The adoption fees only partially cover the cost of caring for our animals.​

Rescues such as ours do not get government funding.  All costs of caring for a pet in our rescue are borne by our rescue alone. We depend solely on adoption fees and donations to operate.  Although we do receive a slight discount from our vet, we DO NOT receive free vet services.  Much of the time, we barely break even on the costs of the pets in our care.

​Our Average Current Adoption Fees:

Adoption fees help offset the cost of veterinary expenses and pet supplies used to care for rescued pets.  If you are interested in adopting a rescued pet and would like information about our “Adoptions for All” program, please email Chicago Pet Rescue.
If you can't adopt, please donate!

Puppies, 1 year old and under 

standard adoption
$325

Dogs, over 1 to 7 years old

standard adoption
$275

Senior Dogs, 7+ years old

senior years program
$250

Special Needs Dogs

special needs program
$200

Cats, 3 years old and under 

standard adoption
$125

Cats, over 3 to 11 years old

standard option
$100

Senior Cats, 11+ years old

senior years program
$85

Special Needs Cats

special needs program
$65

Animal Foster Costs

The following is an idea of the costs we expect for a foster animal.  
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All dogs and cats are checked over by a vet, tested for FIV/FELV (cats), heartworm (dogs), vaccinated, dewormed, and treated for possible fleas.  Some animals require dental treatments or other surgeries.  The average adoption fee for a dog is $275 and $125 for a cat.  Some weeks we break even, but more often we lose money.
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Since we are a nonprofit organization and receive NO government support, we depend solely on adoption fees and donations to operate. Although we do receive a slight discount from our vet, we DO NOT receive free vet services. 
To us, we are repaid when when we see the thanks in our animals' eyes.  

Please support rescue efforts with your dollars instead of the backyard breeders who contribute to the problem. Our fees might be a little higher than other rescues/shelters, but please keep in mind that we also take in the "true rescues of rescue," not just the perfectly healthy animals. Some pets needed a great deal of extra vet work and other behavioral training.
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Below is a breakdown of the average costs for the medical treatment, equipment, food, etc. that an animal requires:  costs that Chicago Pet Rescue pays.

Operating expenses for the rescue organization itself must be added, too.

Rescue Dog Costs

Items in bold are our most common expenses:

  • Food: The dogs eat 20 - 25 pounds of dog food per day
  • Monthly Vet Bills: $1,00 - $2,000
  • Vaccinations: (Rabies, Distemper Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, ParvoVirus, & CoronaVirus) for dogs 6-months of age and older: $30-$45 per dog
  • Heartworm/lyme Test: $18 each per dog
  • Spaying/Neutering: (The weight of the dog enters into the cost) $165 and up for spays; $150 and up for neuters per dog
  • Panacur: (Dewormer): $30 (per dog)
  • Revolution: (Prevents heartworm, fleas, mites, & ticks) $12 per dog
  • Heartgard: In spring and summer, we spend at least $200 per month
  • Impound Fees: $50-$100 per dog, depending on how many days the animal was at the pound
  • Crates/Kennels: $30-$150 (varies by brand and size) 
    We use better quality wire crates, which cost much more than the plastic or cheaper wire, but we've found that they last much, much longer and work better for adoptions. We have more large dogs than small, so often have to buy the large or extra large crates. 
  • Leashes: $6-$25 per leash, depending on the length and material
  • Collars: $5-$15 per collar, depending on size and material
  • Harnesses: $8-$16, depending on size
  • Rawhides: $40-$80 per month

We also pay for these special services:

  • Heartworm Treatment: Anywhere from $250 -$500 per dog.  The average cost is $350.
  • Kennel Cough Medication/Antibiotics: $40 -$300, depending on severity of the strain (per dog)
  • Dental: $200 + $25 per tooth. A majority of the puppy mill survivors require $300+ in dental treatment per dog.
  • Invasive Spaying/Neutering: (such as spaying during a heat cycle or removing undescended testicles) up to $300
  • Mange Treatment: $75-$500  If treatment costs more than this, we do a fund-raiser for that particular dog.
  • Remove/Biopsy Tumors: $150-$300, depending on the size of the tumor, location, and other circumstances
  • Surgeries: Hundreds to thousands of dollars
  • Groomers: $50-$75, depending on the size of the dog and the how extreme the case is. Sometimes the dogs that come from the pounds or puppy mills are in such filthy condition, and their fur is so matted that it is literally impossible for us to properly groom the dogs ourselves.

Rescue Cat Costs

Items in bold are our most common expenses:

  • Food: Cats eat a 6-oz can of wet food + dry food per day
  • Vaccinations: (Rabies, Distemper)  $30-$45 per cat
  • FIV/FELV​ Test: $18 each per cat
  • Spaying/Neutering: ($60-$90)
  • Dewormer: $15-$20
  • Flea & Tick spray: $10-$15
  • Litter Box & Litter: $30-40
  • Cat Play Equipment-Toys, Trees, etc
  • Cat Carriers: $30-$60

We also pay for these special services:

  • URI Medication/Antibiotics: $50-$80
  • UTI Medication/Antibiotics: usually males
  • Dental: $200 + $25 per tooth.
  • Remove/Biopsy Tumors: $150-$300, depending on the size of the tumor, location, and other circumstances
  • Special Surgeries: Hundreds to thousands of dollars


​General Operating Costs

  • Storage Costs: $13,000 per year
  • Printing Costs: $200-300 per year       Printing costs include contracts, info sheets, CPR brochures, etc.
  • Transport Costs: $1,500 per year