Oregon Dog Rescue is often asked what is included in our adoption fees. Because we are a young organization with a limited donor base and no government funding, we rely primarily on adoption fees to support our mission. Some of our costs are obvious, such as food for the pooches, spaying/neutering, vet visits, crates, bedding, and toys and chewies (which have to be replaced on a regular basis). We also flea-treat and worm every dog that comes into our program, unless we are aware that it has been done recently.

The dogs that are not fostered by volunteers go to the homes of Deb and Krystyna. The crates and areas where the dogs congregate there, both inside and out, need to be kept clean, which makes our cleaning supply costs significant. Laundry detergents, carpet cleaning sprays, and disinfectants are required. While we order from low-cost pet catalogs and shop carefully, we are always trying to increase the number of dogs for which we can find homes.

There are additional costs that are not as apparent. An extensive amount of paper and ink is necessary for our computers. The water and electric bills at Deb and Krystyna’s houses are considerable due to bathing, laundry (lots of towels and mats) and water for the dogs. The cost of gas and the number of miles put on our cars is substantial. We must transport dogs, pick pooches up at shelters, and run errands.

We hope this information is useful in helping potential adopters understand the costs that are involved in supporting Oregon Dog Rescue. While we have fundraisers and a limited donor base, the greater part of our program is supported by adoption fees, which are determined by the cost of operating our program.