Puppy Mill Auctions
During adoptions or even on the street, I get asked, "What is a puppy mill auction? Those really exist?'
The best way I have found to describe the process is to compare it to a used car auction. At a used car auction, an owner will bring in their car either because they no longer have a use for it, or because the use is so valuable and they want to see how much money they could get for it. The cars are listed in a catalog and brought out one by one with the highest bid being awarded the car. The new owner then goes and picks up their winning and brings it home.
Take the car our of the description above and replace it with a dog. That is what a dog auction is.
I have personally been to a handful of these auctions, with other representatives going to auctions for years from rescues, and it is a very strange world, I will tell you that. But, what is sort of interesting, is that it is not a Sarah Mclachlan music video all the time. The dogs typically want to smell you, see what is happening, and are not completely disheveled looking. Are there dogs there that would fit the Sarah Mclachlan music video theme - absolutely - but, as a whole, the dogs are eager to start a new life, hopefully in a rescue. The dogs are usually brought in the morning before the auction and put into cages with a few other dogs of their breed and nervously await their turn to head up to the auction table. The live bidding begins and the dog goes home with the highest bidder. I will never forget my first auction. It is startling, but the idea of getting as many dogs as we possibly can for the cheapest price, bringing them back to MN, seeing them in a foster home and learning how to be a dog, and then seeing them get their own forever home is the reason I can keep attending. There are breeders at this auction from all walks of life: those that think (and may be) good breeders, those that solely breed for cash, and those that frankly, don't give a shit. Those that don't give a shit make my blood boil and I will bid harder and longer and higher against those people in hopes that they never get their hands on a dog again.
We are not allowed to take photos in there, but the below article from Rolling Stones does a great job of depicting the events: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-dog-factory-inside-the-sickening-world-of-puppy-mills-w457673
Later on in this blog, I will describe some of the different dogs I have had the privelage of getting out of the auctions and their stories. Stay tuned
-Megan
The best way I have found to describe the process is to compare it to a used car auction. At a used car auction, an owner will bring in their car either because they no longer have a use for it, or because the use is so valuable and they want to see how much money they could get for it. The cars are listed in a catalog and brought out one by one with the highest bid being awarded the car. The new owner then goes and picks up their winning and brings it home.
Take the car our of the description above and replace it with a dog. That is what a dog auction is.
I have personally been to a handful of these auctions, with other representatives going to auctions for years from rescues, and it is a very strange world, I will tell you that. But, what is sort of interesting, is that it is not a Sarah Mclachlan music video all the time. The dogs typically want to smell you, see what is happening, and are not completely disheveled looking. Are there dogs there that would fit the Sarah Mclachlan music video theme - absolutely - but, as a whole, the dogs are eager to start a new life, hopefully in a rescue. The dogs are usually brought in the morning before the auction and put into cages with a few other dogs of their breed and nervously await their turn to head up to the auction table. The live bidding begins and the dog goes home with the highest bidder. I will never forget my first auction. It is startling, but the idea of getting as many dogs as we possibly can for the cheapest price, bringing them back to MN, seeing them in a foster home and learning how to be a dog, and then seeing them get their own forever home is the reason I can keep attending. There are breeders at this auction from all walks of life: those that think (and may be) good breeders, those that solely breed for cash, and those that frankly, don't give a shit. Those that don't give a shit make my blood boil and I will bid harder and longer and higher against those people in hopes that they never get their hands on a dog again.
We are not allowed to take photos in there, but the below article from Rolling Stones does a great job of depicting the events: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/the-dog-factory-inside-the-sickening-world-of-puppy-mills-w457673
Later on in this blog, I will describe some of the different dogs I have had the privelage of getting out of the auctions and their stories. Stay tuned
-Megan
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