Could Be Interesting Or Helpful?

[animal ark 22]

To be honest Ive never kept a list of costs incurred as a foster carer .Toys here new collars there a bag of chicken wings every pay day .I know its all add up but most of us don"t normally think twice and spending a little here and there never seemed to matter.

Ive heard and read here some of the bills rescue groups have had enough to have you eating 2 minute noodles for a week ( I mean that in a nice way :) )

Ive also seen alot of new groups pop up some stay some go .

For anyone thinking of starting what would you say they would be looking at cost wise ? just for the start up without even a first visit to the vet .

Assuming you even had a good rate vet you could judge the vet bill but sometimes things don"t go straight forward so you would need I suspect a kitty for those unexpected costs .

Im not asking for exact $$$$$ but I thought maybe if some people had an idea they may do some extra homework.

Honestly Im old school so wouldn"t rely on donations IF I were a rescuer I think I would ask if I really needed to and accept any given but I wouldn"t ask for EVERYTHING so I bet Id be heavily in debt :D

I also gather it would vary depending on if you took a certain breed/age puppies would need heaps by way of extra vaccinations worming etc and I guess on the flip side the older dogs may need extra dental or tests

So while I know you can"t give exact figures I was thinking your experience may help any even your budgeting tips may help those already involved

Either way I thought it could be an interesting subject and could even be a real eye opener to those not involved

Edited to add while I would love to be involved there would be no way emotionally nor money wise could I ever do what you rescuers do so Im just a carer

Edited September 19, 2013 by animal ark 22

[Lasareina]

I would be interested in this as an outsider - I have no idea how you resuers (and foster carers for that matter) do it. The costs for just my 2 puppies is enough to juggle on my wage!

[indigirl]

I set up iggy rescue with another DOL'et about 3.5 yrs ago. The costs were huge at first as everything came out if our pockets. As we were unknown virtually all dogs cane from pounds so we had lots if kenneling fees for 2 weeks quarantine, so around $140 per dog Then vet costs - desex, heartworm test, vacc usually .- say $250 - $300 per dog, plus most needed a dental so add another $200 - $300.

Of course some dogs didnt require a dental and done times dogs were already desexed. But above vista applied to majority of dogs. So well over $500 per dog. Then add worming, food, collar etc. Costs were insane.

Nowadays vast majority if out dogs are surrendered directly to us, so no kenneling fees. Some even come desexed and vaccd! But we now have much higher transport vista as we fly dogs to foster care. I think we own. 4 or 5 PP40 crates now that we have purchased to fly dogs around in.

Iggy rescue is mostly self sufficient with one digs adoption fee paying for the next dogs vetwork and so on. We still have done dogs that need a lot if extra care and cost loads more then normal. However it's generally self funding.

However it's taken close to 4 yrs to get to this point and I shudder to think how much myself and Jane have invested financially. We are just a small rescue with a low volume iof dogs. We also have huge numbers if ppl wanting our dogs which is a real bonus.

[_PL_]

You have two budgeting choices in my opinion.

Obviously experience as a carer or volunteer is a good beginning.

1. Start small and learn and build a support base, use money from your own pocket (which never stops really :laugh: ) work your way up to where you can maintain to a point where you can be sure dogs won't miss out on what they need. If that means staying small then don't feel pressured to do more than you can.

Get your Fundraising approval if you think you'll need it. And be very careful about taking litters until you can afford to take a chance on parvo. Be knowledgeable about the needs of older dogs. And don't take on the saddest cases unless you have the money and time to adequately care for them. Don't put your name on dogs with nowhere to put them unless you can pay board.

Side note: Having to get specialist help for a dog you thought was no different to the others is often something that comes out of the blue but can wipe out a beginner rescue. That's not something you can predict.

2. Grab as many dogs as you can, do minimum vetwork, pull in more than enough donations with constant sad stories/guilt trips and then sell the dogs fast barely quarantined before they put a dent in supplies like flea, worm, food, meds, parvicides, grooming, bedding etc. Or before they present with a difficult condition or behavioural problems, in which case take no responsibility.

