SCAM or NOT?????????
 

First of all when someone calls you for a donation and you cannot comply, don't you immediately feel guilty?
Someone called me recently supposedly from the "March of Dimes".
Wanting me to donate a YORKIE. "We are having an AUCTION and since they bring a lot of money............." she said.
I declined and of course felt guilty at first. Then I got to thinking. If I donated a puppy, who would care for this puppy until the auction. And think of all the noise (presuming there really is an auction) the poor little baby would have to listen to from some dark cage or just sitting up on a table on display etc. I imagined all sorts of horrid scenarios..............That I would never get to meet whomever bought the puppy and approve or disprove the home and new family. They would not know what food, vet care or how the puppy had been raised, loved and cared for in my home.
Can you just imagine what it would go through on the "auction block?" A little babied yorkie puppy!
If the March of Dimes truly condones and encourages this...................
What do you all think? Is this really a March of Dimes thing or not? Has anyone else gotten a call like this?

That doesn't seem like a March of Dimes things to me, but it could be. Seems weird that they would want to auction off a dog....

I also think you did a good job by saying, NO!!!

That does not sound like March of dimes to me at all. I would think that it was someone trying to get a free Yorkie to me!!

You could always call the March of Dimes and ask, do you guys come out and ask for people to donate Yorkshire Terriors??

thank you for saying that. It was a phone call. I don't know if I made that clear.
I looked on the net and have the phone number of the local chapter and will give them a call and ask. Also have caller ID and the name and number, which kinda makes me wonder. If someone was scamming, they would hide their number wouldn't they? But I also looked for upcoming events (which they post months in advance) and there is no such auction listed in the events calendar for the rest of the year. She led me to believe it was in a few weeks. Wish I had the conservation taped.

This sounds to me to be a scam and I am glad you said no. Scammers count on you feeling quilty for saying no. I personally do not feel any dog should be used to raise funds by an auction. The people buying the dog might not be the best parents for a furbaby. The interest of the puppy should come first and being placed in the best home should be the first priority. If I am not mistaken I don't think YTCA allows this in their club as fundraising either.

I realize I cannot help everyone, even if they are a good charity so I pick my favorites and that is who I donate to. I don't feel guilty when I turn others down because I know I am doing the right thing with the ones I have picked. I also will never donate based on a phone call. If I am interested in a charity then I will do it either on-line or with a check. Many organizations pay people to make the phone calls for them and they are paid by how much they raise.

YorkyDiva in my opinion you did the absolutely right thing , that pup could have ended up in a puppy mill.......stop feeling guilty, you should feel proud you had the courage to follow your instincts, this didn't feel right and you did the right thing, you should screen the home very carefully I'm not saying this was a scam but this was not the way to rehome a pup....Good for you...:thumbup:

Dang right say NO!
 

Well, whoever came up with the idea of donating a pet, scam or not, doesn't know enough about placing pets in good homes! What if the highest bidder wanted to cook up the pup and eat it? How could anyone know that the dog was going to a responsible home? Just on your breeder principles, it is good that you said no! But you are surely a responsible dog owner and breeder, and have your pup's best interest at heart!:love:

I never received a call like that, and definetly wouldn't donate a yorkie. I'd call the March of Dimes, because it sounds like a scam, and maybe they can alert the public.

YorkyDiva - girl you did the absolute right thing.....just by reading the first line of your post I got that gut feeling of a scam...but I would still call your local March of Dimes Chapter and tell them the story - they need to know that these people are using the March of Dimes name in this way - they could possibly report that to the authorities...you never know.

Good job on trusting your instincts. :thumbup:

You did the right thing and I do not think that March of Dimes would ask for a live donation.
No one gets any of my pups unless I meet them in person or know someone that I trust that they trust and tell me it is okay. I would never donate any of my pups!!
T.

Thank you all so much! Today I feel that YorkieTalk members have definetly
"Got my Back!"

I intend to call the local chapter tomorrow.

I am wondering what to say if they have approved this type of thing? Anyone have any ideas what I should say if that is the case?

Yeah, you would think they would block there number, sounds like a scan. But some ppl can't run scams good!!

we are your family and we are here for you. Do you breed yorkies?

