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Free Cat for a Good Home?

Written by Anne


An interesting debate is taking place among shelters in Salt Lake county.

The county's shelter has proudly announced it has come up with a plan to save hundreds of cats' lives. They have raised the adoption fee for dogs to close to $300, which in turn allowed them to lower adult cat adoption fees to.... zero.

According to the shelter, they have been adopting out cats in record numbers, to the point that they hope to become a no-kill shelter in three years time.

Executive Director of the Humane Society of Utah, Gene Baierschmidt brings forward the other side of the argument saying, "We want to save animals' lives, but we want to make sure there is some value placed on the animal," he says. "People may value the animal more if they pay a nominal fee." With a free adoption, he said, "you can't even say they are a dime a dozen."

"We want to save animals' lives, but we want to make sure there is some value placed on the animal, ...People may value the animal more if they pay a nominal fee. With a free adoption, you can't even say they are a dime a dozen." Baierschmidt's position is fairly established and has been recommended to private people attempting to re-home cats and kittens. You will find it stated in our guide Kittens to Good Homes as well.

 

I did find it interesting that research conducted by Emily Weiss, senior director of shelter research and development for the ASPCA indicates that there was no difference in the level of attachment of owners to their cats whether an adoption fee was charged or not. My take on it? I think shelters, with their established owner screening methods may indeed be able to do a good job re-homing cats regardless of any fees involved.

 

I still believe that if you have to find good homes to a stray cat or kitten, asking for an adoption fee that will cover the costs of basic vet care, including spaying/neutering, is a good way for you to tell can give the cat a good home.

Comments (19)

