Rehoming Fees

[ratboy]

At the risk of beating my new record of three negative reputation points in one day, whilst at the same time giving people the chance to explain why I got them, I thought I would pose the question about rehoming fees.

What are rehoming fees ? From what I can work out, they are money charged by a rehomer to recoup the money that they have spent on the animal.

What is the difference between a rehoming fee and a price ? Is income tax paid on money obtained from rehoming fees ?

Why are rehoming fees preferable to voluntary contributions ? The way a lot of rehoming places work as far as I am aware is that the new potential owner is visited to see if they have the facilities and knowledge to care for the animal properly before handing it over. The emphasis is then on how well the new owner can care for the animal rather than on how much money they have.

I do not want this to turn into a row, just a discussion on what is happening with rehoming and on whether the consensus is that the way things are is good or not ... if you want to 'neg' me for asking what I feel are reasonable questions then go right ahead, it's no skin off my nose.

Steve.

[Art_Gecko101]

I dont know why anyone would neg rep you just for asking questions but anyway...

The way i think it works is that the rehoming fee is standard for all the animals in a 'rescue'. For its not representative of the animals value (a beardie would cost the same rehoming fee as a GTP) it is a contribution to the running costs of the rescue and for their efforts in getting it back to health. If you are going to function as a good rescue, you not only have to have the money to afford the care of the animals (i doubt rehoming fees cover it but im sure it helps) but also ensure they go to the right homes.
Despite checking that people have the right set up, paying a rehoming fee would help to weed out the people who just want a free pet. I dont know how you'd stop the person selling on the animal (usually for more than the rehoming fee as rehoming fees arnt very much normally)

Some people advertise 'rehoming fees' which are basically just the animals price because they are either stupid or devious. lots of people would feel sorry for an animal that was being rehomed rather than sold.

[Emz118]

From what I understand it's to stop people who just want a cheap animal taking on a rescue which could have problems...

I think, for rescue centres, who are charities, it makes sense. If they say donations and get say £5 or £10 when they're had say a beardie in for 6 months, with vets bills etc and then a massive amount of livefood when it gets better, they're always going to be losing money and eventually have to close.

If I was to get a rescue from a rescue centre, I'd more than likely pay the rehoming fee and give a donation.

Oh, and I believe most vet the homes/owners as well.

I see your point about experience over money, but I think it should be a combination, and I'm sure most of the time it is.

[neil4842]

same here i think its only fair for them to charge a re-homing fee instead of a contribution because that is one way to get people who will care for the reptile instead of people who want them as cheap as possible find out they can not care for them and then the rep will end up mistreated or back in a rescue. If it wasnt for these recues there would be many reps getting thrown out the door to die so a rescue is more than in there rights to ask for the rehoming fee other than a donation to secure the recues future as they are not a profit making business just people who give up there time space and money for something they love

[neil4842]

and also i dont think you should get neg for expresing your opinion as everyone has there own views on the way things are done.

[ratboy]

Is this the case though ?

I have heard of rehoming places that have scales of fee depending on the animal being rehomed. I am sure it's not one set fee in some places.... and presumably if the place is a registered charity, there is nothing stopping them standing outside Tesco with a collecting bucket on a Saturday morning.

With regard to re-sales... it would be pretty straightforward to get the new owner to sign a contract stating that they will not sell it and in the event that their circumstances change such that they cannot care for the animal anymore, the animal comes back to the centre. If the animal is then sold, they are in breach of contract.

[Barry.M]

There are many many so called rescues around who are seen to charge practically shop money for the animals,justifying it saying it stops people impulsivley taking on a reptile.This is horse shit,they are taking animals from people giving the impression of being a rescue when really it's a major money making set up.I do know genuine rescues where the welfare of the animal,and the ability of the potential new keeper are the 1st priority rather than charging £100 rehoming fees to recover costs,but this it seems is becoming a rarity

[neil4842]

The only thing with standing outside tescos with a bucket means either less time looking after the reps or employing someone else to help so that would defeat the object and the different scale of pricing is because different animals eat different amounts of food use more electric and cost more for the vets so a leopard gecko wouldnt cost much but something bigger would, This is my opinion anyway and good luck to all the people out there who run recue centres you deserve a medal, I try to do my bit by offering any unwanted reps a home but not on a scale like the rescue centres i will take on a unwanted rep if i have the space and if not i will source a place for the unwanted rep with someone else

[bosshogg]

if rescues didnt have rehoming fees, a few things would happen, one there would find it hard to care for all the reps that come in for example i have just rescued a 5ft common boa, he has so far cost me £70 in treatment and we are still counting and most reps that go into the rescues need the similar treatment it is very rare to get a healthy rep in ! second thing is you would have everyone coming wanting to rehome just beacuse its free and there may not have the adequate knoweldge on how to care for this animal and won't have a proper set up to house the animal, the re-homing fee puts these kind of people off.

lastly if there put the same price on everything say £50 would you pay £50 for a green anoel and you would be getting a bargain if it was something like i dont know lets say a red tail boa? hence where there have differnt rehoming fees.

and all re-homing fees have to be declared to the tax man

[Emz118]

Bosshogg... I was just thinking if you had one fee surely that'd be daft... I mean, like you say, I wouldn't pay the same for a leopard gecko as something big and expensive!!!