Edited September 19, 2013 by Powerlegs

[tdierikx]

You have two budgeting choices in my opinion.

Obviously experience as a carer or volunteer is a good beginning.

1. Start small and learn and build a support base, use money from your own pocket (which never stops really :laugh: ) work your way up to where you can maintain to a point where you can be sure dogs won't miss out on what they need. If that means staying small then don't feel pressured to do more than you can.

Get your Fundraising approval if you think you'll need it. And be very careful about taking litters until you can afford to take a chance on parvo. Be knowledgeable about the needs of older dogs. And don't take on the saddest cases unless you have the money and time to adequately care for them. Don't put your name on dogs with nowhere to put them unless you can pay board.

Side note: Having to get specialist help for a dog you thought was no different to the others is often something that comes out of the blue but can wipe out a beginner rescue. That's not something you can predict.

2. Grab as many dogs as you can, do minimum vetwork, pull in more than enough donations with constant sad stories/guilt trips and then sell the dogs fast barely quarantined before they put a dent in supplies like flea, worm, food, meds, parvicides, grooming, bedding etc. Or before they present with a difficult condition or behavioural problems, in which case take no responsibility.

Sage advice there from one who does the "job" exceptionally well...

T.

[Steve]

Well here goes. Even if you expect to stay small and for what you do to only ever be a hobby type activity if you put certain things in place before you begin you can eliminate much of the traditional problems and issues most face and avoid what stops most people who start out with passion blowing up - burnout.

To put it bluntly you need a business plan even if when you start you think you are the only one ever likely to see it. Sounds daunting but if you start at the top and work through it falls into place and it helps you to see what will and wont suit you and what will and wont work.

As far as costs and funding is concerned in my opinion you need to work out what the start up costs will be for you -each person or group is different because some already have some resources and freedoms that others don't - start with must haves and end with things you can live without but would rather not. Then sort out how you will make enough money to make it viable .Each of us can only run on passion for a period of time - some longer than others but none of us can continue to put our own money in and carry the financial burden and all of the rest that goes into this without sooner or later working out that we need our own money for other things - like food. Wages realistic wages should be one of your longer term goals and there are literally thousands of ways of generating tens of thousands of dollars per year if you think outside the box.

Personally Id like to see it all prepared on paper and start up costs itemised with marketing plans and expected income and how it will be sustainable before one dog is in the mix. Then I and I'm sure many others would help to raise funds for start up costs and help you get the money in the bank to open your doors and really make a long term difference without you needing to break your own bank.

[Lasareina]

Personally Id like to see it all prepared on paper and start up costs itemised with marketing plans and expected income and how it will be sustainable before one dog is in the mix. Then I and I'm sure many others would help to raise funds for start up costs and help you get the money in the bank to open your doors and really make a long term difference without you needing to break your own bank.

Having a concrete, written out plan does sound like a good idea ... There are lots of new ways of generating funding like crowd funding becoming more available now and having a fomal proposal would probably open a lot of doors

[Steve]

Often those who start it all up have skills in areas other than fundraising and even if they are prepared to have a good go its huge and there are so many other things which press on time and resources. Traditionally there has been this thought process with small rescue which implies the more poor you are the better you rescue and few have considered how they could pay someone for roles which have been considered voluntary in regard to fundraising and or sponsorship. Problem is with volunteers they usually have other employment or life commitments and whilst they want to help its on a relatively limited basis, or at least it is over a period of time. Other things have to take priority for them and so without them meaning it its a hard ask to keep people working long hours over time with reliability and often a job which someone being paid to do will take a day or two stretches into months when you are relying on free services. Imagine if you put someone with their own ABN which equals no wages, no super, no workers comp for the rescue group and paid them based on their performance - For example make 10,000 for the group in fundraising/donations, sales, sponsorship,advertising and get 40% = rescue group gets $6000 person working gets $4000. $6000 of 10,000 is better than 0 out of zero. Brings in more income for the group and actually employs someone who gets more money if they work harder and it doesnt have to be a desperate emotional grab at the last minute. There are numerous ways this could be structured and fitted to variables but even better there are people who really want to help but cant help in the usual way by hands on with the dogs who are looking for part time or full time employment who would be excellent with this.

