oh no...kid's school is doing something horrible

the shelter said it could not email or call the school since technically no rules or laws are being broken. I am looking at some local rescues to see if they'd possibly call or send a note BUT I do NOT want the school harrassed by AR loonies as that hurts the greater cause...so I am having to be very careful of who I get involved. And as I said...my kiddos are going there. I don't want them stigmatized by anything I do...so I am trying to be as calm, respectful, and circumspect yet unrelenting as is possible to be.

I'm with you on this, Gina. They are way wrong to do this. You might send registered letters, which I am sure you already thought of.

It's a brainless idea -- can you just imagine how MAD parents will be who are on the receiving end of a teasing child??  Parents mad for the school putting them in a bad position ... that's just idiotic. 

I would ask the rescue groups if they know of any atty in town who might do a letter to the school.  Just a "Hi, heard about this and ...." that might, in a really non-threatening way (except for the letterhead) tell the school the liaiblity they could be setting themselves up for.  Ask and see if any of the parents are attorneys!

 I don't know what your local SPCA is like, but the one here in Richmond just raised a major media stink when a local tv station bulldozed a feral cat colony's habitat.  Maybe the one in your area could get involved.  This is a completely idiotic idea.  I would ignore what AC said and go either to the DA or the county attorney, it's pretty clear to me that that rule applies.

Why don't they just use the money to buy a bunch of new puppy supplies and raffle that off, like a crate, leash, collar, etc.  We had someone donate a package like that to our shelter when they could only take one of two littermates and wanted to be sure the sibling they left behind was well cared for.  Their donation totalled $150+!  The family that adopted that pup was floored when they found out what came with their pup. 

I sympathize with your position and your kids having to go there.  My kids were sadly the brunt of a zealous Mom during a toe-to-toe with a local private school.  Kids still bring it up to my son and daughter 10 years later.   

Good news...I win it seems. They've accepted the shelter adoption GC in lieu. I will be picking that up for them tomorrow. I will drop the law print out, and articles off with the Principal tho...just to be sure future incidents do not occur.

rwbeagles

Good news...I win it seems. They've accepted the shelter adoption GC in lieu. I will be picking that up for them tomorrow. I will drop the law print out, and articles off with the Principal tho...just to be sure future incidents do not occur.

Sounds like a win-win. Now a shelter doggie gets a new home...oh, but what about the puppy they already have? Will you be taking it, or will it go to the shelter?

puppy is in the store...they do not have possession of it yet.

rwbeagles

Good news...I win it seems. They've accepted the shelter adoption GC in lieu. I will be picking that up for them tomorrow. I will drop the law print out, and articles off with the Principal tho...just to be sure future incidents do not occur.

Yay!  You Rock! 

My cousin's school in Houston does this every year. The dog almost NEVER works out- I've helped rehome four of them.

 That's great Gina, but what happens if the winner fails the screening by the shelter?  Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against auctioning off a puppy.  Just wondering.

huskymom

That's great Gina, but what happens if the winner fails the screening by the shelter?

Then they probably shouldn't have a pet?

This cert isn't the only thing in the basket they're bidding on. So hopefully that will be of some value to them.

There are tickets to amusement parks, and free dinner coupons and such in other baskets....if something comes up and you end up not using those, or you lose them...not really in the schools control.

IMO the scenario you pose falls under the same umbrella.

Yay!  I like the sounds of that VP (atleast as far as this issue is concerned).  Good job Gina!

Excellent work.  I wonder if things like this happen because people don't really stop and think.  It takes someone like you to say, hey this is wrong and then they realize.  Congrats!!!

Are you a member of Responsible Pet Owner's Alliance?   They are not an AR group.  They are based in San Antonio but help with this type of issue and others all over the state of Texas.

www.responsiblepetowners.org

Good job on getting the school to stop this stupid idea.  There was little doubt in my mind that you would be successful.