As you may know, UDR regularly works with other organizations who are on the front line of puppy mill rescue efforts.  Puppy mill dogs live a life of intense stress, anxiety, and extreme neglect.  Thanks to the efforts of dedicated whistle blowers and news sources, we have begun to see a crack down on the number of severely deplorable mills operating nationally. However, the existence of puppy mills has not yet diminished.

Recently, Underdog Rescue had become aware of an even more despicable aspect of the puppy mill world, puppy mill auctions.  Dog auctions are used by mill operators for a variety of reasons, from retirement, to being pressured by local authorities for violations of minimum care standards, or in order to decrease or liquidate breeding inventory.  In the case of liquidation, rather than lose a financial "investment" in "their dogs" by turning them over to rescue groups or animal control facilities these mill'ers attempt to recoup some money by utilizing the auction process.  The auctions are conducted with the clear intention that the stock will not return to the mill.  Many unfortunate dogs that are not sold are generally euthanized on site.   
 
Underdog Rescue has recently been given the opportunity to save the poor, unfortunate dogs who no longer hold monetary value for greedy mill operators.  Where they see a dog who no longer produces pups, we see a dog who deserves a chance at a happy, normal life. We have individual volunteers visit the auction sites and bid on as many dogs as we have room to rescue.  In the interest of ensuring that our actions in no way support the puppy mill'ers we see to it that are bids remain low enough that no puppy mill'er profits financially.  For each dog listed for auction, the puppy mill'er pays a minimum $10-20 fee.  Our maximum bid on any single dog is $10.

 

Apparently, there is a Puppy Mill Auction Season that runs through the middle of June.  At each auction, hundreds of dogs have their first chance for their life to be saved instead of destroyed.  We want to try to save as many dogs as we can but we can't do it without your help.  The more families willing to foster, the more we can save.  If you aren't in a position to foster, donations can help us temporarily board dogs until foster homes open up.  There are 2 more live auctions this month - please do what you can to help these dogs before it is too late!

 

You will soon be able to meet the first round of the little souls we have rescued from this process.  Dogs like Maverick (pictured above), a 5 year old Havanese who was sold at an auction for a penny.  Many of the other dogs rescued by Underdog went for 25 cents, a dollar, or five dollars.  We would love to save as many as we can from the terrible life as a puppy mill dog.  Likewise, we strive to save the dogs who will be killed without our help - dogs that would never get a chance to know what a good life is like.  

 

Please spread the word and help us by fostering, adopting, or financially sponsoring a puppy mill survivor!