Why we charge an adoption fee

The Appalachian Highlands Humane Society is a 501(c)3 private, nonprofit organization that relies completely on private donations and its own fundraising abilities to operate.  We receive no federal, state or government funding or any funds from any national animal welfare organizations.

The fees collected from the adoption of each animal help to offset some of the costs involved in providing care for the animals and preparing an animal for placement into a new home.

We value every animal equally and consider all to be priceless.  Some of our adoption fees vary and are dependent on many factors including age, size, breed, behavior, medical condition, and public demand.  Higher adoption fees for animals that are easy to place gives us additional resources to provide extra help to other animals in our program, such as those that may require more specific medical treatment, behavior training, or those who simply have a more difficult time finding the right family and take a little longer to find their forever home.

Our adoption fees make caring for the animals in our foster homes possible. We provide veterinary care to each of our animals prior to adoption and incur those costs as soon as the animals enter our program, regardless of how long they stay with us before finding their forever families. Adoption fees offset these costs and enable us to provide high-quality care for each and every animal who passes through our doors.

Prior to adoption, each dog and cat at AHHS has been examined by our veterinarian, received age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormed, treated with flea and tick preventative, spayed or neutered, and microchipped. Rabies vaccinations are given to animals over three months of age. All dogs are tested for heartworm, and cats are tested for FIV and FeLV.

  •  Physical Exam
  •  Deworming
  •  DA2PPV (Vaccines
  •  Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
  •  Rabies
  •  Spay/Neuter
  •  Heartworm Check
  •  Heartworm Prevention, monthly
  •  Flea & Tick Prevention, monthly
  •  Food, monthly
  •  Microchip

Dog Adoption Fees

  • Puppies (6 months and under)                                                  $275
  • Pups (7 months to 1 year)                                                         $175
  • Adult Dogs (1 year and over with the exception below)            $150
  • Dogs (15 lbs and under, purebred, designer)                            $225

Cat Adoption Fees

  • Cats                                                                                            $ 50
  • Kittens                                                                                        $ 50