Hi All, I agree that a raffle of a living animal is very wrong for so many reasons. Just remember not everyone has access to the type of information we do or understands the consequences of auctioning a puppy. I get several requests a year to donate a puppy to March of Dimes, school groups, and other causes. I have to explain each and every time NICELY why it isn't right to auction a puppy and that I just won't do it for several reasons but mostly because I can't approve the home it will go to. Each time I educate someone nicely without being judgemental or mean it is a chance to have someone really listen to my reasoning and maybe learn. If I get mean and nasty to them they may shut me out and not listen and learn. Maybe the next time the topic of auctioning a puppy is brought up the person I educated will educate more people. Maybe I'm a "Miss Merry Sunshine" but I prefer to educate rather than get on to someone, I prefer to think they just didn't know better. What did our mother's teach us?? You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. :)
I don't think this auction is by her school athletic department. It sounds like a competitive travel team. My daughter is on such a team and it is very expensive, we do many, many fundraisers each year plus parents pay player's fees just to be on the team.
Teresa

What the heck are these people thinking. My son plays high school football and he would probably want to quit the team if our booster club came up with something this disgusting to raise money. Our boys go out into the community and raise the money we need. emailed this person aldso.

While the school is not technically running the raffle, I suggested writing to the Principal not because he was running it, but because I would think that a college preparatory school holding itself out as some fine educational establishment would be concerned about the activities of its students (on and off school grounds) when those activities are directly intended to financially benefit a school team. If I were the principal, I'd be a little embarrassed that my students resorted to exploitation of an innocent animal to raise money for their athletic events.

Perhaps as Ms. Merry Sunshine you can tell him in a nicer way than those of us that cut right to the chase when it involves our precious breed.

I know my son is only in High School but at our school all athletes have to sign an agreement they are accountable for their action 24/7, 365 days of the year of any type behavior that would reflect negatively on themselves and the school. This could mean suspension from the sport. We also have a rescue animal group. This really doesn't apply to this post but contacting the principal where the raffle is may help. He probably isn't aware of a lot of things that happen.

That's because you raised your son right.:thumbup:

Thank you, we try very hard.

I was getting ready to e-mail her but I just went through the posts and am glad she has reconsidered her position.

Keeping in mind that she has done the right thing and is very likely uninformed, I did send her an e-mail thanking her for her responsible actions.

I mean really - she could have sent everyone an e-mail back that said "Screw you - MYOB" - but she did comply once she was informed. Does it serve any purpose to keep jumping on her? I think more may be served by giving her some positive reinforcement for doing the right thing. The thing is - there are a lot of ignorant people out there who don't realize they are doing something wrong when it comes to dogs.

Great reminder, I think you're right, it might be better to send her some notes of thanks!

this is so wrong maybe they ought to raffle her off and see how she likes it

I am glad this woman did not decide to raffle her little puppy ,however, I wonder who she donated this baby to? we ought to thank her for using common sense and not doing this.....:thumbup:

I agree that selling candy and bake sales would be better, but believe it or not you have to have a business license these days. Even the Girl Scouts selling cookies do. I even heard once that a child who was having a lemonade stand got in trouble with the police for not having one...but the cop bought lemonade anyway.
I've heard of donating services and new cars for around $100 a ticket, but a live creature should really be illegal.

Totally agree:thumbup:

I received an e-mail back from this person, LaRissa, this morning. She said she had taken the add down, but did not say she had stopped the raffle. So, I e-mailed her back to ask. I am interested in her reply.

I do plan on contacting the principal (if possible), if she has not stopped this raffle. Being a retired educator, I realize that principals do not want negative attention and will usually try to do something about the situation. We'll see....

I am sure that many tickets have already been sold. I just emailed her and encouraged her to return the money from the tickets sold or give that person a free soda or hot dog at their next event. I also recommended she keep the puppy, sell her to a loving family and donate the proceeds to her daughters team. I hope she at least considers it.

well she can say anything in an email.............i dont believe her...........she can say anything she wants in an email............and have people believe it........take her word for it..............no way.........i dont trust it............i hope someone with authority steps in there to stop this,.....but i dont think she stopped it her self..............just said she did so you ladies would stop emailing her..............i dont understand how anyone could treat a darling furbaby that way............i think the human society needs to step in...........but if it is there like it is here in TN..........it wont happen.......im interested to see how this all pans out.

:thumbup:

Does anyone know what state this is in or what the name of the school is? You can always email the Board of Education in that county.Did they really stop the raffle? I also emailed but never received a response but maybe she had too many emails to answer. Maybe if the puppy needs a home she could sell her to someone on YT and use that money for the team.

it is Franklinton, LA.......and the high school is Bowling Green High School

Out of curiosity has anyone thought about contacting CKC about this? I am not familiar with their procedures and policies but they may consider this a violation of some sort... I know how many people feel about "other registries" other than AKC but would it hurt to try?

I wrote
 

I don't think our school would even allow something like this; although I realize this is not exclusively a school function.

Yes, athletics are expensive; my son swims on a USA team AND a high school team which means travel expenses; club expenses; coaching fees; warm-ups; suits; caps . . . .and never once has our team considered raffling off a live animal. And most of us are not exactly well-off either.

So while I appreciate the fact that the ad was pulled; I have to wonder how anyone could have considered this a good idea in the first place.

I'm just now seeing this thread and am glad that the individual changed her mind.

Elaine - that was one well worded email !:thumbup:

Thanks Vee. After I wrote, sent it and posted it here, I realized that she pulled the auction already. I'm glad they reconsidered. E.

Despite that you came to the realization about the raffle after the fact you gave her some great specific options to look in to. When someone gets told "no don't do that" I think it's important to come up with alternatives... She may have felt completely tapped out of ideas...