Why do Breeders do NON-refundable Deposits?
A deposit is given as a "promise of intent". It shows, more then any amount of words, that a person intends to purchase what ever item the deposit is placed for. On kitten depositsthe range is anywhere from $150.00 on up to half the price of akitten.
To help understand why we do this, I asked fellow Breeders "the why" behind non-refundable kitten/cat deposits for kitties that have either been declined or brought back. Here are some of their replies.
Deposits are non-refundable because...
1. The kitten (or cat) has been "tied up" in a temporary situation when it could have been promised/placed in a permanent home.
2. People are fickle...this helps them reassess their intent and commitment. Gives them more "stick-to-it-ness".
3. Reimburses the Breeder for the time lost (in all aspects) of placing that kitten/cat.
4. We live in a throw-away society...making deposits NON-refundable helps weed out those that have the mind-set of "well if it doesn't work...we can always walk out".
5. Reimburses the Breeder in the event that the kitten's adoption fee needs now to be less (given adoption is at an older age, or, in the case where it is a "return kitty" if poor habits have been learned in the previous home).
6. In many ways it is like those buying a home under the "rent to own" agreement. Their rent monies all go toward the eventual ownership of their home. If something happens to disrupt that (job relocation, don't like the neighborhood, a tragedy happens, etc.) and they move away...those monies are not returned because they are no longer buying that home. How much more so on the life of a kitten/cat.
7. They entered a commitment. If that commitment is broken by them the Breeder shouldn't be the one to have to take the loss.
8. If they cannot, for whatever reason keep that commitment, it does not negate the expenses/cost into caring for "their" kitten while it was reserved for them.
9. It is hard on kittens when an adoption has failed. They are glad to be back to what is familiar but it isn't like before. They are immediately put into isolation. At first opportunity, they are taken to the Vet for examination and blood work, and then they come home to special anti-fungal baths (for what they might have been exposed to while away) and once again put into quarantine/isolation. That is upsetting to them. The stress can cause health problems and then the Breeder has that additionally to deal with. Quarantine lasts at least 30 days, when at that time, they are taken back in for a repeat on the blood work and it is only then (if results are still negative) that they are allowed to be with the rest of the house.
All agreed that deposits are/should be refunded in the event that the kitten is un-adoptable by happenstance/choice of Breeder.