Animal rescue can be rewarding, but overwhelming, if you don’t plan for both the expected and the unexpected.
Lately within the state of Oklahoma, and probably many other locations, we have seen rescues struggle to operate effectively. Many of these rescues meant well when they began, but quickly became overwhelmed. Many are simply naïve. One recent rescuer commented that she assumed her new rescue website would bring in more donations, when in fact it only resulted in a staggering increase of cries for help to take a dog. Another rescuer indicated they were hoping their 501 c 3 would hurry up and get processed, because she was under the impression it would automatically result in many donations and free food from PetsMart.
Then, there is the perception of people who don’t want to surrender their animals to rescues, saying they “don’t like” the idea of rescues ‘making money’ off those animals with their adoption fees. Instead, they try to give them away on publications such as Free Cycle, and do not qualify adopters. They are not aware that adoption fees, often $35-$250, frequently don’t begin to cover the expense of neutering, vaccinating, de-worming, feeding, and providing flea and tick meds for even one month.
Animal rescue can be a very rewarding opportunity it you plan properly and can manage, but you can contribute to the problem if you end up needing to be rescued yourself and don’t plan for the unexpected.
Some financial facts:Kim at
OK SAVE A DOG recently adopted out a female cocker she had rescued six weeks earlier. The adoption fee was $100, and Kim anticipated she lost money on her even though she was already spayed. Kim is not complaining, indicating “this is what rescue is all about!” But, these are the types of issues that cause many rescues to cut corners in an attempt to remain open and afloat hoping things will change.
Kim continues some thoughts here:
Much of what people (rescues) do not think about are the "extra" things, not just the vet work.
For certain animals like Missy (the cocker) there was grooming (remember what a mess she was?).
Here is Missy after four baths and grooming!
Then, there are bowls, buckets, fences, pens, beds, blankets, sheets towels, crates, rakes, shovels, and dog houses. I have three buildings; one was $2200, one was $800, one was $1250. I needed two large dog houses at $400. All those funds have to be obtained. Most people think I get grants and discounts, but I can honestly say I get not one discount and have paid for everything I have just the same as an average person pays for it.
I figured out that it costs an average of $250 to get a dog ready for adoption. There are many dogs for which I receive only a $50 adoption fee, and some I can charge a larger adoption fee.. This helps to balance it out, but it takes planning. Some people criticized me for having an adoption fee of $200 for a little Yorkie, but that is what the market allows for and it helps pay for the other ones that do not move quickly.
Here is Lucy, the pregnant lab we rescued who gave birth to 10 puppies with canine herpesvirus, and who herself contracted ehrlichia; the cost of treating her and her pups was escalating, and I still lost six of those puppies despite all the efforts.
When I have a heartworm positive dog, the costs skyrocket. I spend about $200 a month on flea and tick medications alone. All dogs are wormed, on heartworm preventative, and given flea/tick medications monthly, so the bigger they are and the longer they stay here, the more costs they absorb. I have a heartworm positive dog like Trixie who has been here 4 months. I have mange pups that came and needed extra medications and help. Then, I have wonderful deserving dogs like Simon who is here simply because no one wants him.
It is not unusual for me to sit down and buy $300 worth of buckets or chews. My rescue and transport truck requires insurance, tires, gas, registration - that stuff is not considered. I have talked to rescues who think only about the food and vet bills. For me, the vet alone last year was $19,000. That does not count the shots that I do myself. Food in 2007 was $12,000.
Tina from
Forever Friends Humane Society added some thoughts of her own:
I agree with all that Kim said. I have done the same thing as in spending for fencing, buildings, dog houses, etc. The vet bills are never ending. My bill this month is $850, last month it was $675 and the month before it was $500. There is always animals that get sick, there is always medications to buy, there is always altering to be done. Some things are not much, but it adds up after a while! I have to add new bedding every 2 weeks for the dog houses, which gets costly at $5 per bag! I do get many donations from Petco for dog food, but most of the time it is adult food; I usually have to buy the puppy food.
Someone asked me once why I go every weekend to do pet adoptions. Well, it is so I can pay the bills! I never have a free weekend, and it seems at times that I am completely on the go Friday-Saturday-Sunday. Rescue is very tiring and sometimes with my lupus I get by on my last bit of energy, but it has to be done. You just do what you’ve got to do! I know we all have spent so much out of our own pockets to help the animals. I try to send some when another group needs it, as I know for sure that every little bit helps.
Here is a picture of Cheryl and Betty one night descending on a failed rescue operation and trying to catch and round up cats in February of 2007.
The house was a complete mess. It was unsanitary, unhealthy, and cats were hiding in cabinets, in closets, and behind the furnace. Certainly, the rescue did not intend for things to end up this way, but the lack of planning and eventual abandonment (the owner went in to hiding due to fear of cruelty charges), placed a burden on rescues already overloaded.
Tina continues: Right now, one of our biggest expenses is gas. Cheryl drives all over the place every week and spends hundreds on gas. I drive to Fayetteville and Ft. Smith at least 10 times a month to do adoption events. I had a lady tell me one day at the adoption event: "$35.00 is a lot to ask for a mutt puppy, I will take one if you weren't asking so much." I told her this wasn't a garage sale, and then I informed her that they had their shots, worming, and frontline. She said, "Well, then I will give you what you have in the puppy then." So I took out a piece of paper and this is what I put and then handed it to her:
Puppy shots - $3 each (this pup has all 3)
Puppy worming - $2
Frontline - $2
Puppy food - $20
Puppy bath - $3
Puppy antibiotics - $15
Puppy bandana - $2
Gas to get to Petco - $40
Time I got to spend with puppy - Priceless!
She walked away. It doesn’t matter - I wouldn't have let her adopt after the first part of our conversation. Last month, I adopted out 124 puppies, so by doing the math you can see there is no way to ever come out ahead! Here is our 2007 cash recap:
Beginning Cash Balance: -2,598.61
Donations: 3,078.00 (included in deposits)
Deposits: 38,468.24
Interest Paid: 1,025.19
Vet & Medical : 13,404.38
Supplies (food, kennel, etc.): 9,319.61
Office Supplies: 7,089.98
Building Supplies: 269.48
Advertising: 147.10
Mileage (tolls, gas, etc): 7,135.98
Storage Unit: 420.00
Fee Reimbursement: 1,288.00
Fees Paid Other Groups: 2,130.00
Fees for Licensing: 775.00
Insurance: -0- (variable)
Meals: 953.12
Ending Cash Balance: -5,484.60
Kim concludes: “We need a ‘what happens to free dogs’ episode as much as we needed Oprah and the puppy mills story! Please tell people about the medical labs, the puppy mills, dogs being used for bait, and other bad things that happen.”
How You Can Help:
Support your local shelter or rescue such as
OK SAVE A DOG or
Forever Friends Humane Society. If you are not familiar with those two, there are probably local rescues in your area who would love to have your help! Post below and we’ll match you up with some good rescues in your area.
Attend a BF Sanctuary starter
workshop.
Participate in the sanctuary forums on the
Best Friends Network.
Review the Best Friends document
How To Start A Sanctuary.
Written and posted by Marti Lombardi, Volunteer for the Oklahoma Community of the Best Friends Animal SocietyPictured is Oscar, a friendly Staffordshire Bull Terrier at FFHS who was skin and bones but gained 46 pounds and is now ready for his forever home.