One of A Kind Education

We are often asked why we charge adoption fees, and how they are established. Many do not understand why we have adoption fees when we are, “just a shelter.” Others have encouraged their peers to adopt from the animal control facilities (pounds) rather from us, where the fees are much less. We absolutely support that, and we want to explain why.

One of A Kind Pet Rescue is not a shelter, we are a rescue. There is a significant difference between the two. Animal control facilities are also referred to as shelters and pounds. They are county government organizations tasked with controlling the homeless and dangerous pet population. As you can imagine, this is an overwhelming responsibility, which is why they are almost always at capacity. When animal control facilities receive pets showing aggression towards humans, or a pet with medical needs, the tax dollars are often not available to provide the care those pets require. In several areas of the country, animals are put to death simply for space. Since the shelter is required to take animals in who are presenting a nuisance, or homeless, the current occupants may be put to death to allow space. This is where rescues come into the picture.

One of A Kind Pet Rescue specifically focuses on those pets who are facing death due to over-crowding and/or medical/behavioral needs. We work very closely with our county shelter to pull the animals needing our services, or to prevent over-crowding. Because our local shelter is very large, and there are several other rescues in our area, they do not need us as frequently as some other areas in dire need. Those other areas are often further, rural communities lacking in resources. Our focus is on those facing death, and the high-kill shelters are often not close by, but in other states. Fortunately, there are volunteer organizations working to pull those pets facing death and transport them to rescues. We partner with a couple of these organizations, which is why several of our adoptable pets come from West Virginia and Kentucky. The females are often expectant mothers, and therefore we have so many kittens and puppies. We are not an open intake rescue, but do try to help when we can.

Rescues are not government organizations and receive no regular government funding. We are non-profit facilities that rely on the support of donors and fundraising to satisfy expenses. There are also grants available through foundations, but there are several hundred, if not thousands of non-profits applying for the same grants. The adoption fees charged by a rescue do not support the entire mission. Our adoption fees typically cover the basics that we provide to each and every pet: spay/neuter, microchip, vaccinations, nail trims, flea/tick prevention, and disease testing. These are the services we regularly provide that are considered extraordinary expenses. They include, but are not limited to:

• Dentals and extractions
• Light grooming
• Respiratory infections
• Skin conditions such as mange, ringworm, yeast, etc.
• Ear infections
• Allergies
• Mass removals with biopsy
• Eye infections, repairs and removals
• Amputations
• C-sections
• Bloodwork
• Anxiety, depression, and aggression
• Heartworm treatment
• Ex-rays
• Foreign body removals
• Pyometra surgery
• Outsourced orthopedic surgeries such as hip replacement, TPO, ACL, etc.

These services are not covered by the adoption fees. Nor are the payroll expenses, insurance, pet food, cat litter, building maintenance, transportation costs, medications, utilities, advertising, supplies, waste removal, etc. Though some may feel that $100 to $400 is high for an adoption, others understand that it does not come close to covering the expenses of the mission. If you would like to help us in our vision to someday live in a no-kill society, please consider donating.