Baja Puppies Bound for Stateside Homes

The winter average per month is 45 to 50 puppies.   Each healthy puppy that arrives at the Las Minitas shelter site goes through what we call “protocol”.   When old enough they are spayed and neutered ($30.00), given a series of vaccinations and dosed with a variety of medications  to remove worms and other parasites.  This takes about 3 weeks and costs an additional $40 per puppy.   Add $20 for puppy chow another $5 for transportation to the Maricopa, AZ kennel and you come up with $95 per puppy delivered to the states ready for adoption.   This does not include any monies paid out associated with the facility up-keep or costs associated with the people doing the work.   Puppies are adopted out at various location for an average of $75  to $100 each. (with a occasional black puppy special)   So you can see we are in the red on every puppy that we adopt out….$20.00 for the medications and sterilization procedure and some amount for the attendants and operating costs.    This cost assumes that the puppies arrive and stay healthy.   It does not include any money paid for vet bills or additional medication required to “cure” any problems that they had when they arrived.  Currently Adult dogs cost the same amount to prepare for adoption and are very difficult to place.   Small dogs go fast and we do have a waiting list for them.    Most times they are “placed” in good homes at no cost.