to think £200 for ...

[RedbreastRobin]

...a mixed breed rescue dog (not a pup) is excessive? Are they having me on?

[propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS]

You could have a night away in a nice hotel for that.

[WorraLiberty]

It depends on what the rescue center are offering with it?

But it does sound excessive.

Which one is it?

[KissMeHardy]

Our local Dogs Trust charge at least £100 for one of their rescue dogs !

£200 does seem a little excessive though

[lljkk]

I suppose it's a pittance compared to what annual costs of owning a dog can be.
Would put me off, too.

[RedbreastRobin]

I realise they have a lot of costs, and dogs are generally expensive, but she was giving it a bit of the hard sell, telling me that I'd be looking at £400-£500 if I were to buy private

I just think that must put a lot of people off, and surely the most important thing is that these dogs get a decent home after a shitty start

[BrokenSunglasses]

The rescue will have a high price partly to make sure that owners get message that owning a rescue dog is a big commitment and expense, plus they probably try to make back some of what it cost to keep/rehabilitate the dog.

I understand its a lot of money, but it's a dog.

[RedbreastRobin]

They come chipped, neutered, wormed and flead.

[StuntGirl]

The RSPCA near us charges £100. That's to ensure the animal is neutered and chipped and has a health check at the vets. What does yours cover for that cost?

[cricketballs]

the rescue charity has a lot of costs - kennels, vets, admin, insurance, feeds, trainers etc that unfortunately needs to be met and therefore a charge is made to cover these costs. £200 does seem a bit high though so ask them what this charge covers; a reputable rescue will be very open and honest regarding their costs

[StuntGirl]

Well there you go. If you don't like it shop around. Different rescue centres charge different amounts.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Our rescue dog, from the Dogs' Trust, was spayed, wormed, microchipped etc, and we paid £110, iirc.

Is this an independent shelter or one of the big national ones, OP?

I would be very about the hard sell she gave you.

[Spikeytree]

My little lad cost £52 from the RSPCA 14 years ago and is still going strong. He then cost me £500 just 3 days later for a serious operation for a pre-existing condition they had missed, so my insurance didn't cover it.

Whilst £200 may seem a lot it is a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of ongoing dog ownership, so don't take it on unless you are sure you can afford it.

[teaforthree]

We paid £120 for our 16 month old crossbreed from the RSPCA. We did look at the German Shepherd Dog Rescue and they wanted over £200 for a pedigree GSD. I wouldn't trust it if she was giving you the hard sell though, our experience has been rescues don't want to give their dogs to just anyone.

[WorraLiberty]

It's nothing compared to how much the OP will end up spending on the dog over the years.

But that doesn't mean she's going to be happy to be ripped off for any amount of money.

And this does sound like a rip off.

[Spikeytree]

What size of dog is it? Neutering can be rather expensive, so that might explain the cost.

We had home visits, all the family had to go twice to the rescue centre to spend an afternoon with the dog and a worker so we could be assessed on our ability to care for the dog, so I can easily see how the costs mount up. My little lad had only been there 3 days before we picked him out, but some had been there for years, so no doubt cost a fortune to look after.

teaforthree, £200 for a pedigree GS is cheap indeed.

[RedbreastRobin]

We already have a dog, so fully aware of ongoing costs.

We are after a small crossbreed, not at all fussed apart from it obviously has to get along with our current dog. Not after a specific or 'designer' dog AT ALL

[Spikeytree]

Well, if you haven't already chosen and fallen for one, move on and look elsewhere if you are unhappy with the cost.

[StephenFrySaidSo]

is it definitely a rescue?

I ask because there is a place local to me that has 3 different 'operations' going on. they have the contract from the council for taking in the dogs the warden catches, they also breed dogs and they say they are a rescue and rehoming centre aswell. BUT- they seem to regularly have a few litters of a certain type of pup to 'rehome' and the cost is the same as if you were to buy one of their pups that they breed.

I am very about this tbh.

[Spikeytree]

Stephen, many breeders also act as re-homing centres for the breeds they breed. We have a local Belgian Shepherd breeder who also takes in and re-homes Belgians from across the region.

[Preferthedogtothekids]

When you donate to a rescue, you are not buying that dog, rather you are paying towards the general running of the rescue. Many of the dogs will cost the rescue much more than £200, possibly into the thousands for their healthcare. Your dog will (hopefully if it's a good rescue) have lifetime behaviour support and will always have a place to go if you can't keep it. Your dog will possibly be neutered, usually chipped and up-to-date on vaccs, will have been transported, boarded, fed and assessed. The majority of the staff will be volunteers who spend their free time fundraising to help make up the deficit from the donations. £200 is a drop in the ocean. I would be happy to pay that, and have done. I also have the most wonderful collie who came from a rescue 2 years ago having been fully assessed in a family home for several weeks. Priceless.

[StephenFrySaidSo]

spikey would the rescued dogs also be sold for the same price as the 'bred' dogs even when other rescues are going for the standard £70?

[Tryharder]

I think that £200 is cheap to get a dog that is vaccinated, neutered and chipped.

And agree that they have to charge to prevent nutters and non=serious people from adopting dogs.

[Spikeytree]

I don't know Stephen, they only shelter and re-home Belgians, which is the norm here e.g. my friend who breeds St Bernards will take in abandoned ones and re-home. If you suspect fraud you should report it.

[Floatsyourboat]

If the pup comes chipped, neutered, wormed and flea'd then £200 is a bargain as it cost me over £100 to get my pup neutered.

[StephenFrySaidSo]

I have reported my concerns to the council following a really dodgy event happening and was told they would investigate- but I never heard anything back from it. I assumed it was all ok but I still have my suspicions. others locally do to.