Glossary

Adoption fee

The payment a shelter or rescue asks when you adopt a dog, helping cover vet care and running costs, often including vaccines, spay or neuter and a microchip.

Also called: adoption donation, rehoming fee, adoption cost, adoption fees, rescue fee

An adoption fee is what a shelter or rescue group charges when you take a dog home. It is not a purchase price. The money pays for the care the dog has already had, such as food, housing and vaccines, and the cost of the organisation. Fees vary a good deal by group and region, and puppies often cost more than adult dogs.

Fees often include a bundle, such as a spay or neuter, vaccines, a microchip and a health check. Ask for a written list of what is included and for the dog's records.

Be careful with anyone who asks for payment by gift card or wire, or who offers a dog for a large fee to an individual. A genuine dog rescue or animal shelter gives a receipt and a contract.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Dog rescue A non-profit or volunteer group that takes in dogs from shelters, owners or the street and places them in new homes, often through foster homes. Animal shelter A facility that houses stray, lost and surrendered dogs and cats, run by a city, county or non-profit, which returns pets to owners or places them in new homes. Spay and neuter in rescues The common practice of sterilising dogs before or soon after adoption, set by shelter or rescue policy to prevent unplanned litters. Microchip and registry A rice-sized implant that holds an ID number, which links to your contact details only if you register it; it is not a GPS tracker.