SELLING PETS AT FUNDRAISNG AUCTIONS

“ … Puppy Love … ”

People often ask if they should include a pet in their fundraising auction. I usually reply that a cuddly puppy can be an excellent first item, to “break the ice” in a Live Auction. Handled correctly, the auction of a pet can generate plenty of lively interaction and repartee with your audience. However, it will rarely generate a lot of revenue, so only include a pet if it has been donated – never pay for one.

If you decide to include a pet in your auction, always establish its pedigreee (or lack of) and veterinary status. Your potential buyers will want to know this information. Try to get a local vet to include free medical coverage for a year – this will significantly enhance the pet’s value at auction.

Never put a pet anywhere other than first in your auction. Working with animals can be great fun, but when a pet is auctioned in between other items in a Live Auction, the momentum of bidding is usually lost, and has to be reestablished by the auctioneer during the next couple of items (which could lose you revenue).

It is always wise to advertise a pet in advance of your auction. This gives your potential bidders (usually husband and wife) plenty of time to discuss it in advance. I once auctioned a beautiful puppy at a school gala, where the teachers had paraded the puppy through every class on the previous day. It became obvious during the auction that many children had gone home and told their parents that they MUST bring home the puppy from the gala. The result was great fun, with plenty of interested bidders.