Big Al: A man of his word

It is not often when people in my life actually follow through with their promises and commitments. A year ago, when I was executive director of the local humane society, I went to the NIC Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Auction. In lieu of donating a live shelter animal to the auction, the humane society donated an "approved adoption certificate" for a spayed/neutered, vaccinated, micro chipped shelter animal in need of a lifelong, loving home along with a basket of supplies that was valued at over $500.

Upon arriving at the event, my wife and I were very disappointed to see a live puppy in the lobby being passed around that would later be available for bidding in the auction. "Big Al" Williams explained to me it was a "last minute item" and he didn't know about it until he arrived, but that he "didn't think it was that big of a deal."

While the puppy that evening was auctioned into a great loving home, this is not the case every time. Often these animals are forced to endure a stressful evening of over-handling without food or water, only to be sold off to the highest bidder in a (sometimes drunken) spur of the moment decision.

Having live animals at an auction such as this, while "profitable" for the charity, usually ends with a sad and predictable result. Being in the animal welfare industry for over 12 years, more often than not what I have seen is that when the "cute-factor" wears off, and there have been a couple of "accidents" in the house, the winning bidder regrets the successful bid and decides it really was a "bad idea" to win the puppy after all. After a while, the "cute" puppy, who is now a harder to adopt, not so cute and untrained teenage dog, ends up unwanted and homeless at the local animal shelter.

Owning a dog is a 12- to 15-year commitment. A cat can be upward of a 20-year commitment. This is longer than many marriages last in today's society and, as humans we spend months, if not years, before we resolve to that decision. The choice of adding a new pet to the household should not be made on an impulse. We test drive our cars before we buy them; we should also "test drive" our next pet before it enters our household. The decision should take research, time and careful consideration. In addition, all members of the family, including the other pets in the house, should be involved.

After last year's event, I had a heart to heart discussion with Al Williams about my disappointment at the auctioning of a live puppy during his event. At first he didn't understand my frustration, but after further evaluation of the situation from my perspective, he came to appreciate and even empathize with my reasoning. Al committed to me that the following year's event would not have a live animal for auction.

This year, my wife and I attended the event, and even after pressure from his event committee and co-workers to auction a live dog, he kept his word to me, and the fundraiser was a "puppy free event."

I am the first one to admit that there is fierce competition with fundraising events in this community, and auctioning a live animal can bring in $1,000 or more. I get that, but sometimes as a nonprofit organization doing good for the community in whatever capacity, we must be sensitive to each other's missions. There is a line we should not cross in the name of money. I encourage other nonprofit organizations to follow Al Williams' example of understanding and resist auctioning a live animal at their next auction event.

As well, we, as event-going animal advocates in the community, have the right to boycott events where an animal will be exploited and very possibly end up in the shelter looking for a new home.

Thank you Al Williams for being a man of your word! The animals in our community and their advocates sincerely appreciate you for it.

Phil and Christine Morgan are Coeur d'Alene residents.