livestock or pet - where is the line drawn for you?

For me it's a question of numbers, I think. The cattle aren't pets because there's hundreds of them. The bottle calves are, because there're only 2. (And they're heifers, so we aren't going to eat them!)
There are only 8 chickens, but they're chickens. They aren't really livestock, but they're not really pets, either...
The horses are pets. They're horses (usually a pet) and there are only seven of them. The dogs obviously are, as is the cat...

__________________
~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

We've been doing this for years and they are all our pets except the intact males. Way too dangerous for them to be pets. We love our animals, enjoy them, but have no trouble selling or eating them either. You just get used to it.

They're all pets 'til they go in the pot Seriously, Spot the Garden Chicken has probably earned herself an exemption and the horse is rather useless but will also not likely be eaten. Everyone else on the place either makes or is food (we don't currently have dogs or cats). However, I like them to come when called, stand calmly when handled, walk on a lead (ok, not the chickens), enjoy a good scratch, and they all have names (easier than "that brown goat with black trim and no ears", etc). I have had dogs and horses in the past that I spent a bit more than I should have on, but the more livestock I have, the more I realize that the line between livestock and pets is really arbitrary. They all have personalities, I like them all, I'm not willing to go vegan, I take satisfaction in knowing that they have way better lives that those in the feedlots and cages. Also, if someone happens along who wants to buy a pet, my friendly livestock is ready to switch roles

__________________
"I am not absentminded. It is the presence of mind that makes me unaware of everything else."
- G. K. Chesterton

I don't do pets - basically every thing that I provide food and shelter for better have a practical purpose - this applies to animals and family as well. Being good company isn't practical enough for me.

That being said, I take a lot of pleasure in our chickens so far but haven't lost sight of the fact that some of them are going in the freezer. I'll admit that I've not (yet) ever put any in the freezer and imagine that day will have it's challenges as a learning experience - but doesn't change that fact that I ain't giving out anything for free around here and we sure don't need 10 egg layers hanging around, taking up space, and eating feed, when a dozen eggs can last us for 2 months as is.