Source: The Middleburg Hunt (Northern VA/West VA District)
Purpose: Fund raising, camaraderie, building connection with hounds, and strengthening landowner relations
How it Works:
As Middleburg Hunt Joint-Master Penny Denegre explains, this sale of puppy-naming rights is popular with many hunts, and Middleburg is happy to share how they do it. Next to the hunt’s annual point-to-point, The Puppy Naming Auction is their second biggest fundraiser to support hunt operations and hounds in particular.
The auction usually takes place every September as Autumn Hunting begins and when the latest batch of puppies is old enough to have been vaccinated. Hunt subscribers and landowners are invited. A major draw is having children of subscribers and landowners be the puppy handlers and presenters. Many of these youngsters will have already spent time and had fun with the puppies at the kennels.
Attendees bid as individuals or in syndicates to buy the right to name a puppy. Syndicates choose a leader who writes a check for the syndicates’ successful bids. The syndicate is responsible for reimbursing its leader. This simplifies payments to the auction’s treasurer at the end of the event.
All winning bidders are requested to create a two-syllable name starting with the first letter of the bitch’s name. Most names are conjured on the spot, but sometimes bidders need to go home and cogitate!
The premise of the auction is that the more fun and enjoyable the event, the more people will want to join in and bid. A gracious landowner provides their lovely barn with lots of room for chairs, tables, a bar, and of course a platform for standing up the puppies. Hunt members bring a wide variety of dishes for a delicious dinner, and volunteer bartenders do their best to enhance feelings of well-being.
A microphone is handled by an emcee/auctioneer who is a proven crowd-pleaser and ham. As children in kennel coats bring in the puppies, the auctioneer gives puppy descriptions simulating a beauty pageant or “The Dating Game.” Weeks before, the kennel staff has jotted down some defining features of each puppy. These are used to create fun descriptions for the auctioneer to use. Some examples:
You know that Van Morrison song “Brown Eyed Girl”? Well, this little lady was his inspiration!
This boy has a knowledge bump right at the point of his head, and he has big feet. This means he’ll be too smart to put a foot wrong!
This cute freckled-face girl always has impeccably applied mascara. Our huntsman has to get up early to help her put it on!
Bidding is lively as the children gleefully present the puppies. Photos are taken of the winning bidders with their puppies and the youngster handlers.
The hunt finds their focus on fun keeps the bidding rolling and camaraderie in high gear. The event treasurer records the winning bids on a laptop and bidders and syndicate leaders pay before leaving.
Perhaps the best result of The Puppy Naming Auction is that subscribers become keen to watch and enjoy “their” hounds in the field for years to come!
For more information about this practice, contact the MFHA
at 540-883-0883 or office@mfha.com