I love dogs. And I’m not alone: my hometown of Alexandra, VA is one of the friendliest dog cities in the United States. Since there are so many dog lovers in this part of the world, every year I usually sell one or two donated puppies as part of a live charity auction.
Selling a puppy at a live auction makes the event memorable and typically (in DC) brings in a sale of $2,000 to $5,000. Most of the bidders respond positively to the animal and are eager to pet the little one while asking about its age, vaccinations, breed, etc.
Make sure you have documentation showing that the vaccinations were done at the appropriate time from the veterinarian who administered the injections. In the event that the winning bidder is from out of state, proof of rabies vaccination is required. It is best to keep all of the puppy’s veterinary documents together in a file that can be given to the winner so that the exchange can be done quickly and smoothly.
To make the sale a positive experience for humans and creatures, here are some tips.
1. Select the right breed
Choose a popular breed like Retrievers, German Shepherds, Poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers. If you’re not sure, be sure to visit the AKC website (akc.org) for current favorites. Be sure to avoid exotics or any breed with negative press. I love pit bulls and bull terriers, but I don’t suggest selling them at auction to raise funds because of the negative press they’ve received.
Similarly, the odds of selling an “extra large” dog (eg St. Bernard or Greater Swiss Mountain). Mixed breeds can be sold successfully, especially if two popular breeds (ie cockapoo or labradoodle) are combined.
2. Make sure the puppy’s temperament is calm.
If you have a choice, select one of the least nervous puppies in the litter. As adorable as that puppy is when he squirms in his pen, we don’t want a puppy squirming in the arms of a volunteer during the silent auction. Calm dogs show better and will sell better.
3. Be nice to the puppy by selling it at the beginning of the live auction.
To minimize stress on the pup, keep it inside the live auction room for a short period of time. Noise can be hard on those little ears!
4. Sell only one animal per live auction.
Keep it memorable by selling just one.
5. Know that some national groups do not agree with the sale of live animals at a gala.
The official position of the Humane Society is that the sale of animals at auction should be prohibited. Animal rights groups have a (perhaps valid) fear that the dog will go to a home where he doesn’t receive good care. Consider ways he can protect the animal to ensure it gets into a great home. Every creature deserves TLC.
Copyright (c) 2009 Red Apple Auctions LLC