Many schools -- public and private-- use auctions as fundraisers. It can be fun, and my experience as an item donor is that the items are often not redeemed.
Some people think it is wrong do auctions at all, and others object to animals being auctioned.
In this case, it sounds to me like political correctness gone amok.
School's fund-raiser pulls puppy after outcry
By Eric Louie and Linda Davis
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Organizers of an upscale San Ramon elementary school fund-raising dinner and auction pulled a puppy from its list of items for bid, after receiving a number of complaints.
Adria Griffin, one of the lead organizers of the Coyote Creek Elementary School PTA's dinner auction at the Blackhawk Museum Friday night, said the dog had been advertised in fliers around the school since December. But it was withdrawn from the auction a few days ago following the complaints.
She said other schools' boosters have auctioned off puppies as part of fund-raising events, but would not say which ones. She would not discuss the issue further Friday.
"We're not having a puppy at our auction," she said. "I just don't see any reason to do an interview."
The Coyote Creek Elementary School PTA is a separate group from the San Ramon Valley school district. But school district spokesman Terry Koehne said his office received two e-mails and a phone call about the puppy up for bid.
He said expressed concerns included the ethics of auctioning an animal, how well the animal would be cared for and whether the dog's breeder ran a good operation.
The dog was to be included in a list of items in "A Hollywood Affair," a $75-per-person event that offered attendees a free limousine ride from the school to the museum. Other auction items included a diamond pendant and a week-long luxury cruise on the Caribbean Sea.
Koehne said he heard the fliers gave tips on what potential owners should know about taking care of a dog, and believes the PTA group acted responsibly. He said he has not seen other schools auction live animals.
A school Web site listing auction items at the event showed a yellow, male Labrador from Feather Ranch Kennels in Los Banos that would be six weeks old when the auction ended.
Brenda Barnette, chief executive officer of the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, said while the organization supports pet adoption, it recommends auctioning off certificates instead, so the potential owner can select his or her own animal. If dog and human aren't a good match, the animal could end up back in the shelter or passed on to other owners, and a multiple-owners scenario is not good for an animal, she said.
"You're talking about a family member for 15 to 20 years," said Barnette, who had not heard about the auction until asked by a reporter Friday. "It's just not a wise thing to do."
Phil Mueller, owner of the kennel, said the PTA had put down a deposit and was to pick up the dog after the auction. He said the situation is no different than someone going to his shop or shelter and picking out a dog.
"This is a fund-raiser," said Mueller. He sells puppies for $600, and has seen them fetch as much as $5,000 at fund-raising auctions. "It's a high-profile venue to raise money for a great cause."
Mueller also said people would not have been bidding on a specific dog. Mueller, who said a couple of groups a year buy dogs from him for auctions, adds that winning bidders typically pick up the animal themselves and get one that is a good match.
He said potential bidders are welcome to visit his business to see how he operates.
"I've been in business for 22 years," he said. "I don't need this."
My wife and I recently won a wonderful puppy from the feather ranch kennel at a Rotary fund raiser. My wife and I have been looking for an addition to our family and we thought this cute little fellow would be a wonderful companion to our family. If there is someone who doesn't like the idea of a puppy at an auction, just don't bid. My wife and I see this as a donation to the Rotary and that's it. He is a wonderful little boy that is learning to be friends with our family cat Midori. If it makes anyone feel any better about animal rescue, Midori was a SPCA kitty and is the queen of her castle.
Posted by: J. E. Smith | Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 12:44 PM