before sending the dog to its new home, certainly doing dental work is normal.

Good point CC you would hope they wouldn't leave the dog as is & honestly expecting an adopter to stump up at least £300+ straight away is going to put off most adopters from taking on an elderly dog.
 
Doesn't sound like a very responsible rescue to me. They should have had any vetinary work done as a matter of urgency, not waited for someone who wants the dog to come along and then foot them with the bill!

I paid 65€ for my dog from a rescue in Ireland. This included worming, jabs, microchip. I felt this a fair price. I would be happy to pay up to £80-90 for a rescue but I wouldn't be willing to pay for treatment that needed doing before I got the dog.
 
vieshot said:
Doesn't sound like a very responsible rescue to me. They should have had any vetinary work done as a matter of urgency, not waited for someone who wants the dog to come along and then foot them with the bill!

I paid 65€ for my dog from a rescue in Ireland. This included worming, jabs, microchip. I felt this a fair price. I would be happy to pay up to £80-90 for a rescue but I wouldn't be willing to pay for treatment that needed doing before I got the dog.
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Those are pretty much my feelings and it is NOT a go at rescues or rescuers.
I'm NOT talking about this case in isolation, but as a generalisation, taking on animals you can't afford to treat is not good, whether you are a private individual or a rescue, that's how people get overwhelmed and as part of the bigger picture, however well meaning, is not actually 'rescue' at all, more 'out of the frying pan, into the fire'.
 
I do agree that the veterinary work should have been done before rehoming. Am I correct in thinking that the rescue weren't aware of the cataract problem until the OPs vet found it?
Rescues do a great job generally but they do over stretch themselves sometimes imo. There is currently an appeal by another rescue to raise funds to help a GSD pup, she is supposedly around 9 months old and weighs 10 kg. She has persistent right aortic arch which needs surgery for which the estimate is 2 - 3K, she also has parvo. I really do feel that this little one needs to be pts,:(
 
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