Posted ad for my wether on CL and

[Rechellef]

...the first person to call was a local meat/sheep dealer. I know this guy well (I bought sheep from him),he does have a decent reputation, and raises several hundred head of sheep and goats for the market. However, my ad specifies Jett as a pet or pack animal. I do plan on eating future wethers, but essentially, Jett is my baby - my first "son", so selling him knowing he will be eventually butchered is a little unsettling. I really need to thin out my herd, but I am not sure I can make myself sell him knowing his fate. However, I do know that he will be taken well care of before his "final good night". I hate to say it, but Jett is a meaty boy, and I know he would butcher out nicely (in reality), so I am very torn as what to do as the guy is calling back tomorrow. I am praying someone responds to the ad because they want a nice, sweet pet goat. Gosh, I wish it were as easy as my lambs. I have no contact with them and they have no names, so sending them away to freezer camp is going to be easy. Ah - the soap opera of goat herding.

[TroutRiver]

Sometimes I wonder how honest people really are when they say that they are going to keep a meat animal as a pet forever. I sold a buck last year to a woman who swore to me she would never butcher him. I didn't really have an opinion either way on the matter, I thought it was very nice that she promised me that, but part of me wondered if she was really being honest or if she just wanted me to think he was going to a good "forever" home. I haven't kept in touch with her, so I will never know.

Maybe give it a couple more weeks and see if you get any more responses, unless this guy is really in a hurry to buy your wether ASAP. Honestly, that is the fate of most castrated male livestock animals. Some are lucky enough to have a few good years before meeting their fate with the freezer, but very few really get to live out their lives as pets.

Sometimes you can find people who are looking for companions for larger animals, like horses. I've seen lots of adds on craigslist posted by people looking for a companion for their horse.

[nehimama]

It's hard when you feel so attached, but once the goat is out of your hands, so is his fate. It seems to me that, when folks post ads looking for "forever homes" that they're trying to tell me what to do with my property (the goat that *I* just paid money for). I hope your feller gets a nice, forever pet home!

[mygoat]

Quite honestly, no home you find for him will be a 'forever' home - it's extremely rare to find a GOOD, PERMANENT home for wethers. I really do NOT sell pet wethers except as companions for breeding animals because while there are 'good' pet homes out there, a good majority of homes for goats - even those for breeding - are NOT GOOD HOMES. Wethers suffer more than others, IMHO. If you can't keep him, butchering him yourself or sending him to a home where he'll be well cared for and then butchered is the best thing for him.

[Creamers]

when folks post ads looking for "forever homes" that they're trying to tell me what to do with my property

I don't agree - you're buying on terms - people aren't honest, of course, but ideally, they would be.
No different than buying a home in a deed restricted community - your money, lots of it, but you have to abide by the terms of the deed -
Hey, I wouldn't do it (buy in a deed restricted community, that is), but a lot of people do. . .

BUT You have no way to know what will happen to him, and the care most pet goats get is so subpar, his best end might be as meat.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Just sell him. Yes, it's hard.

[TwosCompany]

I'm in the minority I guess in the fact that I have TWO pet wethers who do not in any way get subpar care. We have 5 acres and my two guys are extremely helpful in the landscape area as well as companion area. I've never had better pets for my children. Wherever my human kids go on the farm, the wethers go too. They've been hiking with us, they've been to Easter egg hunts with us (and were the hit of the party). I've spent time researching nutrition, parasite control, and general health of goats so that these guys will be happy and healthy for the rest of their lives. I have no problems eating wethers (we'll be raising some for that next year) but I also believe they can make great pets. Rechellef, I'm in TN and wish I were closer in order to offer Jett a home!

[madness]

I'm a wuss selling pet wethers too. Some of the boys I fully expect to be made into meat one day, but others tug at the heart strings and you do want them to live out their full natural lives.

[NataliaTwoDoes]

Funny that you brought this up... my husband and I were discussing how people do this in CL and other classifieds after we saw 3 calves for sale for 300.00 for ALL on the basis that they would be kept together and not be used as meat. I considered purchasing them lamenting the idea that the only use I have for cattle is for milk or meat and that they would be purchased by someone who would use them for that purpose no matter what the ad says. Well I did find out the fate of the 3 calves who were purchased by my husbands co-worker, for meat. He sold two within 24 hours for a significant profit and kept one for himself.
I do think it is unrealistic to expect someone to keep a farm animal under you terms once its out of your hands and they've paid for it, and it prevents people with scruples like myself from getting my meat animals because I dont want to feel obligated to maintain an animal that has no purpose other than being adorable. The tactic does work on me, I wont buy it at all however others will buy it for meat and just not tell you. I DO hope you find someone honest looking for a cute pet for your peace of mind.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Once an animal leaves your place, you no longer have control of its fate. A lot of goats (breeding or not) go to less than desirable homes just because so many people don't know enough. Even if you sell him a home that knows what they are doing and is great, those people could get divorced, lose jobs, become ill, die in a car crash, etc. And the goat could then be sold to someone who knows absolutely nothing and has no intention of learning anything either, because it's a goat and goats can eat tin cans. Or be sold to someone who takes it home and butchers it out the next day. Sadly, life is uncertain.

[sandc]

If you want to sell wethers and assure they stay out of the pot, you should train and sell them as pack goats.

[noeskimo]

40 years ago, I worked at the humane society for 2 years. It changed my life.Afterward, I didn't feel so bad about euthanasia, or even a 22 to the head.When you see what happens to some pets, sometimes a painless death is the best alternative. This being said...although I've told myself this, when the times comes, I still struggle and cry, just like everyone else.Everyone has to draw their own line

[Natural Beauty Farm]

I know what you mean. Some do hold special places on the farm. I still have a Saanen wether that should have been butchered months ago. But he was the smallest and his horns were burned out properly, so he has not been any trouble. Always making excuses not to do the deed. Don't get me wrong, I eat well, just have not gotten hungry enough for BBQ#498, the other 497 were delicious.

[salmonslayer91]

somtimes when i read adds on CL i feel that the owner somtimes places unneccisary restrictions on the buyers even if it is only an implied contract you can have this for this much but....... you have to do this this and this oh and you cant do this or that. i usually feel that hey it my animal now i do try to be up front though