One of the most heart breaking topics to explore, whether in magazines, newspapers, or on the web, for me has to be anything involving mistreatment of animals, especially dogs. Many of these articles deal with puppy mills and dog auctions, and more often than not, they are not easy reads. Something compels me to read on, though., despite the heartbreaking words accompanied by horrifying pictures (I skip over them—just can’t look at those images.) Of course, it’s the dog lover in me who sticks with the article, on an endless quest to do anything in my power to stop animal abuse. If you’re like me, you will, too. But how can we be sure that what we do is really helping and not making the situation worse?
A LITTLE HISTORY
Dog auctions have been going on for quite some time. Commercial dog breeders, sometimes referred to as puppy mills, bring hundreds of dogs of all sizes, breeds, and ages to established auctions. Business is conducted just like at any other type of auction—the product, in this case, dogs, is brought to a table, and participants place bids until the highest bid is reached. Initially, most of the patrons bidding on dogs were breeders looking to add to their business. Rescue groups were rarely seen at auctions, and those who did attend were there to buy the dogs that breeders didn’t want. These were the dogs that had some sort of “imperfection” ranging from an overbite or irregular markings to health issues such as poor eyesight or heart murmurs, or just the fact that they were too old for further breeding. Often, these dogs were given to rescue groups who then got them needed medical care and found them homes. In other cases, rescuers were able to purchase these unmarketable dogs for a few dollars and take them to safe shelters where they were loved and nurtured and finally adopted.
The landscape of dog auctions changed about ten years ago when more and more rescuers began showing up with a ton of cash and the intention of procuring as many dogs as possible. They raised the cash through donations from members of their rescue group and from online fundraising sites. Instead of just being able to buy the handful of dogs leftover after the auction, these cash-laden rescuers bid on hundreds of dogs, including puppies, pregnant females, and breeder-coveted dogs. They had the funds to successfully outbid breeders and oftentimes even other rescuers. Instead of paying a few dollars for a dog, they spent hundreds, and often even thousands, for a single dog with the stated intention of keeping it from a pet shop or disreputable breeder.
THE CATCH 22
What began as a desire to truly rescue dogs from puppy mills and even euthanasia has turned into bidding wars at dog auctions. For many of us, just the thought of one single dog being unwanted, mistreated, or lonely tugs at our heartstrings, and most of us will do anything we can to prevent that. We open our hearts and our wallets if asked. Because of this, some rescue groups can raise the money they need to outbid almost every other bidder at dog auctions. Their own websites and social media outlets make it possible for them to rake in hundreds of thousands of dollars and purchase multitudes of dogs. But what it has also done is provide a new and extremely lucrative way for puppy mills and auction houses to turn a profit. The money generated at one single auction, where hundreds of dogs are sold, has grown into six figures with a recent event in Missouri topping over half a million dollars. All of that money, minus the auctioneer’s fees, goes to these sellers—the commercial breeders—the puppy mills—the exact people we want shut down. Instead of making it hard for them, they are driven even more by the lure of mega bucks from a new source, rescue groups.
BUT ARE WE HELPING?
Those rescuers who raise the big money think they are. When confronted with the sad reality that for every one dog they save, hundreds more will suffer, they still believe they are slowing down commercial breeding.
Others, including many rescue groups, think not. The state of Missouri is home to the two largest dog auctions in the country, and the number of dogs sold and the amount of cash generated at each sale has skyrocketed. Commercial breeders have stepped up their operations in order to meet this new demand. Indeed, the participation of rescuers at dog auctions has created a new money source for commercial breeders and sometimes even a new supply chain for puppy buyers.
WHAT WE CAN DO
Many of us just can’t sit back and allow animals to endure the horrific environments of puppy mills. We can’t get the images of abused and oftentimes sick dogs out of our minds. Those eyes. Those faces. They haunt us long after we’ve closed the magazine or shut the computer down. We want to do the right thing, not contribute to the problem, but we’re just not sure what that is. We must act, but knowing where to start is the hard part. The best thing we can do is to be as informed as possible. Readall we can—read about the offenders, read about the controversies, read about legislation. This topic is very much in the news right now, and there are hundreds of articles with useful information, from all sides. Search the web, visit a public library, go to a shelter, but by all means, read. Be prepared to have your heart broken, though. This won’t be pleasure reading. Talkto others—talk with rescue groups and listen to what their stance is. Talk with reputable breeders and learn about their process for vetting potential purchasers. Talk with friends who love dogs with all their hearts, and let them hear your own thoughts. Decide—make an informed decision and do what we know in our own hearts is the best possible way to protect dogs and help get them into safe, loving homes.
References
Christensen, Meghan. “Dogs for Sale: The Business of Dog Auctions.”
Forbes. 24 April 2017.
Kavin, Kim. “Dog Fight.” The Washington Post. 18 April 2018.
Kretzer, Michelle. “Scam Alert: Some ‘Rescue’ Groups Are Buying Dogs from
Auctions.” Peta. 16 April 2018.
“Rescuers at Dog Auctions.” Paw or Change. 15 November 2016.
Solotaroff, Paul. “The Dog Factory: Inside the Sickening World of Puppy
Mills.” Rolling Stone. 3 January 2017.
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