Abandonded pets-RANT

[rooster0209]

people who dump animals deserve to be dumped themselves, out in the middle of the desert...with nothing!
I really hate people sometimes.

 

[apbgv]

Yhe problem is we live in a disposable society sad but true. Alot of people treat animals like yesterdays fashion, they don't want to deal with_______ whatever problem. Believe me I have done enough shelter work in the past 16 yrs that I will be very happy when we are done with it. The self rigetous hs is taking over the AC part this year. don't get me started. You wouldn't believe the number of people who have gotten mad at me when I wouldn't personally take their kittens from their last litter!!!! I have 13 cats now, most have been left over fosters from work or strays that found their way her. I neuter feral cats in my neighbor. Heck I even had an iguana that I adopted that someone dumped in the ditch that the DNR found. RIP my little stormy. I could go on but it really gets my blood boiling. If you can't afford to do the best you can by an animal that depends on you don't get one is my thought. I go without food before my animals do. If anything I got chicken eggs to eat. I am ashamed to be human sometimes, humankind is by far the cruelest of any animal.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
There is almost no horse market at ALL around here. Even for horses pedigreed with gold. Horses that are tripled registered homozigous stallion spotted saddle, are left to starve in their pens abandoned. Horses are being given away now. Horses that used to be sold for at least $1500 at auction are going for literally $40.

I used to be against horse slaughter, until I see what is happening now. I too would rather see the horses be eaten, then starving on the side of the road. And it absolutely kills me to say that, because a few years ago the mention of horse slaughter houses would send me into a rage. I think that like ANY slaughter house, the ones that deal with horses need to be more humane, but they did serve their purpose.

-Kim

 

[Beekissed]

I agree with you, Kim! Its more inhumane to let an animal suffer than to dispatch it quickly. There are things far worse than death.

All my dogs were hand-me-down dogs at one time or another. My first one had been at the pound and was adopted by some immature idiots that didn't like to have to water him all the time. Go figure! He was the best dog in the whole world. Our whole town mourned his passing, as do we and he has been gone for 5 years now. I bought him from these idiots for a carton of cigs. They didn't want him anymore, so they had just stopped giving him water and food!

The Lab I have now was abandoned on a farm. These folks had got her at the pound when she was 1 yr. old and tied her up that day. They just moved away a year later and left her on a 5 ft. chain, and the neighbors were coming up and feeding her. The sweetest, prettiest dog ever born! She has had her picture in Star magazine, all over the internet and in several associated press photos...she is really that appealing!

Both of these dogs were fully trained, gentle, smart and easy keepers. I often wonder just how those kind of dogs get to the pound. Someone took the time to train them. Then what? The love just died?

I don't take in an animal that I'm not prepared to keep for its lifetime. If someone can't make that kind of commitment, they shouldn't commit at all, really. So sad, but one of the other posters was correct....we live in a disposable society!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I sure wish I could find one of these well-bred, well-trained give away horses around here! $15,000 horses are still selling for $15,000 and most give aways have some kind of issue. I would take in a trail worthy horse in a heartbeat, but I can't seem to find one for under $3000 here in NJ. I'm not even looking for something fancy!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Well, get you a horse trailer and take a road trip.

My friend is rehabilitating a GRAND CHAMPION Barrel Racer, that was left in a stall withot food or water.. It was nothing but bones with a fur coat.. Lightfoot is looking MUCH MUCH better now. I would take him, but someone already called him..

At least he has a good home.

Horses are starving down here. The vets are literally driving around to peoples farms saying "Turn your horses over to me, or I will report you". The vets are trying to pass a law, so they can sue the owners they are "taking" these horses from. For example: Somone has a starving horse, the vet comes by and takes it. The vet spends $1200 getting the animal back into health and then sues the owner for the expense. I hope it passes, people will finally start taking responsibility, if not for the horses they will for the sake of their pocketbook!

-Kim

 

[Wildsky]

TO kinda look at the other side of the coin, not to cause an uproar.

There are a lot of people right now in deep trouble financially - houses being taken away as they got into too much debt, gas prices, hay prices - all kinds of things, and as you say, you can't even sell a GREAT horse for more than a few bucks..... people just don't know what to do - and obviously the family/children etc. come first.

I'm not making excused for those that don't try different routes or rescues or something along those lines, but when trouble hits - it hits FAST!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Quote:
Oh, I totally agree with you! We had 10 horses last year, most rescues. It got to the point we couldn't afford feed. So we swallowed it and gave the horses away to people I know would take care of them.

Yes, one of them was the triple registered homozygous spotted saddle stallion someone had just "left". He was one of the rescues. Skin and bones, walking on feet so long it looked like a horse on high heels. You know how much that horse would have cost a few years ago?! How much these people probably paid for him? He was gorgeous!

We were one of those people getting into trouble and we took action. We sold what horses we could, for what prices we could get. The other we gave away. One of our seniors, we had to euthanize. We are down to two now and they are doing fine with their 5 acre pasture. They're fat and happy.

-Kim

 

[Wildsky]

Well I just have one horse and a goat - (other than the chickens) my horse was also a rescue - but I traded my other horse for her - to the lady who rescued her.

ANYHOO - hay is HARD to find, we are down to one NASTY round bale, probably half of it is moldy - and out of the BLUE a blessing.
A friend of my husbands, asked for his help to LOAD HAY!! Next weekend!!! This friend is taking his horse trailer to load up with square bales (driving about an hour and a half away), and there are now three of us going in on the deal - we'll get about 50 square bales....
(from a friend of a friend, really CHEAP $3.50 a bale) and it might be nasty - but I think its first cutting from this years crop!!

 

[CountryMom]

I totally understand about hay shortages and feeding your family first. I am not blessed with a ton of grass for my herd - compared to size and have always been blessed with great amounts of home grown bales of hay. A couple of years ago we had a drought and I got stuck buying hay. I bought many a bag of hay cubes also and fed as much as I could. We managed. Before all this with horse slaughter my good working cow bred babies would go for $2500 the absolute minute they hit the ground. Now, I can't give them away without getting them broke. We decided to sell my middle daughter's very very nice riding mare who was only 9 years old. Mind you my md is only 9 also. She moved up to a cutting horse to compete. I only got $1500 for her. Sadly I could have gotten double that in a good market. The market is just flooded. High dollar performance trained horses will always have a market for the people who show. And not everyone who is showing is in financal bad off situations. Those are really the only buyers right now. That and maybe the retired folks on their first time ranch hoping for an easy horse. That is where my md's mare went. A wonderful home really.

As is I have three babies I haven't had time to break but have to get going on them. I have a mind to try to finish them out myself just to make them worth more. It is just a major undertaking with my time schedule to finish a cutting horse.

As much as this is all upsetting it is really nice to see that all humans are not horrible. Many of us are trying to do the right thing and do take care of our pets no matter the amount of time, money and upsetting vet bills there are. Maybe soon the rest of our country will see the horse market for what it has become and realize that our new laws do not do them justice.