Going Once, Going Twice

March 6, 2008 : 11:00 AM

Animal lovers protest a WI dog auction

UPDATE: By all accounts, the auction protest was a success. Over 60 animal lovers braved the chilly Wisconsin day to spread the word that they believe dog auctions and the commercial dog breeding industry are just plain cruel.

-To read about the protest, including local news coverage, click here

-To read a personal account of a Best Friends volunteer’s experience, and of the dog she rescued, click here

Original story, posted March 6th
There are 110 USDA-licensed dog breeders and brokers in Wisconsin, and an unknown number of unlicensed. While the Wisconsin animal-loving community has been working hard for decades to do something about them, the number of commercial dog breeding kennels is steadily rising.

Despite increased awareness (largely due to dedicated animal groups and the media) another ugly factor of the pet industry has taken hold in Wisconsin: dog auctions. Last fall marked the first dog auction in the state, held by Horst Stable Auctions in Thorp, WI. The auctions are similar to the many other auctions held in other Midwest states—hundreds of dogs are brought from area “kennels” to be placed up for sale to the highest bidder. It’s a place for people to swap their breeding stock. It’s confirmation of what the animal welfare community has been clamoring about. In the commercial pet industry, dogs are essentially livestock until they reach the pet store, then they are “inventory.”

You can help
1.) To join the dedicated group of people working to stop dog auctions and the commercial pet trade in Wisconsin, go to www.nodogauction.org. There are detailed instructions on how to join them in protest.
Wednesday, March 12. 10:30am. Meet at the Thorp High School

2.) Can’t attend the protest, but still want to help? Learn how at: www.nowisconsinpuppymills.com.

More Information
-Dog Auctions 101: The Basics. Click here.

-Dog Auction Rescues: Castoff dogs rescued from Missouri. Click here for the story.

-Dog Auction Rescues: For photos and stories of dogs sold at previous Thorp auctions, Click here.

Photos courtesy of Clark County Humane Society
Posted by Kelli Ohrtman

Comments

March 26, 2008 at 6:57 PM
posted by: go_cat_go

I have been given permission to post this update from Marnie Brown, the Executive Director of The Washington County Humane Society. She attended the Thorp Auction protest. Read below:

"We (myself and one of our WCHS volunteers named MaryAnn) drove up on the 12th…a very long 4 ½ hour drive and met at 10:30 at the high school with everyone (approx. 60 of us). Chuck Wegner, the E.D. at the Clark County Humane Society passed out signs and instructions per his meeting with the Sheriff’s Department. We got to the auction site around 11:45 and parked in their parking lot, although if anyone went inside to the auction, they were not allowed to wear their t-shirts or carry any signs into the building. We lined up on both sides of the road…MaryAnn and I being on either side of the main driveway entrance). Chuck and Eilene of the Puppymill Project had coffee, hot chocolate and hand warmers for us all because it was a bit cold!

The place was packed…cars coming and going constantly so MaryAnn and I were quite busy (and even tho’ the Amish don’t drive, a lot of those Mennonites are driving some pretty plush trucks). Cars and trucks driving by would either toot their horns and give us the thumbs up…and a few tooted their horns and gave us another hand gesture. Many of the Amish and Mennonites would come out of the building to the fence line and gawk at us…one very young woman yelled “Shame on You!” several times. One attendee took the entrance a tad short and nearly clipped me in the process. Not everyone was Amish or Mennonite…there were a lot of what they call, “English” there. One woman walked to her car carrying in her arms 4 wiggly pups she had purchased.

The frosting on the cake, however. was the Mennonite man who came out to speak to me for about 10 minutes…trying to rile me up. I was very careful because Chuck had asked us all not to get into verbal confrontations with them. He asked me how I would define a puppymill, what defined a reputable breeder, and asked me if I thought, then, that pigs and cows should be raised inside the home with the family. He said that if they didn’t allow these dogs to breed, they’d be taking away their “enjoyment of life and the act of reproducing.” He finally said that all of the dogs inside the building were of good health and genetic quality…and I said, “Excuse me, but last year we got 14 dogs from this auction…and 12 were unfit for purchase.” He didn’t say a word, turned and walked back up to the auction.

Some protesters went inside but, again, couldn’t wear their shirts and couldn’t take in signs or cameras. The auction was expected to last until 3:30-4:00 but the two of us left around 2:45 because of the long drive home and animals at home needing medications".

www.washingtoncountyhumane.org

March 24, 2008 at 12:51 PM
posted by: caroleraphaelledavis

Bravo to you brave protesters! I love the cage and the sign. Keep it up!

March 10, 2008 at 4:20 PM
posted by: cattees

: ' (

March 7, 2008 at 6:22 PM
posted by: go_cat_go

FYI: Max's life ended on May 7, 2007.

March 6, 2008 at 6:53 PM
posted by: go_cat_go

Take a look at the list of dogs that will be auctioned off. It is called the "Dog Catalog", parts one and two.

http://www.horststablesauctions.com/catalog.html
http://www.horststablesauctions.com/catalog2.html

It becomes a little more personal when you see which dogs are in line for the auction block. Tell everyone you know......many people just don't know these things exist.

March 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
posted by: cattees

I refuse to put Happy's rabies tag on her collar as it's issued by the USDA (I carry it with me just in case). My dog is no longer a product.

March 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
posted by: southerndogmom

I realize that this industry is all about money. The ordinarily laws of supply and demand gone horribly wrong. The supply is too great already yet the public demand for purebred dogs or designer dogs remains high. I must believe this is because people are simply ignorant of the consequences of this type of breeding. And I also must believe that if people really knew about this livestock industry they would be shocked and appalled.

Spread the word far and wide, folks. I think the only way the demand will ever dwindle and these types of auctions will stop is when people in our country are sickened to learn the details of the industry and will no longer fund the "inventory."

The AKC and USDA aren't helping matters much but surely public awareness is the way to stop this, right?

March 6, 2008 at 12:14 PM
posted by: cattees

I'm a bit confused... Is Max still with us or at the Rainbow Bridge? His bio speaks of him in the present tense as well as the past.