Should I ask to just be given this rescue dog?

[Need2morehands]

I have been browsing rescue pages looking for a dog for my mil and came across one that was 16 years old and instantly fell in love. Went to see him and he is in good health apart from having had kennel cough and only having half his teeth. I already have a dog whose 9 so they would have to get along before a decision could be made but my dp thinks that at his age they should be happy to just refine him for a donation not the fee that they are asking for due to his age and that we would be taking him to basically make him comfortably. Is this unreasonable? I really just want to bring him home and spoil him he was so sad sat in that noisy place.

Just pay the fee. The re homing centre needs that money to continue their work. We've just fostered a staffy (as you say, there are a lot of them needing forever homes.). The charity wouldn't let us adopt her until they pay for her knee operation (next Tuesday). As it happens we, as a family, are in a position to pay for it ourselves so we have agreed with the center that we will make an equivalent donation.

But just imagine if someone else fell in love with our girl, and the charity couldn't afford her operation and neither could they? Our beautiful, playfull, needy little girl may have had to be pts.

You will be getting a dog who has been certified as fit, the dogs personality and needs will have been matched to yours and you will have been made aware of any specific needs of the dog. Seems a small price to pay

I was originally told £150 but that was a mistake then £130 then eventually £70. I have also just been told the rescue is full of kennel cough and that my dog would probably get it too.

I would say honestly that the rescue need the money and it is not about paying for the dog itself as as such and I'd be worried about someone taking an older boy who would potentially need expensive care if they were baulking about the donation. I definitely think you should just pay the fee. IME the initial cost of the animal is outweighed many many times by the cost of daily feeding and caring for the animal, vets bills, boarding etc.

Those prices weren’t me asking it to be lowered that was a member of staff who didn’t know the fees.

It’s the ongoing cost that could be an issue and another reason my dp wants a lower initial fee.

I think it would mean the less popular dogs would be more likely to end up in homes where, however well-meaning the owners were, they couldn't really afford the ongoing upkeep of a dog.

the rescue is full of kennel cough and that my dog would probably get it too

That doesn't make the rescue sound very good!

That’s what I have been told by staff that it’s on their clothes and it is highly contagious which I know but I assumed that the dogs infected were kept separate but apparently they arnt. This dog has been treated for it but can still pass it to mine which I wasn’t aware of.

I get what you're saying and somewhat agree... specific breeds like dalmatians and huskies paws barely touch the ground and older and cross breeds can be there a while.. and council pounds more often than not have a euthanasia policy..

It’s the ongoing cost that could be an issue

But the ongoing cost of a younger dog will still be high if not higher as you have many more years ahead.

I have seen some well known rescues that have some dogs just as donation if they have issue or medical problems etc so don't think OP is that unreasonable for suggesting it

Ive had rescues from two different rescues and both gave a discount on older dogs.

Is your husband quibbling over £70?!

It seems really petty to quibble about the cost as if you were buying something from a shop.
The amount you pay isn't related to what the dog is worth, it goes to support all the work the charity does in helping look after and rehome them.
The cost of the dog is small compared to all the other expenses of dog ownership.

If you can afford it, then just pay. An old dog generally takes more time to be rehomed so costs them more. They don’t want someone to adopt a particular dog because he’s cheaper either. Putting “price’ down can attract the wrong adopter.