BizBash
Before deciding to include animals in your auction, there are a few things to know. First, certain animal organizations, like the Humane Society of the United States and the American Kennel Club, do not support auctioning animals for charity. To that end, the Humane Society says that it will not provide animals for this purpose. However, many groups, including the Humane Society of Broward County, will offer gift certificates that can be used toward adoption on a later date.
Currently, there are no guidelines for including animal adoptions in an auction. But event planners who have done so before say there are certain things you can do to ensure the animal's safety and that it goes to a loving home:
· Make sure the animal is healthy and up to date on its shots.
· Assign one person to be solely responsible for the animal up until the night of the event. Then have that person bring it in just before the auction begins, to keep the animal from becoming anxious or overexcited.· Include a gift package with the animal containing all the basic necessities, such as food and toys. You can also include a crate and training sessions for any dogs that are auctioned.
· Do not let winners take their new pet home the night of the event. Instead, give them a voucher that specifies they have paid for the animal and can go to a designated location over the next week to pick it up. This allows you to avoid the possible liability of putting a live animal in a potentially dangerous situation if the person has been drinking. Additionally, if the winner is struck with buyer's remorse, the animal has not been placed in a home where they are not truly wanted.
When it comes to finding animals for your auction, the planners we spoke to all recommended obtaining them from a breeder or your local animal hospital. Though there are many elements that need to be considered when including animals in your auction, the benefits are twofold: One, since many people love animals, they could be a big moneymaker for your organization; and two, you could be helping an animal find a new home.
Currently, there are no guidelines for including animal adoptions in an auction. But event planners who have done so before say there are certain things you can do to ensure the animal's safety and that it goes to a loving home:
· Make sure the animal is healthy and up to date on its shots.
· Assign one person to be solely responsible for the animal up until the night of the event. Then have that person bring it in just before the auction begins, to keep the animal from becoming anxious or overexcited.· Include a gift package with the animal containing all the basic necessities, such as food and toys. You can also include a crate and training sessions for any dogs that are auctioned.
· Do not let winners take their new pet home the night of the event. Instead, give them a voucher that specifies they have paid for the animal and can go to a designated location over the next week to pick it up. This allows you to avoid the possible liability of putting a live animal in a potentially dangerous situation if the person has been drinking. Additionally, if the winner is struck with buyer's remorse, the animal has not been placed in a home where they are not truly wanted.
When it comes to finding animals for your auction, the planners we spoke to all recommended obtaining them from a breeder or your local animal hospital. Though there are many elements that need to be considered when including animals in your auction, the benefits are twofold: One, since many people love animals, they could be a big moneymaker for your organization; and two, you could be helping an animal find a new home.
