'In Dog We Trust' rug to be auctioned for charity

The proceeds from the auction are set to go to Canine Estates, a local non-profit run by three animal-loving sisters

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office rug in Largo, Florida (AP)

A sheriff’s office in Florida is auctioning a rug that earned worldwide fame this week, when somebody spotted that its official crest read “In Dog We Trust”, instead of “In God We Trust”.

The mat reportedly graced the lobby of the new Pinellas County sheriff’s office for two months until this Wednesday, when the error was pointed out by an eagle-eyed deputy.

“In God We Trust” is the official motto of the US, as well as of the state of Florida. The mistake was made by the manufacturer, American Floor Mats, which made two matching rugs for the floor of the sheriff’s office. It pledged to replace the faulty one.

Pinellas sheriff Bob Gualtieri said he had received a barrage of email requests from people offering to buy the “In Dog We Trust” mat, many of whom were dog lovers from as far afield as Europe and South America. Eventually, he and his colleagues decided it would be best to auction the rug to raise money for a good cause.

On an internet auction page, his office wrote: “The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office will not ‘sweep anything under the rug’. Due to extensive interest regarding our plans for the ‘doggone’ rug, you can bid on it here, and we will donate 100 per cent of your bid to a local animal rescue.”

The proceeds from the auction are set to go to Canine Estates, a local non-profit run by three animal-loving sisters, who take care of injured and abandoned dogs. The starting bid for the mat, which originally cost $500 (£329), was set at $100. By Friday afternoon it had attracted bids of more than $2,550. Prospective buyers have until 21 January to bid.