There is no price tag that can be placed on the love and appreciation rescued pets show in their new homes.
When people adopt a dog or cat from an animal shelter or rescue group, some question the fees associated with bringing the pet home.
According to pet360.com, "When you adopt a pet from a shelter, your adoption fees are going to pay towards the cost of care your adopted pet has received while at the shelter."
Cocoa Puff, a 3-year-old male cat, is cuddled by Animal Control Officer Shannon Wisener at the Secaucus Animal Shelter. Courtesy of northjersey.com A breakdown of those costs would include:
* Spay/Neuter fees. The average spay or neuter can range from $45 to $175 for an animal shelter, and this doesn't include the cost of pain relief medication that the shelter also must pay, which is another $10 to $30.
* Vaccinations. The cost of intake vaccinations for pets to prevent distemper, parvo, kennel cough and rabies can cost approximately $40 for the animal shelter, if not more. If the pet had a preexisting condition, the costs of treating and curing it are also the shelter's/rescue's responsibility.
* Microchips. Many groups send a pet to its new home already microchipped, a service that can range anywhere from $45 to $60 when done after the fact.
On top of these fees that the rescue or shelter must themselves pay, there is the knowledge that the pet has received individual attention and, in most cases, the group can let the adopter know a great deal about a pet's personality, likes and dislikes and experiences.
Taking all this into account, pets adopted from shelters and rescue groups are excellent values - and there is no price tag, of course, that can be placed on the love and appreciation rescued pets show in their new homes.
Here are some pets in need of adoption from northern and central New Jersey. More pets in need can be viewed here and here.
Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.