[Maddy]

Costs really depend on how you're going to be running. For example, if you plan to board a lot of dogs, things will add up quickly.

Personally, my costs look something like this- (based on having five dogs in care, I don't use boarding)

Food (raw diet)- $50 per week (five dogs or less)

Flea/worm treatment (worked out per week, even though it's not done every week)- $8.25

Vet work per dog- averages out around $350

Replacing toys/bedding (averaged out to a per week cost)- $37.50

Gear for each dog (coat, collar, muzzle, lead, wormers and flea treatment to take home, one week's worth of food)- $112

paperwork and other random expenses- $who the hell knows, but it seems like a lot.

So.. for five dogs for one week.. $95.75 or $19.15 per dog.

I keep each dog for at least 8 weeks (for a number of reasons) which means by the time the dog is ready for rehoming, my cost per dog is looking like $621.60 (including vet work and gear), assuming I manage to rehome it immediately (doesn't happen that often).

My adoption fee is $250 meaning I lose roughly $371 per dog. That deficit generally comes from my own pocket, sometimes supplemented with money raised selling handmade collars and other bits and pieces.

I know some rescues do break even or even make a profit but it probably depends on what you're rehoming and what the demand is. I'd imagine it's easier to rehome small, fluffy dogs (with a higher adoption fee) than to rehome things like large bully dogs or greyhounds.

[Perry's Mum]

Koolie Rescue rehomes all its dogs for free, they are all vet checked, desexed, wormed, vaccinated, microchipped and have any necessary vet work done. Some dogs cost us thousands, others come already desexed and don't cost as much. Koolies are generally pretty healthy. We reckon on average costs of $400-500 per dog including food.

Many new owners make donations to cover the costs of the dog and continue to donate, members of the Koolie Club support the rescue, those of us who foster generally cover the food costs and sometimes other costs, and we run a variety of events to raise money.

[~Anne~]

Costs are variable. I didn't go broke and I was able to run sometimes with a very small profit margin.

Pugs usually require expensive vet work however many of mine, like Iggy Rescue, were surrenders and came to me in good health so that made up for those who came in needing extensive surgery and health care.

Also, being a small breed it costs less to feed and care for them. They also required less room to accommodate and keeping them isolated was easier.

I never accepted cash donations. My vets worked with me as a team. Each dog's re-homing fee paid its individual vet bill. If there was money left over because that dog's vet fees were low then I would transfer that to another pug's vet fees. On the odd occasion I would have to make up the difference from my pocket.

I'd imagine that the scenario is very, very different for large breeds and for rescues who do not take in surrenders. Still the concept of not relying on donations to run is incredibly important.

Soon, and I hope it is very soon, legislation will be in place to finally control the way rescues run particularly when seeking donations. I've recently had a 'discussion' of sorts on a FB page where I think the line between the private dealings of a person who rescues is being combined with the rescue dealings. People need to understand that the two cannot mix. You have to separate the two worlds, just like a business does. Directors of companies who don't are usually the ones who end up in trouble financially and with the law.

[_PL_]

Soon, and I hope it is very soon, legislation will be in place to finally control the way rescues run particularly when seeking donations. I've recently had a 'discussion' of sorts on a FB page where I think the line between the private dealings of a person who rescues is being combined with the rescue dealings. People need to understand that the two cannot mix. You have to separate the two worlds, just like a business does. Directors of companies who don't are usually the ones who end up in trouble financially and with the law.

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[Steve]

Soon, and I hope it is very soon, legislation will be in place to finally control the way rescues run particularly when seeking donations. I've recently had a 'discussion' of sorts on a FB page where I think the line between the private dealings of a person who rescues is being combined with the rescue dealings. People need to understand that the two cannot mix. You have to separate the two worlds, just like a business does. Directors of companies who don't are usually the ones who end up in trouble financially and with the law.

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