Rocky’s K9 Rescue is a small private rescue, and does not receive funding of any kind. . Bottom line is, Rocky’s is run at a loss. Rocky’s sometimes take older animals, and sick or injured animals, as well as healthy and deserving dogs and cats. Fees change from pet to pet, depending on their situation. As an example a senior pet may be little harder to rehome and has been taken in to give him/her a chance. The senior dog may need to be ‘in care’ for some time. Rocky’s accepts a ‘token’ fee. On the other side of that, re-homing a puppy that many many people want will attract a higher fee. Why? – because it helps to balance it out. Rocky’s will take a higher fee to offset the lower fees and to help fund the needs of other animals.
Each pet will have their adoption fee listed. We do not negotiate on adoption or admin fees.
Taking a Pet on Trial
We stress that the adoption of a dog or cat is a lifetime commitment. When you meet a dog or cat you are interested in, we urge you to bring your whole family including any other pets. There is a two week trial period. If during that time you decide this is not the right dog or cat for you, you are able to return your pet to Rocky’s K9 Rescue. Once a dog or cat goes on trial, this is what happens:
- We continue to rescue other animals, we have a constant stream of animals coming into care
- Their foster carer may take on a new pet or become unavailable
- The pet is listed as ‘on trial’ and as such, no longer receives enquiries for a new home
If you return your pet, we then have to reactivate the search for a new home. We need to either make room at the main shelter or arrange a foster care place. Then we return to arranging meetings by email, phone calls to find this pet the right home.
Administration Fee
For this reason, your adoption fee will be refunded with the exception of a $100 administration fee. This is a policy that is in place in many (not all) animal rescue services. Again, we emphasise our resources are extremely limited and we have found this fee to be necessary to minimise our own costs financially and to our limited resources.
Direct Aid
Rockys’ K9 Rescue runs at a loss. Adoption and admin fees do not cover the cost of running a rescue with all it’s associated costs – food, vets, grooming, treatments, transport and petrol, boarding fees (when the shelter is full and so are our foster carers), phone calls etc. The reward is our high rehome rate, and the absolute pleasure of making a difference and saving the lives of good and deserving animals.