I think that even if they appove of that phone call. I wouldn't give them a yorkie. I think its meal to auction off a dog. If they want to get a lot of money, why not go buy a material thing and auction that off to get a lot of money? Just what I think.

Yes, I do breed yorkies.
And no I have no intention of giving them a baby to parade and scare to death and I fully intend to give them a piece of my mind about it IF they have approved of this kind of thing. I was just wondering if anyone else on here might give me an idea of what to say when I do tell them off.
If March of Dimes is condoning this type of thing, shame, shame, shame. If not sanctioned by them, then it should be out there in the press as a scam.
Just someone help me figure out what to say so that I don't rant on about it.

I agree that this could be a "scam." You should call and check it out.

But just a FYI...... The local "Ducks Unlimited" in our area has a big fundraiser every year. They ALWAYS raffle off a "Black Lab" puppy. The lab always goes every year for between $5,000 to 7,000!!! It is a small town and they get someone local to donate the pup at a good price, then they turn around and auction it off. One year our high school leadership class "worked" the fundraiser and it was my daughters job to walk the pup around to everyone all night so everyone to see him/her then want to bid on him/her.:animal-pa

:mad: :mad: :mad: That would absolutely NOT do for a yorkie.

sounds like a scam

I am so glad you said no. I think it was a scam. How ever if not I am glad you siad no.

I've heard of dogs being auctioned to raise money for charitable events...in fact, wasn't it a couple of years ago that someone on here talked about it.

Anyway, I don't think that MOD would do it unless it was a local chapter.:confused:

Either way, good for you for saying no.:)

you tell 'em, girl!
 

Say that auctions are not a safe way for you to do business, and that as a reputable breeder, you require information on the homes that you send your dogs to. It just isn't in the dog's best interest, and after all, that is your first priority.

And, you also can't expect someone from MOD to know that it isn't a good idea. I didn't know how specific breeders were until I got my dogs, but now I know and I'm glad they are!

yea it sounds like a scam but who knows.. if you do decide to call back the organization, let us know what they said and if it was them!!

I called the local office of MOD. They are clueless. No one from their office makes calls to solicit puppies. However they do have puppies donated on occasion that they auction off.:mad:
But they say they do not know who might have called and it may have been a person who works or a friend of a friend of a friend.
They were of no help and did not seem the least bit concerned that someone may have been soliciting in the name of the MOD and scamming people out of puppies.
So I guess we just need to put the word of caution out there to everyone that this type of thing could be another type of scam.

illegal
 

I think it's illegal to auction off a living animal....Remember "Lets make a deal" on tv? they had a lot of kittens, donkeys, etc.

maybe only a state legislation, needs to be federal one.

You were right...nobody would get a puppy of mine unless I know for absolute positive where it was going..

sounds like a scam to me too.

roxanne

It could have been an independant auction from a company or facility who PLANS to donate the $$ raised to the March of Dimes. The actual March of Dimes organization may have not been involved at all. I know someone who is a firefighter, all of the whole citys firefighters have a charity softball and golf tournament every year to raise money for a certain charity, one they pick and vote on. Then they all play and donate the $$ to the charity. The actual charity has nothing to do with their choice and knows nothing about it, they just get the donation money when the day is done.

Scam
 

You should google the telephone number and find out who called you first. I would bet it was a scam though, someone out to get a free furbaby.. Good thing you went with your loving insticts and refused :thumbup: Knowing how nice you are it was probably a little had to say "No" though, I can just imagine...

I read the first post and there actually is a March of Dimes.. It sounded familiar so I googled it.. http://www.marchofdimes.com/ who ever called you though was probably the scammer ripping of the charity name.. I would e-mail the people at this website to make sure its legit.. Even just to find out whats going on and if they would really auction off a puppy.. Maybe you'll help catch a scammer.

You always say the nicest things and make me cry!:cry: :cry: :notworthy
I would always want to contribute to charities if I can and do feel guilty when I cannot.
I did google the number and got a name and address, of which the MOD person was not familiar with at all. And although they claim not to "solicit" this type of donation, they admit to auctioning off:thumbdown puppies that have been voluntarily donated.