Dog Auctions: Know What You Are Buying!

"Selling Points"

The Facts:

"Dogs are registered."

Look closely at the registry in the catalog. Many people buying pets just assume that any registry is the AKC and somehow makes the dog "better." However, you'll see many different registries that are unfamiliar.

What Does Breed Registration Really Mean?

Note also that that "-poos," "doodles," "puggles," and other of the new "designer breeds" are actually mixed breeds that the AKC AND UKC DO NOT RECOGNIZE OR REGISTER!

AKC Breed Registry

"I can be sure the dogs are healthy."

Don't count on it. Many of the dogs sold at the 10 March 2007 auction DID NOT have documentation of rabies vaccine as required by law, and DID have a variety of diseases, injuries, and genetic disorders that cost the buyers HUGE vet bills. The brucellosis mentioned above CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS.

What is Brucellosis, again?

What sort of health problems?

The March 10th auction also sold dogs that were from OUT OF STATE, a fact fact that was not included in the auction catalog nor was it told to buyers by the auctioneer. MANY of the out-of-state dogs DID NOT come with Veterinarian Certificates of Health WHICH ARE required by Wisconsin's State law.

DACTP Regs, Importing Animals into WI

In July 2007, four dogs were brought into the state by a private individual without this required certificate of health; one was diagnosed with rabies, one died of unknown causes (probably rabies) and the other two were euthanized because of exposure to rabies. All personnel involved with these dogs had to undergo a series of rabies prevention injections.

Rabies In WI: Why Health Certificates are so important

PLEASE NOTE: the dogs involved in the rabies incident were NOT in any way connected with either dog auctions or with Horst Stables.

"There will be lots of puppies."

Possibly, but many of these dogs are adults who have probably spent most of their lives in cages with little human contact and socialization. Many of the dogs purchased at the 10 March auction will take a great deal of rehabilitation to make good pets, and some never will.

Puppy Mill Survivors: A Guide

The Long Road to Recovery, WGBA-TV (5/17/07)

3/10/07 Thorp Dog Auction Overview