Adoption Donations

Molly's Mutts & Meows asks each adopter for an adoption donation in the amount of $250 for dogs and $150 for one cat, or $200 for two cats adopted at the same time.

Once in a great while, we get asked the question, “Why is there an adoption donation?” or “Why am I paying this much for a (fill in the blank) mixed breed, senior dog/cat, dog or cat that has a certain condition, etc.?” Here's why...

First and foremost, we don't discriminate. In our opinion, each life is just as valuable as the next. Whether you are adopting an 8 year old ‘mutt' or a 4 month old purebred Golden Retriever, there is no higher or lesser value placed on one animal over the other.

Molly's Mutts & Meows is a non-profit 501c3 that operates solely on donations. Our volunteers are not paid. No one receives a salary. (Almost everyone works full time jobs in addition to volunteering for the rescue). All of our donations go directly to the dogs and cats. Aside from the usual operating expenses and putting on adoption events each weekend (which includes park permits, liability insurance, etc), each animal that comes into our rescue receives any medical care that is needed. At a minimum, this includes, but is not limited to, a full exam, spay or neuter, microchip, and grooming. Routinely, this also can include blood work (if needed), dental (if needed), and it is not uncommon that some of these dogs and cats require much more extensive care as many of them are sick when we pull them from the shelter. Some have even required surgery from specialty veterinarians.

Below are some example costs that we incur with each animal. (Please note - prices are average costs from several different veterinarians in the Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley. Rescue organizations pay for veterinary care just like everyone else.)


Veterinary Service

Cost –
(Low
range)

Cost –
(High
range)

 Shelter Pull Fee (Dog)

$ 30

$ 117

 Shelter Pull Fee (Cat)

$ 30

$   76

 Full veterinary exam

$ 39

$   52

 Vaccinations

$ 39

$   54

 Spay (medium size dog)

$255

$ 475

 Spay (cat)

$187

$ 287

 Neuter (medium size dog)

$191

$ 457

 Neuter (cat)

$ 90

$ 263

 Micro-chip

$ 25

$   45

 Grooming

$ 25

$   75

 Blood Panel

$ 76

$ 106

 Fecal

$ 30

$   44

 X-Ray (2 views)

$118

$ 133

 FELV & FIV Testing (cats)

$ 40

$   70

 Dental

$200

$500

 Advantage/Frontline/
 Revolution (per month)

$ 25

$   50

 Surgery

$300

$3000

 

In 2008 – MM&M spent a total of $34,083.17
on veterinary care for our animals.

 

In 2009  –  MM&M spent a total of $65,674.25
on veterinary care of our animals.

Our adoption donation does not come remotely close to covering what we spend on each animal.  We spend an average of $500 - $700 on each animal that comes into our rescue.   Without donations, we would not be able to continue to save the lives of homeless cats and dogs in the Los Angeles area.  

We thank you for your support and for making adoption the first option for almost 500 mutts and meows.