Why ok with horses/chickens/pigsetc but not cats and dogs?

[Manyfridays]

Prepared for a flaming 🤣
Why is it ok to sell/rehome horses and other 'livestock' but not cats and dogs ?

Because they're "livestock" like you've suggested? I presume your dog or cat tends to live in the house and I can't really see the horse being integrated as part of the family? Also don't kids grow out of ponies and pass them on? Or maybe the cost? I imagine it costs as much as a mortgage to keep a horse so if the money dries up that's that I supose. Don't people also train them up and sell them for a profit? I'm not sure pigs tend to get rehomed do they? They end up as sausages i imagine!

I personally wouldn't sell any of my horses because you can never guarantee where they will end up but I imagine there are many good reasons to sell a horse such as outgrowing, change of financial circumstances, want to progress etc. Horses in many instances are still seen as having a 'job', they are there to fulfill a role not just to be a pet.

Dogs and cats on the other hand are primarily about companionship and are often seen to be part of the family (although I know many people who consider horses their family - me included).

I've thought about this a lot too!!

But the one thing that really, really makes me angry is the 'free to a good home' where some poor horse has given their best years only to be passed on without any concern about where it will end up. It would be far kinder to put the horse to sleep.

Who says it's ok?
Some people do rehome cats and dogs - and it's a relief when elderly people find them a good home, others will not rehome their horse or pet pig.

If it's not a pet, then its not rehoming. Not everyone uses dogs as pet.

Iloveruby - think that's a different argument. One about euthanasia.

I love my horse as much as my cats and dog to be honest but may have to move to a flat in a town - I can manage the dog but dont see how i can turn two very outside cats into house cats :(.
And its just started a train of thought if i have to rehone them as on here you very oftern see people being told not to take jobs/move etc if it means they cannt keep thier pets.

It is not OK with horses either.People can be a bit thoughtless with horses. They are extremely demanding animals, that cost a lot to keep and live a very long time. At the same time it is easy to make a mistake and buy the wrong horse, they can be outgrown, they are prone to career changing injuries and, with the wrong owner, can become dangerous to ride and handle. I do think people should think long and hard before buying a horse, and be responsible owners, e.g, pay for professional advice/retraining and put sick or elderly horses to sleep. If you are not the good horse your elderly/useles/dangerous horse needs, why do you think someone else will be?

Try your cats as house cats, they may surprise you.

Cats are the most abandoned animal with people leaving gem behind when they move. iloveruby makes a good point with what is best for the animal? As humans/owners, we have the responsibility for the animal's welfare. Rehoming is great in an ideal world but it's not always the best option. What's happening to the horse then? Guess you can't take that to a flat?

The horse lives, weirdly in a field and won't need rehoming and i am able to 'buy' in physical help with him despite my sudden disablity. Again i can get a regular dog walker and use puppy pad with the dog. The cats are very used to lots of freedom and i will struggle with physical aspects of having to train them as house cats but will get oriffesional advice before i do anything.

Use puppy pads? No dog should be forced to toilet inside.
If I had to I would rehome my animals. But only if I had absolutely no other option. I would never do so over the Internet. I would contact the breeder/rescue they came from.

As the dog is 11 years old and almost blind i doubt her breeder will want her back and I think using a puppy pad in an emergancy as i will possibly not be able to walk her at night despite her loss of dignity, will probably be less traumatic than beng rehomed.

Mine simply wouldn't go on a puppy pad. It would cause her extreme stress to force her to toilet inside.

If you get male poults, you’re probably going to want to rexhome them, people tend not to appreciate lots of crowing if you’re not in the country.

I wouldn’t re-home my horse, I’d worry too much. Couldn’t re-home my dog either, he’s like a child to me.

A friend is taking the chucks fortunatly x i am not struggling with them going as she has even more space than i do and lux houses x

A dog or a cat you can bring into your house and take it out for a walk a few days a day. A horse will be in stables, you can't just park it in the spare room.

I know people who have literally sold houses to keep there horses. I too would move heaven and earth to keep my horse. He's one of my children.

I don't have a problem with rehoming cats or dogs (or fancy rats or parrots, etc.) as long as it's done responsibly, too. So not a difference for me.

I’ve had all of those animals and I’ve never sold one

I presume it’s different because livestock don’t live in the house with you and therefore don’t spend as much time with you.

I’m not sure about cats but don’t dogs consider their humans their pack?

I do find it a bit weird when people sell their horse or pony to get a new one. I get that growing children will eventually need a larger animal but they often seem so attached, seems odd to me that they'd be able to just move on to another horse.