A town in Germany is facing a public relations nightmare after a debt collector working for the town confiscated a family’s dog — which was subsequently sold on eBay — after the family had fallen behind on its debts.
The town is also facing criticism and a potential lawsuit from the individual who purchased the purebred pug on eBay, saying the dog is sick and has had to be operated on four times in the two months since it was purchased.
News of the confiscation and sale of the dog has reached mainstream media outlets in the United States, including People magazine and The New York Times.
The family had fallen behind on a number of bills, including an annual dog tax, to the town. A debt collector was dispatched to the house to repossess items to cover the amount of the unpaid debts. The collector determined that the dog was the most valuable item in the house and would satisfy the total amount that was due. The dog was subsequently sold on eBay for about $850.
While the seizure of the dog was legal, according to the town’s treasurer, using a private account on eBay to sell the pooch was “questionable.”
Pets are prized possessions in Germany, and one animal rights activist equated selling the dog to “putting grandfather on eBay.”
