(TN) Auction of Black Male Lab Narcotic Dog - HELP STOP THIS!

November 13, 2008

PLEASE CROSSPOST!!!

This is disgraceful! Please take action - Contact info at bottom.Auction of Black Male Lab Narcotic Dog - Town of Mountain City, TNDear Companion Pet Lovers ~Please join Columbus Top Dogs in our efforts to exclude the auction of a "black male lab narcotic dog" as part of a fundraiser benefiting the Town of Mountain City, TN Police Department.-------Auction of Black Male Lab Narcotic Dog"Mary O'Connor-Shaver" <mshaver_0462@ columbustopdogs. com>Wed, November 12, 2008 7:07 ammayor@townofmountai ncity.comDear Mayor Parsons:Recently, it has come to my attention that your Town of Mountain City Police Department is currently auctioning a

black male lab narcotic dog (see below).As a degreed professional and proud owner of five rescued canine companions, I strongly oppose the auctioning, selling, and donating of animals for fundraising. Bringing an animal into a home is serious commitment which may require dedication to that companion pet for up to seventeen years. Human and animal relationships are most successful after careful consideration into the related emotional, physical, and financial responsibilities of pet ownership. However, participants who participate in these auctions often react on an impulse to "win" or desire to outdo a fellow bidder. Unfortunately, a dog's lifespan is often longer than a consumer's desire to maintain their "product." As a result, millions of purebred dogs are sent to animal shelters every year, where roughly half will be euthanized.What is of greatest concern is that your auctioning format does

not appear to allow for any adoption screening process, now required in most shelters and rescue groups to ensure the companion pet has the most suitable and safe home. While interested parties may have the financial resources to engage in a high price bidding contest, shelters still receive animals everyday from people who spend a lot on purchasing pure breed pets but relinquish them because they did not fully consider the responsibility of pet ownership.Millions of wonderful animals in shelters and foster homes wait for great homes that Mountain City families can certainly provide. These groups carefully create great matches between animals and their families through adoption screening and work to reduce animal euthanasia by requiring spay and neuter. Auctioning off an animal to the highest bidder to simply raise funds with no concern for its long term welfare is unethical and your Town of

Mountain City Police Department sets a poor example to the community.As part of a team of public servants dedicated to serving and protecting people and their companion pets, please reflect on the implications of your auction item choice within the broader fight against pet homelessness through the methods of spay neuter and proper humane education and responsible adoptions. I respectfully request that you withdraw this black male lab from the auction list and institute a policy banning the auctioning, selling, and donation of animals for fundraising at all future Town of Mountain City Police Department events.Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.P.S. As you may also be very much aware, the American Kennel Club (AKC) considers auctions and raffles not to be reasonable and appropriate methods to obtain or transfer dogs - http://www.akc. org/canine_ legislation/ position_ statements. cfm#dogauctions. Most importantly, AKC registered simply means the puppy had two parents of the same breed; it does not guarantee the value or health of a puppy.Mary O'Connor-ShaverLewis Center, OHColumbus Top Dogs (Shure Pets)http://www.columbus topdogs.com/Important contact information:1. Mountain City Police Department210 S Church Street,Mountain City, TN 37683Direct Line: (423) 727-2909Fax: (423) 727-29112. Mayor Kevin ParsonsDirect Line: (423) 727-2940Additional Line: (423) 727-8005Fax: (423) 797-2925E-mail: mayor@townofmountai ncity.com