Maybe I'm weird... scratch that... I know I am weird. In this getting ready to move process there have been some difficulties we have run up against. One such area is in getting our animals to new homes. I feel like those people down at the humane shelter who have 3 million questions. I want to know our loved animals are going to kind and humane homes... even our animals who are raised for farming and food purposes such as the pigs. We have several sows and a boar who we are desperately looking for homes for. We don't want Max Boarus, Ms Olivia, Tinkerbelle, or Thumbelina going to homes to be eaten but to be used as breeding animals. Every time we think we have found a home, there is something I don't care for and it is causing no end to the frustration the men in my home are feeling.
This presents a delima and many discussions with my family. We raise a small amount of animals on this farm. I believe in giving care to our animals which is far above most industry standards, believing even animals raised for meat should be treated with dignity and respect. If you are what you eat, I want to know what I put into my body lived and died being treated well. Call me weird...that is ok. We had an offer of a home for the sows but the woman plans to raise like 80 of them. I just could not wrap my head around this. Taking our small farm raised animals and placing them somewhere to be ignored and placed in small pens. Yuck!
Ms. Olivia has been talked to, scratched, and appreciated since we picked her up at 7 weeks of age. My cowboy sat up with her through long nights of laboring piglets into the world, not leaving her side until all was well. I know she is just a pig... but she was our pig. Tinkerbelle and Thumbelina were hand raised on the bottle... there were quite a few nights I didn't think they would make it but they did. Mr Max comes like a dog when you whistle at him! He is the friendliest boar I have ever seen! They were never raised with the intent of being food.
This presents a delima and many discussions with my family. We raise a small amount of animals on this farm. I believe in giving care to our animals which is far above most industry standards, believing even animals raised for meat should be treated with dignity and respect. If you are what you eat, I want to know what I put into my body lived and died being treated well. Call me weird...that is ok. We had an offer of a home for the sows but the woman plans to raise like 80 of them. I just could not wrap my head around this. Taking our small farm raised animals and placing them somewhere to be ignored and placed in small pens. Yuck!
Ms. Olivia has been talked to, scratched, and appreciated since we picked her up at 7 weeks of age. My cowboy sat up with her through long nights of laboring piglets into the world, not leaving her side until all was well. I know she is just a pig... but she was our pig. Tinkerbelle and Thumbelina were hand raised on the bottle... there were quite a few nights I didn't think they would make it but they did. Mr Max comes like a dog when you whistle at him! He is the friendliest boar I have ever seen! They were never raised with the intent of being food.
We do raise pigs for food too but we give them reminder names such as HAMlet and HAMrietta. You really shouldn't name food... it becomes very difficult later. I'm holding out for a farmer who raises animals ethically and with kind regard. Just as we found a home for our duck with a family who loves their animals and will treat her well, I want the same for the pigs. :)
So wish me luck, as I endeavor to find a home for the rest of our animals being left behind, and pray I do not stretch my husband's patience to the breaking point. Giggle at me if you wish... you may even shake your head as my cowboy does. I just smile, bat my eyes and tell him "You knew what you were getting into when you married me, honey" and am thankful he isn't one to ignore my concerns... otherwise there might be more tears than we could all handle right now. This softy is going to go make up a flier for my mama to hand out in her community looking for kind farmers who want to breed pigs :)
So wish me luck, as I endeavor to find a home for the rest of our animals being left behind, and pray I do not stretch my husband's patience to the breaking point. Giggle at me if you wish... you may even shake your head as my cowboy does. I just smile, bat my eyes and tell him "You knew what you were getting into when you married me, honey" and am thankful he isn't one to ignore my concerns... otherwise there might be more tears than we could all handle right now. This softy is going to go make up a flier for my mama to hand out in her community looking for kind farmers who want to breed pigs :)
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