Adoption Fees

Why are there fees associated with adopting a dog?

Adoption fees help cover the costs of caring for adoptable dogs and puppies while they are waiting to find their furever families. This care includes everything from transportation to food to wellness to corrective veterinary care.

Luckily, we have amazing partners who are able to offer discounted care for our foster pups prior to adoption. This is why our adoption fees are significantly less than what you would pay if you bought a dog and then paid for basic vetting.

All dogs and puppies:

$475

All TLC dogs are up to date on all age-appropriate vaccinations and have been microchipped with lifetime registration prior to being adopted.

When you adopt from To Love a Canine Rescue, you can rest assured that your dog has been cared for completely. Your adoption fee covers a number of preventative care measures as well as lifetime resources within our community.

Your non-refundable adoption fee includes:

  • Microchipping with lifetime registration

  • Wellness exam and medical evaluation prior to traveling to TLC

  • Behavior evaluation

  • Heartworm testing if age appropriate and full heartworm treatment covered at one of our vetting partners if necessary

  • Deworming if necessary

  • Spaying/neutering (unless a dog is too small/young to safely perform the surgery prior to adoption)

    • If the puppy is intact upon adoption, we offer free spay/neuter options through our vetting partners

  • Age-appropriate vaccines

    • Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus, Bordetella, Rabies vaccines (for dogs 6 months & older)

  • Flea & tick prevention

  • Heartworm prevention

  • Free phone/email support from our trainers

  • Discount on obedience training classes with our partner trainers

The average cost per rescue dog in our care is $700, but many require additional care and attention. This ranges from Heartworm treatment to corrective surgery to behavioral training. Take a look at the cost of rescue below.

Additional Spay/Neuter Deposit

Please Note: there is a refundable spay/neuter deposit of $225 for puppies that are intact at the time of adoption.

  • All intact puppies adopted from TLC are expected to be spayed/neutered as soon as the vet determines it is safe to perform the procedure

  • The deposit will be refunded to you when we receive a copy of the spay/neuter certificate provided by your vet after the procedure is performed

  • This deposit is not part of the adoption fee

  • If you are approved to adopt a puppy that is not yet spayed/neutered, your adoption coordinator will speak to you about the options and timing for spay/neuter surgery