Fwd: ACTION ALERT: NKF, National Capital Area: 28th Annual Kidney Ball (November 22) - Auction of Golden Retriever Puppy

[Guest guest]

 

 

 

Dear Companion Pet Lovers ~

 

 

Please join Columbus Top Dogs in our efforts to exclude the auction of a Golden Retriever puppy as part of a fundraiser benefiting the National Kidney Foundation (NFK) of the National Capital Area.

 

Important contact information:

 

NKF of the National Capital A

rea, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5335 Wisconsin Ave NW Ste 300

Washington, DC 20015-2078

Phone: (202) 244-7900

Fax: (202) 244-7405

E-mail:info

Web Site:www.kidneywdc.org

 

STAFF

 

Preston A. Englert, Jr., CAE, President & CEO

penglert

Vangie Welsh, Senior Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

vwelsh Lisa Taylor, Director of Development

ltaylor

Sarah Luo, Accountant/Office Manager

sluo

Teresa Marchetti, Development Assistant/Writer

tmarchetti

Sandi Moore, Office Assistant

smoore

 

SPECIAL EVENTS DEPARTMENT

 

Kevin Cannady, Director of Special Events

kcannady

Tyler Bowers, Special Events Coordinator

tbowers

Emilee Steele, Special Events Coordinator

esteele

 

Jennifer Deems, Special Events Coordinator

jdeems< /a>

 

Thanks in advance for your kind consideration.

 

 

 

 

 

Mary

 

 

 

 

-------

NKF, National Capital Area: 28th Annual Kidney Ball (November

22) - Auction of Golden Retriever Puppy

"Mary O'Connor-Shaver" <mshaver_0462

Fri, November 14, 2008 4:18 pm

penglert

Cc: vwelsh, ltaylor, sluo,

tmarchetti, smoore, ccarroll,

nmorton, jcampani, manthony,

nelder, nhawkins, rschreibman,

kcannady, tbowers, esteele,

jdeems

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Preston Englert Jr.:

 

 

 

 

Recently, it has come to my attention that on November 22, 2008, National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of the National Capital Area will be auctioning a Golden Retriever puppy as part of a fundraising Gala - http://www.cmarket.com/auction/item/Item.action?browse= & _sourcePage=%2Fitem%2FbrowseList.jsp & id=75362234.

 

As a degreed professional, strong supporter of NKF of Ohio and proud guardian to 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=2

0in 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 care wait for great homes that Capital Area 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 I firmly believe your Gala Committee sets a poor example to the Capital Area community.

 

As an organization whose mission is to i

mprove the health and well-being of individuals and families, 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 Golden Retriever puppy from the auction list and institute a policy at the next Board of Directors meeting banning the auctioning, selling, and donation of animals for fundraising at all future NKF of the National Capital Area 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. 

 

 

 

Mary O'Connor-Shaver

347 Meadow Ash Drive

Lewis Center, OH  43035

Columbus Top Dogs (Shure Pets)

http://www.columbustopdogs..com/