NO to Pet Auctions for Fundraising!

Although this "Dog Auction," fundraiser is already a "done deal"
as the auction is over but still, we need to let the Mountain City
Police Dept Know that auctioning off animals IS NOT a proper way
to raise funds as it endangers the welfare of the animals; At least
we can ask them to FOLLOW UP on the quality of care this dog is
receiving from the people who "won him" at auction; and to make 
it perfectly clear to the new owners that if for any reason the "placement" does not work out, the dog is to be returned to the police department.
Tell them it is not too late to correct this wrong they have done to their fellow peace officer of the law.
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Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

Please join us  in our efforts to exclude the auction
 of a "black male lab narcotic dog" as part of a fundraiser benefiting
the Town of Mountain City, TN Police Department.

Important contact information:

1. Mountain City Police Department
210 S Church Street,
Mountain City, TN 37683
Direct Line: (423) 727-2909
Fax: (423) 727-2911

2. Mayor Kevin Parsons
Direct Line: (423) 727-2940
Additional Line: (423) 727-8005
Fax: (423) 797-2925
E-mail: mayor@townofmountaincity.com
Thanks in advance for your kind consideration. 

Dear Mayor Parsons:

Recently, it has come to our attention that your Town of Mountain
City Police Department is currently auctioning a black male lab
narcotic dog .

As a degreed professional and proud owner of five rescued canine companions, I strongly oppose the auctioning, selling, and donating
of animals for fundraising. Bringing an animal into a home is serious commitment which may require dedication to that companion pet for
up to seventeen years. Human and animal relationships are most
successful after careful consideration into the related emotional,
physical, and financial responsibilities of pet ownership. However, participants who participate in these auctions often react on an
impulse to "win" or desire to outdo a fellow bidder. Unfortunately,
a dog's lifespan is often longer than a consumer's desire to maintain
their "product." As a result, millions of purebred dogs are sent to
animal shelters every year, where roughly half will be euthanized.

What is of greatest concern is that your auctioning format does not appear to allow for any adoption screening process, now required in
most shelters and rescue groups to ensure the companion pet has the most suitable and safe home. While interested parties may have the financial resources to engage in a high price bidding contest, shelters
still receive animals everyday from people who spend a lot on purchasing pure breed pets but relinquish them because they did not fully consider the responsibility of pet ownership.

Millions of wonderful animals in shelters and foster homes wait for
great homes that Mountain City families can certainly provide. These groups carefully create great matches between animals and their
families through adoption screening and work to reduce animal
euthanasia by requiring spay and neuter. Auctioning off an animal
to the highest bidder to simply raise funds with no concern for its long term welfare is unethical and your Town of Mountain City Police Department sets a poor example to the community.

As part of a team of public servants dedicated to serving and
protecting people and their companion pets, please reflect on the implications of your auction item choice within the broader fight
against pet homelessness through the methods of spay neuter and proper humane education and responsible adoptions. We respectfully request that you withdraw this black male lab from the auction list
and institute a policy banning the auctioning, selling, and donation of animals for fundraising at all future Town of Mountain City Police Department events.

Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.

P.S. As you may also be very much aware, the American Kennel Club
(AKC) considers auctions and raffles not to be reasonable and
appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs -

http://www.akc.org/canine_legislation/position_statements.cfm#dogauctions.
Most importantly, AKC registered simply means the puppy had two
parents of the same breed; it does not guarantee the value or health
of a puppy.

Thanking you in advance for any consideration you may give this matter.

Friends of Animals