This $250 fee covers a number of services to provide you with a healthy pet.  HART dogs have been altered, and receive a Rabies Vaccine, DHLPP, Bordetella if in boarding, and are Heartworm Negative.  As the information below shows, our Adoption Fee is less than what you would pay for these services individually!
 

A random survey conducted in October 2005 of Northern Virginia Veterinary Clinics provided the following price ranges for the services indicated. 

Office Visit        $35-$49

These fees do not include pre-screening, post-surgical drugs or antibiotic medications, or extended hospitalization for complications. 

Parasite Screen and Medication     $28-$43 

Heartworm Screen       $25-$41

Dental Prophylaxis is priced by animal weight    $50-$200

DAILY Boarding fees are priced by animal weight  $10-$30 

In summary, if we look at the most conservative estimate of what you'd have to pay for the services generally covered by HART, we'd find:

Of course, these numbers do not reflect many of the day to day health issues that our dogs face.  For example, if the test for parasites comes back showing that the dog has roundworms, we will pay to treat the dog.