Are they really? Groups charging for adoption fees, spay/neuter, testing and a host of other things they claim to have to see a vet for need to be more up front with people who want to adopt an animal. In my experience, one group in Manhattan and one (or two) operating in Brooklyn's Park Slope pad the bill.

Both get the lowest rates possible and the most free resources they can. They use the spay/neuter van which is free for spay/neuter and rabies shots; they test the animals themselves or use a moonlighting vet tech; they vaccinate the animals themselves not even bothering with a vet tech; they get donated certificates from caring people and then they say, "we charge an adoption fee because we get all our animals tested, vaccinated and spay/neutered".

Don't enable them: Make sure they show you Original Medical Files from the vet, this also lets you know that the animal was seen by a vet and that the visit was not alluded to. Call the vet to be sure you weren't given another cat's med files. These two are capable of anything!

When these organizations (one is not even a non profit - just gives the impression and no one knows to question that) do everything themselves the cost to them is less than $20 per cat. I know where both groups that I'm talking about buy their meds - way way below cost. Yet they charge you as much as the vet would. When they go to the vet they don't pay full price - they go to what they call a rescue vet who charges them much less.

When they say they spend money on toys are the toys going home with your adopted pet? Yet, they want to charge you for that too. They want to charge you for transportation and the button they lost yesterday. Get receipts. Make sure they are what the Charities Bureau calls "transparent". Also, follow the Charities Bureau Guidelines and don't pay cash, pay by check or with a credit card. When they claim they need cash to pay for medical bills it's really being spent any other way they want. Their vets should be paid via check from their account to hold them honest to the IRS.

Also, honest groups don't have a problem giving you a tax letter clearly stating the amount you donated.

Do your homework and screen before you adopt or foster. Get the forms and questions to ask at:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls

If you want to get a better idea of an organization's fiscal situation, check their 990s on the Charities Bureau website. When you read them you start to get an idea of who is fudging the numbers. It's almost as interesting as a good mystery paperback. Suddenly a big grant comes in and just as suddenly the vet bills go way up for that year or the number listed for adoptions go way down. These are the things to look for when reading the 990s. Also, you'll get to see how often there's a change in Board Members.

If there's no 990 there's a good chance this is not a bona fide 501(c)3 non profit, just someone making a living masquerading as one.