Do adoption fees really protect animals — or do they just make us feel better?
For years, many in animal welfare have believed that adoption fees act as a safeguard: if someone can't afford the fee, how will they afford the pet? Free adoptions, the argument goes, invite impulse decisions and bad outcomes.
In this episode, I explain why I once believed that too — and why I've changed my mind.
Drawing on my experience working directly with shelters, serving on the board of the Pennsylvania SPCA, and running programs that connect people and animals, I examine what actually happens during fee-waived adoption events. I also take a close look at the research often cited to support free adoptions — including its strengths and its limitations — and explain why the data is encouraging, but not definitive.
This isn't a simple pro- or anti-fee argument. It's a conversation about shelter capacity, long-stay animals, euthanasia for space, and what really protects animals in a system under strain.
Key topics include:
Why adoption fees were thought to be a protective filter
What shelters see in real life during fee-waived events
The limits of survey-based research on adoption outcomes
Why fees don't measure commitment — and what does
When fee-waived adoptions work, and when they don't
If you work in animal welfare, sheltering, or advocacy — or if you care about evidence-based policy for animals — this episode is for you.
You can find more resources and past episodes at AnimalAdvocacyAcademy.com.
