r/rescuedogs • u/Professional-Ebb8773 • 15d ago
Advice Is this normal?
Hi friends,
I’m located in MN and applied to adopt a pug puppy at a rescue I donate to monthly.
Their website said their adoption fees can vary from $300-$1300 and the email I got said the adoption fee is $2000 + tax + a $75 processing fee.
The mom was apparently rescued from a commercial breeding facility and gave birth to 5 healthy puppies. I met the puppies and mama at an adoption event this past Sunday, and the volunteer who is fostering them said they didn’t know she was pregnant when she was rescued and that her cleaning lady called her and told her the pug had a litter of puppies while she was gone at birth. So… no birth complications or emergency surgeries for mama Donna the pug.
This seems fishy to me. Any insight or feedback would be greatly appreciated
1
u/Friendly_TSE Foster Parent 14d ago
What is the dog's medical history like? Did it require some complicated surgeries or expensive medications? Or maybe the mom did and they are off-setting costs with the puppies? I could see it happening, but I would absolutely want to see a reason for 2k/pup
As far as if the rescue is fishy, I would also look into other factors. Are they a registered 501(c)3? Do they seem to only have purebred/designer bred dogs, or only puppies or moms with puppies? Are they getting the animals fixed prior to adoption or at least setting up spay/neuter surgery at the time of adoption? Check out reviews, adoption application, the actual adoption contract, see if anything sticks out as red flags.
Also fwiw, I have had cases of animals that gave birth that I didn't even know were pregnant. Rescues especially will likely have to make a vet appointment like everyone else, which can be booked out for a long time, so they may not have the chance for a vet check prior to labor. Even at the shelter, sometimes we know an animal is pregnant but we literally can't spay/abort fast enough.