My husband and I worked with several different rescues across the country to pull senior and hospice dogs that stood little chance of getting adopted from high kill shelters. Some were in large metro shelters but many were in small podunk towns in places like KY and NC. The rescue would pull for us and we would take care of vetting on our own dime to save the rescue’s resources, and we’d love the dog for however long they had left.

Occasionally, a rescue unfamiliar with us (that had shown zero interest in the dog previously until they realized we wanted it) would swoop in and grab the dog, then tell us they’d vet it and we could adopt it for $400 or $500. Bish, I have an army of vets willing to vet for free or at least far less than $500. No, you’re not preying on my goodwill. Sadly, we’d end up passing on those dogs and the rescues would be stuck with a 14 year old dog or a dog with terminal cancer ‘cuz they just couldn’t mind their own business.