06/13/2026
One of the biggest red flags I see is:
“Not looking to spend a lot”“ISO free dog”
And honestly? That mindset alone tells me you probably are not financially prepared for a dog in the first place.
Dogs are expensive. Even a “free” dog is not actually free. Vaccines , flea/tick prevention , heartworm prevention , quality food , emergency vet bills , grooming , training , spay/neuter , supplies etc all add up VERY quickly.
If paying an adoption fee or breeder price already feels out of reach , what happens when your dog needs a $3,000 emergency surgery? What happens when your puppy eats a sock? Tears a CCL? Gets parvo? Needs allergy medication for life? Needs training for behavioral issues?
People will spend more researching a TV than they do researching where their dog came from.
A well bred dog from a reputable breeder costs money for a reason. Health testing , temperament testing , titling , proper puppy raising , quality food , vet care , prenatal care , early socialization , stable genetics — all of that costs money. Ethical breeders are not getting rich breeding dogs. Most barely break even.
Same with reputable rescues and shelters. Adoption fees help cover vaccines , medical care , spay/neuter , food , transport , staffing , behavioral care etc.
And another harsh reality? “Free” dogs often come from backyard breeders , accidental litters , or poorly bred dogs with zero thought put into genetics , health , or temperament. Not always — but VERY often. A lot of these dogs end up being genetic nightmares with major behavioral or health problems because nobody did the work beforehand to produce stable dogs.
The cheapest dog often becomes the most expensive dog long term because people are getting from backyard breeders , puppy mills , Craigslist ads , or random accidental litters with zero health testing or thought put into genetics and temperament.
Life happens and finances change. But intentionally seeking out “free” while ignoring the actual lifetime cost of ownership is a huge problem.
A dog is a 10-15+ year commitment , not an impulse purchase.
