Pug in German town seized and sold on eBay to pay off family debts

A family had their pet pug seized and sold on eBay after they failed to pay off their debt to the town where they lived.

Officials said the move was a last resort because authorities were unable to find anything else of value to take.

The incident happened in the German town of Ahlen and has prompted criticism on social media.

Initially the officials wanted to seize the wheelchair from a disabled member of the family as it was the most valuable item on the premises.

However, as it belonged to an employee insurance association and not their property, they decided on taking the dog instead.

The family in question had allegedly failed to pay its debts to the town, including a dog tax.

German news agency dpa on Thursday quoted Ahlen’s treasurer, Dirk Schlebes, as saying the seizure was legal and only happened after other nonessential household goods had been taken.

The pedigree pug, called Edda, was sold online for €750 (£643) to Michaela Jordan, a police officer.

The dog was said to have been healthy, but shortly after changing owners has needed four operations due to eye problems and Mrs Jordan is seeking recompense for the expense, totalling about €1,800 (£1542).

The former owner told the local newspaper that a court bailiff and two city officials arrived at her home in November to search for valuables to repay the debts owed to the city, but accepts that the confiscation was legal.

“I know now that Edda is in good hands,” she said, but added her three children miss the dog.

A spokesman for the municipality of Ahlen said seizing a family dog over unpaid debts was ‘not the usual procedure’.