The Dark Reality Behind Rescue Bids at Puppy Mill Auctions

I remember my first and only puppy mill (ahem, or "commercial breeding" for those who play the game) auction experience. I was given a paddle with a number and was seated in the middle of a field on bleachers alongside other rescue, puppy millers, and random folks looking to purchase dogs. Young kids, ushered by their parents, would haul dogs up onto a folding table, presenting them to their buyers.

Then a man in a button up shirt stood in front of the table and, like a game, started the bidding at $50, $100 for the elderly broken dogs, $500+ for the puppies, the designer dogs, the pregnant dogs. Any dogs that didn't sell? They were sent to be euthanized later that evening.

We raised our paddles, thinking we were doing what was needed for the poor dogs who were shivering and confused by human contact. Nothing but a yellow plastic number hanging from their necks to identify them. The image plays in my mind and makes me sick to recall. I wanted to save every single one.

Out of over 500 lives being auctioned off, we saved 18.

The "Safety Net" Illusion

We, like dozens of other rescues, were told that our bids were "safety nets." That entering in a bid of $50 would ensure that no dog was euthanized at the end of this auction—and that the puppy mill breeders would not make more than they spent on food/vaccines.

I remember questioning what we were doing as I handed a check for thousands of dollars to the auctioneer, knowing it was going into the pocket of a puppy mill operation.

I vowed not to attend another auction at that point, unless we knew the operation auctioning off those dogs was downsizing or being shut down.

For the next several years, we placed these "safety net bids" on dogs from puppy mills who were downsizing or going out of business. For a while that felt okay... until an article from The Washington Post was published—puppy mills were profiting from rescue group participation.

Confronting the Ethics of Auction Rescue

The next few years we did a lot of soul searching, discussing at length whether these "safety net bids" were ethical in our eyes.

We landed on a hard truth: no amount of puppy mill auction participation is ethical.

Even if these puppy mill breeders didn't make money off of these dogs, there were still two main issues:

-They were increasing their breeding programs with rescue groups in mind.

-This was an easy way to get rid of animals they no longer had use for.

Every dollar going into their hands went directly to purchasing new "stock."

Over the months we spent diving into this topic further, we heard horror stories of puppy millers going "out of business" and selling their dogs for thousands of dollars each to well-meaning rescue groups, only to turn around and open up a new operation with rescue money—starting the cycle all over again. Puppy mills were getting creative, marketing to rescue groups. Preying on rescues who thought they were saving animals.

Why We Chose to Walk Away

We stopped saying yes to auction dogs completely in late 2023. It was a hard decision and something we did not take lightly. We believe that every animal deserves to be saved. We also believe that rescues cannot and should not be participatory in the abuse of puppy mills. They should not be a player in this game.

Especially when over 1 million companion animals are still euthanized annually in shelters across the United States. Why put money into the pockets of puppy mills instead of saving animals from shelters?

I can tell you why. Puppy mill dogs are highly adoptable breeds. They get fostered and adopted at a quicker rate than shelter dogs, despite having more medical and behavioral issues. They are easier to market.

Unfortunately, many rescue groups have built their entire organization around saving puppy mill dogs. This is problematic for many reasons:

As I have already shared, their participation perpetuates and supports puppy mills.

It means less shelter dogs are being saved.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, in 2024, the number of dogs euthanized in shelters increased by 5%. That is problematic, when there are so many rescues popping up—but many of them don't focus on shelter dogs.

Lastly, promoting adoption of predominantly purebreds for $1000+ adoption fees re-affirms the belief that purebred and designer dogs are worth more than shelter dogs.

This is not rescue. This is being a broker of puppy mill dogs.

Identifying the Pattern and Driving Real Change

So how do you know if a rescue is primarily rescuing puppy mill dogs? Simple: if their website looks more like a breeder's website (more than 50% of the dogs are designer breeds and purebreds), you can assume they are participating in this type of rescue.

Talk to them. Ask them where they rescue their animals from and why. Explain why rescuing from auctions is problematic. Assume they have willingness to change.

We have been quiet on this issue for a long time, but we believe that change comes from open conversation, vulnerability. I don't condemn anyone who participates in these auctions—we did until we learned more—but I am asking everyone to consider what is true rescue and what is aiding the problem.

It's time to consider the ethics of rescue. It's time to say no to being a crutch to puppy mills and yes to saving the lives of shelter dogs—who are worth just as much.

— Rachel, The Bond Between Founder and Executive Director