Setting Up Adoption Fees

Properly configured adoption fees help your shelter recover costs while keeping pets affordable for loving homes. PawPlacer makes it easy to set up and manage adoption fees for different animals. This guide explains how to configure your fee structure.

Understanding Adoption Fees

In PawPlacer, adoption fees:

• Can be customized for different types of animals
• Are automatically applied during the adoption process
• Are clearly displayed to adopters
• Can be combined with optional donations

Accessing Adoption Fee Settings

To configure your adoption fees:

1. Click "Add Fee" button
2. Enter a fee amount (e.g., $150)
3. Select animal type (dog, cat, small animal, etc.)
4. Add optional criteria:

• Age range (puppy, adult, senior)
• Size (small, medium, large)
• Breed category

5. Add a description explaining the fee
6. Save your changes

You can create multiple fee configurations to cover all types of animals in your shelter. For example:

• $250 for puppies under 1 year
• $150 for adult dogs 1-7 years
• $75 for senior dogs over 7 years
• $125 for kittens under 1 year
• $95 for adult cats

Fee Matching System

When an adoption is processed, PawPlacer automatically matches the pet with the appropriate fee based on:

1. The pet's species (dog, cat, etc.)
2. The pet's age
3. Any additional criteria you've specified

If multiple fee rules could apply, PawPlacer selects the most specific matching rule.

Setting Individual Pet Fees

For special cases, you can override the standard fee structure for individual pets:

1. Navigate to the pet's profile
2. Find the "Adoption Fee" field
3. Enter a custom fee amount
4. Save the pet profile

This custom fee will take precedence over your standard fee structure during adoption.

Fee Display During Adoption

During the adoption process:

1. The applicable adoption fee is shown in the payment summary
2. For multiple pets, fees are calculated for each pet and totaled
3. Fees are clearly separated from any optional donations
4. Fees are included in the final payment total

Waiving Fees

In some cases, you may want to waive adoption fees:

1. Set a custom fee of $0 on the pet's profile
2. Alternatively, create a fee rule with $0 for specific categories (e.g., senior pets, special needs animals)
3. The adoption can then proceed without charging an adoption fee

Adoption Fee Reporting

PawPlacer tracks all adoption fees in your financial reporting:

1. Total adoption fees collected
2. Breakdown by animal type
3. Average adoption fee
4. Fee trends over time

These reports help you monitor the financial impact of your fee structure.

Best Practices for Setting Fees

When configuring your adoption fees, consider:

1. Cover Basic Costs: Ensure fees help recover expenses for vaccinations, spay/neuter, and basic care
2. Stay Competitive: Research fees at other shelters in your area
3. Consider Value Perception: Very low fees may undervalue your animals
4. Build in Flexibility: Create multiple fee categories for different situations
5. Be Transparent: Clearly explain what adoption fees cover to potential adopters

Next Steps

After configuring your adoption fees, they'll automatically be applied during the adoption process. To see how fees appear during adoption, check the Payment Methods and Completion guide. Log in to your PawPlacer account 2. Navigate to Settings > Adoption Fees 3. You'll see your current fee structure (if any exists)

Creating a Fee Structure

PawPlacer allows you to create different fees based on animal characteristics:

Basic Fee Structure

To create a simple fee structure:

1. Click "Add Fee" button
2. Enter a fee amount (e.g., $150)
3. Optionally, add a description (e.g., "Standard Adoption Fee")
4. Save your changes

Advanced Fee Structure

For more specific fee categories: