Since starting to write this story, I have been to several dog auctions.

They are held in a cold dilapidated arena-type barn, space heaters hanging from the ceiling, one exit....a true fire hazard.

There are catalog to pick up when you first arrive which include a small blurb about each dog that will be up for auction. The info in the catalog, includes the dogs date of birth, any ‘paper’ classification, sex and then beautiful descriptive words like , proven aggressive breeder, how many pups in last litter, if she has been breed (is pregnant) when she is next due in heat and color.

The dogs are stored (and I know that sounds cruel, but that is the only real way to say it) in three trailers (like the ones that 18 wheelers pull) outside the arena with a space heaters in each.  Before the auction begins, you can go inside the trailers to inspect the dogs. Inside the trailers, wire cages are stacked nearly to the ceiling. Each dog has a tag around his neck with a number. Many cages have at least 2 dogs.  Most of the dogs are filthy and cower in the corners. Some of the crates are so high; they have a stepstool so you can climb up to see inside the wire cage. 

During the auction, to help drive the prices up, the auctioneers will tell you ’how easy it will be to get your money out of this dog’….’one good litter and you’ll have all your money back’.

I was shocked to see what a beautiful Golden Retrievers sold for. I guess they just are not as popular as the small breeds. I would have loved to have brought this little 6-month-old Golden girl home but had no foster home for her. At another auction, a ‘mother’ was sold because her pups had frozen to death.  An English Bulldog sold for big $$$$ because he was a proven breeder, despite the fact that his eye was so inflamed from Cherry Eye

It is heartbreaking. You want to bring them all home. It is however so exciting to bring home so many lucky little guys and gals. I love it when families send photos showing us how they are doing in their forever home.  I think back of how they look when I first saw them.

Freedom Rescue and HALO are lucky to have the loving foster families that they have but can always use a few more. If you are interested, please read about fostering.