GhostUser 3/15/10 at 6:29pm
I don't get it- why not let the dogs go for free? Are they reinforcing the idea that cats are more "disposable"? What sort of screening is done for each species(critical)? this seems quite illogical.
GhostUser 3/15/10 at 9:29pm
I always thought the reason for a fee was to help pay for the shots and spaying or neutering.I wonder if these cats that are free have that done or are they leaving it up to the owner to do.If they have it done before they are adopted,then the dogs must be the same.In that case,both should be free.
GhostUser 3/16/10 at 4:53am
Hi, its nice for a animal to have a home, but are they going to have a home? If it is all free, that is alittle scarey, I think, I got my Big Cat from a Shelter and Paid, You feel better about it, cause those people were caring for that Pet all alone, and that costs, so its hard, I wish I could care for more, I would, I love the Cats, and they do need homes, and love. Thanks Cat Lover Here
GhostUser 3/16/10 at 5:40am
I think so many people are giving up their pets because they cant afford them as it is...someone who wants to take in a stray of ANY species is a Godsend! Unfortunately I know first hand that my capacity to love is much greater than my pocketbook. I could not afford the fees charged for adopting a pet that would otherwise be destroyed. Screen? Yes, charge? no. Ask for a donation but do not set an amount. Just save their lives!
Pat Traufield 3/16/10 at 6:48am
I think that offering cats for "free" does devalue them. Adoption fees could be low and reasonable - say $10. If someone cannot afford a reasonable adoption fee then they cannot probably afford a pet. The dog adoption fee seems very high.
GhostUser 3/16/10 at 12:21pm
Charging no fee for cats while charging $300 for dogs is LUDICROUS. All of the "experts" I've studied agree that a fee must be charged for adoption of a living being and that that fee must be large enough to discourage those who should never be entrusted with the care of a living being. And yes, I agree with Judy Cook. If they are going to do "freebies", let it be dogs. CATS, not dogs, are the nation's and the world's favorite companion animal, and they need to be valued as such. The foreclosure debacle and the financial crisis have led to some very heartbreaking tragedies; but they should not be added to in this manner. No irresponsible or uncaring person should EVER be allowed to have cats in his or her sphere. Fees are in place not only to at least partially recoup spay/neuter, exam, innoculation, and board-and-care costs incurred by the holding facility; they are primarily meant to discourage these types of people.
Fisher 3/16/10 at 10:54pm
If fees are not charged, rescue organizations cannot exist. It is important to give a fee for the care, feeding and medical necessities they provide. I didn't realize this was a problem. There are always free cats and kittens advertised in the papers so thankfully, those who cannot afford it can still have a loving pet. There is never a guarantee the cat or dog is really getting a good home - fee or no fee. Best intentions just don't always work out - money is not necessarily the reason.
lonewolf 3/17/10 at 2:43pm
People unfortunately put more value on what they pay for.This is a fact.We don't want to have a whole new generation of throw-away animals, so it makes sense to charge at least a small fee so that the value of the cat or kitten involved is raised in these potential adopters. Hate to say it like that, but it's been true a very long time and it won't go away any time soon.All of our rescues are throw aways-the last one literally-at the age of only 2 weeks she was wrapped up in a plastic bag and left on the side of the road.Polly's a great healthy girl now and she has a forever home with us but for a while there it could have gone either way with her because someone out there didnt recognize that she's not disposable.
betatester 3/18/10 at 12:11am
Thank you all for your comments, I've had to tweak the settings to be able to reply to each comment individually and now it's finally working!
betatester 3/18/10 at 12:12am
I really hope they are sticking to a rigorous screening process. I would think they should be much more meticulous when NOT charging a fee.
betatester 3/18/10 at 12:14am
I should hope the cats are indeed fixed. You know, it never actually occurred to me they may be giving out cats that were not neutered - that would be way too irresponsible for a shelter to do!
betatester 3/18/10 at 12:15am
The problem is, IMO, that people who can't afford the adoption fees may not be able to afford medical bills for the cat down the road. It's a tricky situation, as you could say that the same is true of people who can pay now, but may be having financial difficulties years later.
betatester 3/18/10 at 12:17am
I think you raise a good point there. If anything, cats are usually more vulnerable to being abandoned due to people mistakenly believing they're not very worthy. Why encourage that by setting a $300 vs. zero price tabs on dogs and cats?
GhostUser 3/18/10 at 3:34am
Hate to say it like that, but it’s been true a very long time and it won’t go away any time soon
GhostUser 3/22/10 at 5:28pm
I agree that the wide variance between the adoption fee for dogs and the fee for cats at that particular shelter makes no sense and sends the wrong message: that dogs are an "investment" but cats are a a casual, impulsive choice and easily discarded. Too many people feel that way about cats already! Fees are a tricky thing; they're necessary to cover the cost of vaccinating and neutering a rescued animal, but if too high, they can make a pet out of reach for the very people who might provide the best homes. I don't believe fees guarantee responsible ownership. My own story: Just as I became unemployed last summer, I adopted the first cat I've had in 15 years (story on my blog). I couldn't afford the usual fee of $150 (which the rescue folks waived, especially since I had to take Billy to the vet a couple weeks later for diarrhea and runny eyes) ... but I feed him the highest quality food, brush him every day, and love him to bits.
GhostUser 3/30/10 at 12:00pm
The hardest part of getting a cat from the humane society or like establishment is the cost of the cat. When I moved out of my moms and into my own place I wanted a cat right from the start. At the time we had 1 other male fixed cat so as long as the one I got could tolerate him things would be fine. When I went to the local human society I saw all the cats and wanted to take them all home but knew I couldn't. If the prices were cheaper at the time I would have taken one home as soon as the paper work was passed through. I know they need to make money but they are preventing good people from getting it due to the fact they can't afford it no matter how much they want that kitty.
GhostUser 4/10/10 at 6:02am
i think the fees are getting ridiculously high-good loving pet owners are sometimes poor-why 80-100? that is outrageous-just screen people-i understand some fee but what the heck?-now only rich people can adopt
GhostUser 4/14/10 at 2:51am
Our local shelter held a "Free Cat Adoption Day" recently. Every part of the adoption was identical to our usual process, except for the n0-fee. A wonderful benefactor reimbursed us, per our usual fees. It was a great success. In 3 hours we found homes for 27 (altered) felines, which by the way, are all enjoying their newfound happiness!
GhostUser 10/18/10 at 7:08am
Put an ad on craigslist! Craigslist can find a kittie a home in two seconds!
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