Why?

airotciv · #1 01/30/14, 03:48 PM

I live on a small farm and everyone keeps wanting to give me thier animals, so far in the last few months I have been offered 2 sheep, 3 dogs, 2 goats, 4 rabbits, 2 cats and a horse. They are free, not really siince I have to feed them and Vet bills. I have enough animals I don't need any more. Why do people think I want more animals just because I have a farm? Have you had this problem? Thanks

SRSLADE · #2 01/30/14, 04:05 PM

they know you live on a farm and may care for animals. they do not want to care for or feed the animals they offer you. thet simple.

palm farmer · #3 01/30/14, 04:05 PM

two months back we had this giant A hole of a dude dump out a giant kennel full of cats at our front gate, just as the wife n kids were pulling up, then he claimed he was trying to catch the cats .... we get strays and ferals all the time

M5farm · #4 01/30/14, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airotciv

I live on a small farm and everyone keeps wanting to give me thier animals, so far in the last few months I have been offered 2 sheep, 3 dogs, 2 goats, 4 rabbits, 2 cats and a horse. They are free, not really siince I have to feed them and Vet bills. I have enough animals I don't need any more. Why do people think I want more animals just because I have a farm? Have you had this problem? Thanks

No but it easy money on everything but the dogs, cats and horse

get the livestock and sell them

MO_cows · #5 01/30/14, 04:12 PM

Comes with the territory. Think of it as flattering, they offer it to you because they know you will provide a good home. But keep saying no unless it's a critter you actually want. If you don't you will soon become the home for wayward animals for your friends, relatives, and all their circles. Don't apologize, don't make excuses, just say no. If they persist, offer to board the beast for $200 a month, payable in advance.

We even had an "at large" pony wander in one time, but thankfully we found out who he belonged to and returned him, he had come several miles from home.

It's not just live animals you have to worry about. DH has a harder time saying NO than me, and he has turned our place into the pet cemetery for the whole clan. We had some "issues" recently when him and two of his sisters decided to bury a big dog at our place, except nobody told me! And, they recruited somebody to come dig the hole for them who didn't even know where previous animals were buried. I threw a hissy fit, that better not ever happen again! So be forewarned.

Tango · #6 01/30/14, 04:46 PM

At my other place I had way more land and milk cows and my neighbors gave me their orphaned pigs and calves and I made a little money that way. I can't take in many dogs or cats but I always tried to help them out some way. I'd love for someone to give me healthy goats and a healthy broke draft horse

but I'm moving in that direction anyway... slowly but surely. It comes with the territory like someone said. I've also given away or sold animals that don't fit in, many, many times. Probably in my old neighborhood it was sort of like a swap at times. I liked it. We helped each other. Now, the ones that drop off dogs and cats those are different folks...

KIT.S · #7 01/30/14, 05:35 PM

Well, you can always say "Sure! I have room in the freezer!" And yes, we've gotten many free animals. I have no problem accepting anything except cats, dogs and horses. And yes, many of them do go in the freezer.
Kit

haypoint · #8 01/30/14, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIT.S

Well, you can always say "Sure! I have room in the freezer!" And yes, we've gotten many free animals. I have no problem accepting anything except cats, dogs and horses. And yes, many of them do go in the freezer.
Kit

I was just going to say that I know of a person that has a sort of hobby farm just at the edge of town, high traffic area. She raises goats and chickens. People offer her the goats they got tired of. She accepts and butchers them.
Careless folks that end up with an unwanted litter of kittens think every farm needs another mouser. They may know that the Animal Shelter is either full or will quickly euthanize them. The farm is the only "solution".

Tabitha · #9 01/30/14, 06:29 PM

That's how we got six semi feral barn cats.

am1too · #10 01/30/14, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airotciv

I live on a small farm and everyone keeps wanting to give me thier animals, so far in the last few months I have been offered 2 sheep, 3 dogs, 2 goats, 4 rabbits, 2 cats and a horse. They are free, not really siince I have to feed them and Vet bills. I have enough animals I don't need any more. Why do people think I want more animals just because I have a farm? Have you had this problem? Thanks

I'd turndown the horse or give it away quickly as possible.

Awnry Abe · #11 01/30/14, 07:34 PM

"I don't eat cat. But I'll take everything else."

I think you are fortunate. People offer me junk out of their basement or garage, but no animals.

chewie · #12 01/30/14, 08:41 PM

i'm careful even with free--they often come with issues of sorts. either medical or mental. either way, i have no room for that. recently we've gotten 2 horses, and are offered them allll the time. goats too. the horses i can at least take a chance with, but the goats, no way. mine are disease free, clean and happy in the herd they have, adding more is just making trouble for myself.

no cats either. or dogs. but when offered a couple pigs i was more than happy to say yes. die-r calves too, as i usually can pull them thru with goat's milk. those wind up being pretty sweet money makers. (see thread on pin money!

)

dizzy · #13 01/30/14, 09:00 PM

What I get offered is mainly free horses and I've lost count of the number that I've turned down. My first 2 were freebies, lost the one to colic a little more than 2 years later, but still have the 2nd one. (He's in his 20s now)

I just turned down a free Missouri Fox Trotter. If I had had the room and the money, I would have snapped him up in a heart beat. I know the owner, and she's downsizing due to health issues. And there's nothing wrong w/the horse. But I just can't swing it.

solsikkefarms · #14 01/30/14, 09:07 PM

It's great when someone offers you something you want or could use (some of my chickens, ducks, turkey, rabbit, peafowl) not so great when they want to dump cats, dogs, horses on you.

Funbowhunter · #15 01/31/14, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIT.S

Well, you can always say "Sure! I have room in the freezer!" And yes, we've gotten many free animals. I have no problem accepting anything except cats, dogs and horses. And yes, many of them do go in the freezer.
Kit

You put cats, dogs and horses in the freezer?

Irish Pixie · #16 01/31/14, 05:04 AM

I've been told that horse is delicious, I'd have to be starving to eat dog or cat tho.

dizzy · #17 01/31/14, 06:09 AM

I remember reading in a book once that it's very difficult to tell the difference between a cat and a rabbit if it's been skinned. So, if you buy rabbit, watch out!

ET1 SS · #18 01/31/14, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palm farmer

two months back we had this giant A hole of a dude dump out a giant kennel full of cats at our front gate, just as the wife n kids were pulling up, then he claimed he was trying to catch the cats .... we get strays and ferals all the time

Use your cellphone camera to photo him and his vehicle license plates. Then send that to Animal Control.

mary,tx · #19 01/31/14, 10:32 AM

We've had a few dogs just dumped here. Have kept a couple that we liked, and called Animal Control to pick up one. Right now I have a couple of cats that appeared out front as weanlings. I wasn't looking for cats, but I fed them so now they're mine.

I've also been offered a couple of dogs, but I've declined. I have a dog. Unless I really, really, really liked theirs, I'm not taking it on. It's not my responsibility and I'm not looking to be an animal shelter.

One year I had two or three friends at church think I'd take their "Easter chicks" after Easter. I didn't. And I didn't feel guilty, because if that was their plan, they should have asked me before they brought the chicks home.

light rain · #20 02/01/14, 12:18 PM

I've known 2 different people that have taken dogs from friends on their deathbed and within 2 weeks they each had to put over $400.00 on each one (vet bills). And the previous animal owners had money but decided to leave it to "family". I think that is pretty stinky! It is expensive to feed a dog or a cat, let alone, pay vet bills. One animal lived out it's natural life with good people and the other one is a cranky little Pomeranian that is well-loved by his mistress. And when people drop off animals because they don't want the responsibility, well I can't type what I'm thinking...