The other day, someone asked me why we “charge so much” for a rescue dog — especially when shelters and humane societies practically give them away.

I’ll be honest — my first instinct was to get defensive. I wanted to say, “Do you have any idea what our dogs go through?”

But then I took a breath. The truth is simple:
We care — deeply — about these dogs.

When we take in a rescue, we don’t just feed them and post a photo. We heal them — body and spirit — so that when they go home, they are truly ready for their forever family.

Take little Luka, for example. He was born with Swimmer’s Syndrome, a condition that can be devastating without proper care. Luka was examined by three veterinarians, including two surgeons. After X-rays and a soft tissue ultrasound, it was determined that he didn’t need surgery — but the diagnostic work alone cost far more than his adoption fee ever covered.

Or sweet Caramel, our red toy poodle. When she came to us, her jaw was broken. We didn’t hesitate to get her the care she needed. Since then, she’s undergone multiple surgeries to repair her torn shoulder and ligaments — thousands of dollars in medical treatment to give her a pain-free life.

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What many people don’t realize is that shelters and humane societies have on-site veterinarians who handle most of their medical needs. They can perform spay and neuter surgeries, vaccines, heartworm and fecal testing, and microchipping all under one roof. That’s how they’re able to keep their adoption fees low — because they provide only the basic level of care before adopting a dog out.

When a shelter takes in a dog that needs specialist care, advanced surgery, or long-term rehabilitation, they often reach out to rescues like ours — because we can provide that next level of care and absorb the cost.

For us, it’s different.
We pay regular veterinary prices for every service — every X-ray, dental, blood panel, and surgery. Some kind-hearted veterinarians give us small discounts, but many simply can’t.

A dental cleaning alone starts at around $450, before anesthesia, medications, and extractions. And each extraction can cost between $65 and $180, depending on how complicated it is.

Most of our rescues are former puppy mill moms and dads, with mouths in terrible condition from years of neglect. Many lose most or all of their teeth during these procedures, driving the total cost much higher.

When you add in the basics — spay or neuter surgery, vaccines, heartworm and fecal tests, microchipping, and other standard care — the adoption fees we ask for hardly cover those essentials.

So where do the other tens of thousands of dollars come from?
They come from fundraising events, donations, and the generosity of people who believe in what we do — people who understand that rescue isn’t cheap, but compassion is priceless.

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Our non-profit rescue is not subsidized by local government. We are a 100% volunteer organization, relying solely on adoption fees and donations to save dogs who might otherwise die without ever knowing love.

That’s what we do. We take rescuing seriously.
We don’t cut corners. We don’t turn away because it’s expensive or inconvenient.

So yes, our adoption fees may be higher than some shelters. But behind every fee is a story of care, compassion, and commitment — and a promise that no dog leaves our rescue without being truly ready for their new beginning.

Because that’s our mission:
💙 To heal. To love. To give them the forever they deserve.