Dog auctions used to be places where puppy mill breeders sold dogs for pennies. Rescues who have attended these auctions for years often save dogs from a lifetime of suffering and give them proper vet care, socialization, and the kind of home they deserve for the first time in their lives. But now, puppy mill auctioneers have caught on to the rescue world's desire to save lives at any cost, and the prices at dog auctions have skyrocketed. Should rescues still rescue dogs at auctions? How much is too much to pay to save a life? Should they not pay anything at all? What if they can save lives without paying enough to incentivize the breeders? Unfortunately, there are no clear answers that everyone in the animal welfare community can agree on. And the puppy mill industry uses these disagreements against us time and time again to deflect from their wrongdoings and to confuse lawmakers and the public. That's why we need to keep having these discussions.
Join us as we have an open and honest discussion on this very contentious topic.