Before we can place a pet, there are some costs that are
inevitable. Below are examples of what needs to be done before a
dog can be adopted out. These require time, money
and dedication.
- Food, can't do without it!.
- Rabies shot (required by state law, at least $13) and a general assessment (add the cost of a vet visit)
- Deworming.
Most pets have had very little care and are wormy: intestinal worms can actually kill a puppy. Every dog needs to be dewormed for roundworms and hookworms but also for tapeworms (which are mainly transmitted by fleas). The medication for tapeworms is costly: about $1.50 per pill. A 50 lb dog, for ex., would need 3 pills.
- Flea/tick treatment and prevention.
Treating a dog for tapeworms but not treating for fleas is an exercise in futility. These products are also quite costly.
- Vaccinations.
Adult dogs need to be vaccinated at least once a year against parvo and distemper (plus other diseases), puppies need at least 2 boosters. Each shot costs us about $5.
Vaccinating against kennel cough is also a good idea (another $5)
- Heartworm test and, most of the time, heartworm treatment.
Heartworms are transmitted by mostquitoes and can be deadly. Dogs can be positive as young as 6 months of age and have to be tested (at least $15 plus the visit to the vet). Without prevention, most Southerns dogs are high positive by the age of one year old. The heartworm treatment is both lengthy (2 to 3 months), costly and dangerous. During treatment, the dog has to stay as calm as possible to avoid embolism from dead worms traveling through the body. This means that a trustworthy foster home is needed for all this time, as well as funding to cover the treatment (from $100 to $500 per dog).
Please put your dogs on heartworm prevention. Preventing heartworm is SO MUCH EASIER than treating them.
IMPORTANT: Heartworm prevention CANNOT be purchased from convenience stores like Wal Mart. Do not confuse intestinal dewormers and heartwom prevention. For more info, go to http://heartwormsociety.org.
- Spaying/neutering.
This is state law: pets for adoption have to be fixed. The costs depends on the pet's gender and weight (from $60 to $225)
- Skin conditions.
Many pets suffer from mange or ringworms. These conditions have to be treated before a pet can be adopted out. This requires time, money, and a place for the pet to stay.
- Upper respiratory diseases.
It is not uncommon for dogs from the pound to be coughing. This can be due to heartworms (see above), to kennel cough, or other upper respiratory infections. Treatment requires a visit to the vet and medications. The dog cannot be placed before complete recovery.
- Transportation.
Of course, there are the trips to take the pets to the vet's and back. Also, sometimes another animal welfare organization (i.e. a "rescue group") offers to take a dog under their care. If the group is out of town (most of the time, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles or New Orleans, sometimes in another state) the pet has to be transported there.
- Health certificate.
If the pet is adopted or rescued out of state, we need to take the pet to the vet again for a health certificate, a document required when crossing state lines (add a vet visit plus about $15 for the certificate).
- Other BIG problems.
Parvo and distemper are killers. When a dog suffers from one of these diseases, costs add up, way beyond what we can afford.
Also, there are cases of pets who are perfectly adoptable but suffer from broken limbs. Or pets who are so skinny when we get them that they have to gain weight before undergoing any kind of serious treatment or surgery. See the pets we've helped and those who need help.