The Cost of Cuteness

There are several shelters in North Carolina and at least one in every county. Each have their own set costs for adopting your pet and for very good reason. According to a WCAS worker "there must be a fee to adopt or even reclaim a cat dog or small animal, because if we just let the animal go for free we have no clue whether or not that new pet owner is going to have the funds to take care of the animal, including taking the animal for all of its vaccinations." This volunteer chooses to remain anonymous but I completely agree. The fee at the Wake County Shelter is $95 to adopt a dog and $45 to adopt a cat. This fee includes FIV testing for cats as well as de-worming and all vaccinations/shots. The animal is not allowed to leave the shelter without being neutered/spayed due to over breeding and owners letting their pets run wild. If the animal did not have to be spayed/neutered by the shelter the fee drops to $15 for cat and $45 for a dog. Even if the animal entered the shelter as an un fixed stray and its rightful owner comes to pick it up even that same day, the owner pays a fee which includes the animal being spayed/neutered. Prices my vary due to the animals specific needs while in the shelter. In the past some dogs and cats were over $100 to adopt but according to WCAS lower prices intise the public to come in and at least look around. If an individual would like to foster to adopt the fee is $200 which is then refunded when the pet is formerly fixed and adopted.

This is my little guy that I adopted from the Durham shelter. Although the shelter accidentally gave him to me still un-fixed I have recently called them to schedule an appointment, and with no questions asked the front desk set me up to bring him in with in the next week. It is so important to have these animals fixed not only because of over breeding but because it can cause many health problems in the future. Oz is a surrender with high separation anxiety. He was so miserable when I saw him in his cage shaking. As soon as I took him out he was so playful with his tail waiving straight up like a "happy flag." He was also un-groomed in both his online photo and when I went to visit him. I had no idea he was such a cutie pie. Regardless of having my cat, Fred-Weezy, for two years prior to adopting Oz, it became very relevant that raising a dog is a lot more difficult than taking care of a cat. After adopting Oz in February I knew what it was like to go from simple carefree cat owner to some what of a stressed single mother over night. Having a dog is a completely different experience than owning a cat. I am happy about my adoption but it was a very difficult transition especially in the middle of the semester. I am relieved that Ozzy and I are now in a routine but I do regret making such a quick decision just to get him out of a cage.
Fred-Weezy (pictured below)