u/PlasticPhones

Every local pet shelter around me charges a minimum average of $425 to adopt a dog, but I also see dog adoption fees as high as $750. This includes the adoption fee to adopt either a puppy or an adult dog, regardless of breed. The cost to adopt a puppy in Lancaster County, PA from the Amish is usually between $350-600, even for more desirable breeds. Getting a puppy from the Amish is also a lot easier, as no paperwork is required, and you don’t have to work around “operating business hours”. Many shelters require that adopters own a backyard or live in a mortgaged property (to avoid issues with landlords); this cuts out a lot of people who would otherwise be great adopters.
Shelters and rescues operate under the guise of rescuing animals from neglect or abandonment but they charge the same, or MORE for dogs that could easily be obtained through backyard breeders or puppy mills. It’s understandable that rescues/shelters would want to ensure that adopters can afford to care for their animals, but it also puts a hinderance on a lot of people who could be great pet parents, and also discourages people who may otherwise just look to backyard breeders or puppy mills instead.