We’re betgtin the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina does a bang-up job in its day-to-day duties, but when it comes to its yearly fundraising drive, the department is sorely lacking. Because that yearly fundraising drive involves a raffle, and the grand prize of that raffle is: a puppy.
The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office raffles off a puppy — one every year, for the past 12 years, according to Fox 46 News.
Here’s a picture of 11-week-old Emma, who was the potential prize for literally anyone who could afford the raffle’s $1 ticket:
And here’s the Facebook message that accompanied that photo:
Here is the K-9 (German Shepard) we will be selling tickets for at the fair this year. Tickets are $1 and we will raffle off last day of fair. A 10X10 kennel and dog house will come with the puppy. We will also be selling t-shirts and sweaters.
As you might imagine, this post didn’t go over too well. Both the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page and the Fox 46 News Facebook page, were inundated with negative comments, such as:
CLEVELAND COUNTY POLICE ARE RAFFLING OFF A PUPPY AT A FAIR?? REALLY??!! THIS IS WRONG ON EVERY LEVEL!! THIS PUPPY COULD END UP AS A BAIT/FIGHTING DOG!!! WHAT IS WRONG IN SHELBY, NC??!!
And:
I cannot believe that you are raffling a dog. What complete disregard for a living BEING. Societies most vulnerable are children and animals and YOU as police must surely KNOW THAT. Has anyone thought further than the money? What if the puppy ends up as a bait dog? What if the winner is an animal abuser? Please find an ITEM to raffle, a dog is not a THING. It really is shameful that this has to be told to you.
And:
Wow really. And a house to promote keeping him outside!!! This is beyond sad and really ignorant. NO CAUSE IS WORTH DOING THIS TO A ANIMAL!!! Very very disappointed
And, simply: “Asshats”
Once the department felt the sting of the public squaring off against it, Captain Richard Acuff called off the raffle and then attempted to defend the debacle’s previous 12 years by saying that winners typically chose a cash prize instead of adoption. When that happened, the prize puppy would go home with a sheriff’s deputy.
We wonder how many of those sheriff’s deputies knew they were going home with a puppy on the day of the raffle. If we had to guess, we’d say: zero. We’d also like the captain to give some stats on how many of those dogs are still with their sheriff’s deputies.
Capt. Acuff also defended his “win this puppy!” fundraising scheme by saying that the department did have a “screening process” in place if the winner chose the dog, and told Fox 46 that they’ve “even gone to the potential adopter’s house to check it out and make sure it’s a safe environment.”
That may be true, but it’s quite possible those same people who think it’s OK to raffle off a dog aren’t the best judges as to what is best for a dog.
In any case, kudos to the Facebook posters who finally put an end to this ill-conceived raffle. As for Capt. Acuff, he has quickly adapted: The department set up a GoFundMe page to raise the cash it would be losing by canceling the raffle (it’s currently at more than $3,700).
“The fundraiser has been a success for many years, but we want to encourage a different approach to raising money for this deserving department,” the page reads. “Thank you, dog lovers, far and wide for your concern. Your voices made a difference!”
Via Fox 46 News
Read more dog news and commentary on Dogster:
