What is an adoption fee? What it covers and why you pay

Miwuki illustration: Person reviewing adoption paperwork beside a dog and a cat

An adoption fee is the amount a rescue may ask you to pay when you take an animal home, to cover part of the veterinary costs it has had, such as the microchip, vaccinations, deworming or spaying and neutering. It is not a sale price: in Spain, the law states that adoption cannot be a commercial transaction. How much it costs to adopt depends on each organisation and on what the animal has needed.

Do you have to pay to adopt a dog?

Often, yes, though not always. Article 58 of Spain’s Law 7/2023 on the protection of animal rights and welfare (in Spanish) states that adoption shall “in no case” be a commercial transaction, but it allows organisations to ask for basic veterinary costs to be compensated. That compensation is what rescues usually call an adoption fee.

The difference from buying matters. You are not paying for the animal but for part of the care it has received. Adoption also comes with a contract, information about the animal’s history and, in many cases, follow-up afterwards. Many organisations run on volunteers and donations, so the fee helps them keep caring for other animals.

What a rescue’s adoption fee usually covers

The same law sets a minimum for animals handed over for adoption: they must have received the mandatory preventive or curative treatments, be identified and be spayed or neutered, or come with a commitment to do so within a set period if there are health reasons to wait. The adopter must also receive the available information about the animal’s origin and a veterinary certificate describing the treatments, guidelines and care it needs.

In practice, the fee usually covers part of the following:

Microchip identification and registration.
Vaccinations appropriate to the animal’s age.
Internal and external parasite treatment.
Spaying or neutering, or a commitment to do it later if the animal is very young.
A veterinary check before handover.
At some organisations, blood tests or screening for infectious diseases.

What is included varies from one rescue to another, so do not take anything for granted and ask.

How much does it cost to adopt a cat or a dog?

There is no official rate. Each organisation sets its fee according to its costs, and it may vary with the species, age or treatments of the animal. A puppy that has not finished its vaccinations or a cat that has not yet been neutered may have a different breakdown from an adult with everything done.

Remember, too, that the fee is only the beginning. Food, yearly check-ups, parasite control and the unexpected are all part of the commitment. If you want to prepare for unexpected vet bills, you can look at the cover offered by Miwuki’s veterinary insurance for dogs and cats.

How to ask for a breakdown of the fee

A trustworthy rescue will have no problem explaining where the money goes. These questions make it easy to ask without awkwardness:

What exactly does it include? Ask for the vaccinations and parasite treatments with their dates.
Is the animal spayed or neutered? If not, ask what commitment you are signing, within what period and who pays for the surgery.
What is the microchip number, and in whose name is it registered? The law forbids handing over for adoption any animal that is not identified and registered in the name of whoever is giving it up.
Will I receive the veterinary certificate and health record?
What happens if the adoption does not work out? It is worth knowing whether you can agree to return the animal to the organisation.
Will I get a receipt for the payment?

For example, if you are told the fee “covers everything”, ask for the details in writing along with the animal’s documents. A clear answer is a good sign.

The adoption contract: what to check before signing

Under Article 58, only public animal protection centres or registered animal protection organisations may hand animals over for adoption, and always with an adoption contract. The minimum clauses of that contract are to be set out in future regulations, so read what you sign carefully:

The animal’s details and microchip number.
The rights and obligations of both parties.
A spay or neuter commitment, if applicable.
Follow-up or visit arrangements.
What to do if you can no longer care for the animal in future.

On top of national law, your autonomous community may have its own rules. If in doubt, ask the organisation or check the regional regulations. Before you sign, go through our checklist for adopting a dog or a cat as well.

Signs of an online adoption scam

Fake “adoption” adverts use cute photos to extract payments. INCIBE, Spain’s national cybersecurity institute, describes the real case of a woman scammed while trying to adopt a puppy (in Spanish) advertised on Facebook: first she was asked to pay for delivery with prepaid gift cards, then for supposed veterinary treatment costing more than €600 and, finally, for a new carrier. The puppy never existed.

Be wary if you notice any of these signs:

You are asked to pay for delivery or transport of an animal you have never met.
Payment must be made with gift cards, prepaid cards or other hard-to-trace methods.
New costs appear every few days.
There is pressure to hurry: “other people are interested”, “decide today”.
You cannot visit the animal or the organisation, and there is no contract or microchip.
The advertiser is a private individual asking for money for the “adoption”. The law reserves adoption for registered centres and organisations, and the sale of dogs and cats for registered breeders; a private individual may give them away for free, with a contract stating so.

What to do if you think you have been scammed

Following INCIBE’s advice: do not send any more money, cut off contact, block and report the profile on the platform, keep screenshots and receipts, and file a report with the police (Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil or the regional police). You can get guidance from 017, INCIBE’s cybersecurity helpline.

Where to adopt safely

The safest options are municipal animal protection centres and registered rescues that let you meet the animal before deciding. On Miwuki Pet Shelter (in Spanish) you can search for dogs, cats and other animals up for adoption; always apply the same precautions: a visit, a contract, paperwork and no blind payments for delivery.

Conclusion

An adoption fee does not buy an animal: it covers part of the veterinary care it received before coming to your home. Ask for a breakdown, check the contract and be wary of anyone who rushes you or asks for delivery payments. That way you adopt with peace of mind and help the rescue keep saving animals.