From: X005CB@tamvm1.tamu.edu (Chris Barnes)
Subject: Re: Donating a puppy for auction (was Re: Puppy ID collars)
Organization: Texas A&M University
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 21:40:29 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.151110.24526@sequent.com>
    schalene@sequent.com (Schalene Dagutis) writes:
 
>In article <2SEP92.08515477@wums.wustl.edu> trimpe_b@wums.wustl.edu writes:
>>In a previous article, jpk@Ingres.COM (Jon Krueger) wrote:
>>>Someone asks:       ......(that was Chris Barnes)......
>>>> How do [people] feel about donating pups to organization
>>>> like DU (ducks unlimited) to sell at auction?
>>
>>>If I've understood the proposition correctly, we're talking
>>>about selling a dog to the highest bidder.  Anyone one who
>>>has the cash can bid.  No further screening will be performed.
>>>Is that correct?
>>>If so, I feel like throwing up.
>>>-- Jon
>>>Jon Krueger  jpk@ingres.com
>>
>>	Okay okay okay- I agree that auctioning off dogs to impulse
>>buyers is a bad idea but isn't this organization one of duck hunters??
>>What sort of dog is it?  If it's a (for example) Labrador isn't that
>>part of what labradors are all about??  Wouldn't an active duck hunter be
>>likely to know what owning a hunting dog is all about??   Wouldn't the
>>dog likely lead a great life retrieving??  Okay so if this dog is a
>>say collie it's probably not that great an idea- but what is the harm
>>if this dog is a lab, springer, setter or other type of hunting dog?
>>Would you feel differently if someone was auctioning off a dog to
>>'Dog Lovers Annonamous' where 'anyone who has the cash can bid'-?
>>
>Beverly,
>
>If the only members of Ducks Unlimited were active hunters, then I
>would agree with you.  However, this is not the case.  My father and
>brother both belong and they haven't actively been duck hunting for
>years.  They contribute time and money to DU, but that's about it.
>And I wouldn't recommend either my brother or father own a dog at this
>point in their lives.  My brother is in the Coast Guard, moves every 2
>years (now in Alasks), is on-call or at sea for 6 weeks at a time.  My
>father travels about two weeks out of every month.  Because I know
>that all members of DU and other similar organizations do not actively
>hunt, I'm not for the auctioning of puppies.  There are many more
>objects that would suit everyone just fine for actioning purposes....
>
>schalene
 
 
Beverly makes a very good point (enough to thoroughly dismiss what Jon
had to say, imho) and Schalene gives good correction as to the typical
supporters of DU.  DU is a conservation organization whose primary
focus is on saving wetland habitat for all species, not just ducks.
For my part, I would suspect that those in attendance at a DU auction
wouldn't bid on a dog unless they were a duck hunter, so Schalene's
objection isn't really founded.
 
 
BUT, I did ask the group for opinions, and my final decision is:
 
*I* won't donate a pup to DU (or any other group) for sale at auction.
I just want to keep a little better control over who gets which
pup (or if).  But I certainly can't see fit to criticize those who
do.
 
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