An annual animal auction is under fire from an animal-rights group.
Every year, hundreds of animals are auctioned off at the exotic animal sale in Innisfail.
"There are so many animals. I brought ducklings to sell this time and we bought a peacock and two peahens," says Val Baglee.
The auction drew a large crowd on Saturday but not everyone was happy about what they saw on the auction block.
"They're promoting irresponsible pet ownership by selling these birds to just anybody," says R.J. Bailout from Pound Rescue, an animal-welfare group.
Bailout says too often people buy pets for the novelty then dump them at the pound when they become too much responsibility.
"They're not doing any background checks on where the exotic animals go and therefore we're worried about where these animals are ending up," says Bailout.
Auction organizers say nearly all of their clients are experienced breeders who buy and sell at the auction every year.
Organizers add that a few of the animals on the block appear in rough shape but most of those were rescued from other homes.
