December 4, 2007

JACKSONVILLE – According to the Kansas City Star, nearly 300 dogs were sold to breeders in a recent auction in Jacksonville, Missouri.

The American Pet Products Manufacturer’s Association, Inc. says that 44.8 million households in the U.S. are home to dogs, which is exactly why the sellers want to auction them off. Dogs go for anywhere from $13 to hundreds of dollars. It’s a trend that, in Missouri, is growing fast.

About one dog was sold per minute at the average price of $155. After each sale, a new dog was removed from a wall of cages stacked two or three high, where buyers then placed their bid.

Sellers are aiming at buyers with one thing in mind, producing puppies.

While auctions are legal, there are some concerns that these auctions serve puppy mills, where the conditions are often believed to be unsanitary.

Experts warn that dogs bred from puppy mills often suffer from disease and lack of social skills, making them unfit to be a good pet.

Supporters argue that these auctions are not abusive because they are regulated by state and federal inspectors and claim to sell to reputable breeders.

There is no word yet on whether the intruder's motive was to free the dog.

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