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Pet or Pet Peeve?

5/25/2015

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You would be amazed how many people love goats, or would love to have goats.  Great, right?  What about those who call just looking for a pet goat.  Wonderful!  Especially, if you have wethers. But is it worth the money to sell a wether as a pet?

Let’s focus on the possibilities………….

If there are kids, human kids that is, a pet goat can be a good option if you are willing to spend time with them.  Bottle babies would be best as well.  Add kids involved in 4H or FFA and the possibilities for a good match are there.  So, sell a wether, yeah! Right? Sad to say, not really……….

Consider this, what happens if your kid decides not to do 4H, or taking care of the wether starts interfering with sports activities or other school programs.  Next thing you know, your pet wether needs to find a new home.  Of course, you would do your best to re-home them.  At the new home, everything goes well for awhile, than the fun pet wethered goat isn’t so fun.  Again, the goat is re-homed. On and on it goes.  This is the absolutely worst thing for that little cutie of a wether. Where is home, continued changes to his herd.  Stress, period. Worse case, the sweet wether isn’t sweet anymore – he’s a problem goat now.

So maybe you shouldn’t sell that wether as a pet? Probably, but what if that wether could be more than a pet?  Talk to any potential buyers about their excitement over a pet goat.  Kids grow up, 4H and FFA doesn’t last forever and do you really want a pet that becomes a problem. 

So that cute little wether who just melts you’re heart can’t be sold? No, but use common sense and really screen potential buyers.  Be honest with them. 

Talk to them about the long run of owning a pet wether.  They have to be prepared to a long term relationship with their pet, just like a dog or cat.  Unlike a dog or cat, finding a new owner can be even more difficult. Re-homing isn’t good for any pet, regardless of species.  It has to be a good match, but they also have to think about what happens when the kids don’t want a pet goat anymore.  It is possible, actually it’s more than likely.  What people need to understand about a pet goat is, that goats are a part of a herd, and pet wether’s consider their human owners as their herd. 

There is far more involved than a goat buddy to run around the yard with.  There is shelter, fencing, cleaning stalls, and feeding.  How do you think you’re going to feel about a pet that the kids have nothing to do with anymore?  Especially when you have work to do feeding them, cleaning up after them, and continuing to see to their needs and health. That adorable little fella is now a grown, mature, wethered buck that your kids don’t play with anymore.

So are we saying never sell a wether as a pet? No, but what we are saying is make sure the buyers understand what they are really getting into.

Is there any good news? Actually, there is. Let’s talk about a pet goat possibly being more than just a pet?  Wethers’ have far more worth than JUST pets.  How about being a useful member of your farm or property?  We’re talking about more than just lawn mowers.  Teach them how to help out around your place.  Pulling wagons isn’t just for your kids’ enjoyment. How about helping pull deadfall or yard scraps to a burn pile.  Why not teach them to carry loads and go packing on hikes you take with your family? Our point is this………..there is far more VALUE to a wether than just being a pet.  If the potential buyers don’t put more value to a pet goat other than as a pet for the kids, that won’t last, nor is it the best environment for any wether to go to.   When individuals who thought it was great having a pet goat have to ‘re-home’ them because they don’t have any plans for them, it’s actually sad for everyone involved. 

So whether buying or selling a ‘pet goat’, make sure everyone understands that even a wether can be a ‘pet with a purpose’!

 Blessings
Brenda Lee
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