Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This Is Depressing

Craigslist, as we all know, is a breeding ground of ignorance, stupidity, and frustration. Its also a dumping ground as well - but again, we all know that. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be typing this. 


I showcase the abuse cases (like that poor donkey), and celebrate when one gets rescued. There's often things going on behind the scenes that I wish I could tell you about, but can't. 


Then there's stuff like what I'm going to show you to day. This is really what breaks my heart. 


Ad Text: 2 Senior Citizens... - $100.I am looking for a loving home for two senior horses. The appaloosa is 34 years old and the quarter horse is 30 years old. My horses respect a maintained fence with or without electric. These horses were my childrens' 4H horses, and are gentle, children friendly, and are without bad habits.; each with a splendid personality of their own. They would be perfect starter horses or pasturemates. I believe that horses need a purpose and I am unable to devote the time and attention that they so deserve. Because they have been companions for a long time, they must be placed together. I cannot provide delivery. If you are at all interested, or have any questions, please contact me.

I understand that the owner of these two horses very well might of fallen upon some very hard times her/him self. So many people are loosing their homes right now, and unfortunately horses are one of the first things that go when an owner gets into financial trouble. We all know horses are a luxury - and a very expensive one at that. 
What troubles me about this ad is that the price is so damn low. $50 for each horse. Thats not a price she can negotiate with. Thats not a price that will command serious buyers to her - the type of buyer she is looking for. Its even difficult to send a horse to a rescue these days without paying twice to nearly ten times that for its care up front. The owner must have thought that they would be that forever home for these two, but for whatever reason, aren't any more. 

At least put a decent price tag on them, please? 10 years ago, horses like these were worth their weight in GOLD, and would command thousands of dollars. You couldn't find horses like these anywhere - the good as gold, trustworthy, school master types. 

Sometimes you just have to wonder though, when you see these ads for these oldies. Another one - except this one's free. QH Mare Hi my name is Missy. I'm 28 yrs old. I'm needing a new home with a pasture so that I will be able to graze on. I love to take long rides in the woods, my owner has a grandson that love to ride on my back he is only 3yrs old. So yes I would mke a great kids horse. If you are every intersted in me. Please call Eva or Tony @ 406 ---6886 .

She needs some groceries too, looks like. She's a bit too skeletal for my taste, and just looks like she's about 1 month away from ending up on Fugly's blog for neglect and starvation. 

I'm just like all of you that see these ads. I want to fly out to every one of these old gems and pick them all up, put them in the pasture of their dreams with a little stream, big trees, and endless grass, give them all kisses, and stuff them full of cookies. 

Can't wait till this mess this country is in is over, and we no longer have to see as many of these out there - but hey, we can all dream, right!?

4 comments:

  1. I just don't get it. How do people do this to their old horses? My horse is 27 yrs old. He is my first & only horse & I've owned him 11 yrs. Which means that I bought him at 16 & knew that he would be a senior citizen for the majority of his time in my life. I couldn't & wouldn't even think of re-homing him now. I will do whatever I have to do to keep him the rest of his life. I will give up frills in my life to be sure to be able to do that.

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  2. Sad as it is and as crappy as it may sound- putting the horse down is one of the few ways you can be sure they will not suffer at the hands of others. When they have reached their 'golden years' things may not be so golden for them. Living out their days in a pasture may not be the best thing for them either...

    We have a few in the geriatrics ward at our place. One of them is nearing 30 and has been rcycling hay for the past few years with no real job to speak of, other than that. Should we find ourselves in a position of having to thin the herd or trim the fat, she would likely be the last to go as the others would still be useable and 'wanted' for a job.

    As much as it sucks putting an animal or pet to sleep, it is far kinder to do so for them then to turn them over to someone who won't be so kind.

    I too would be right there scooping up a number of the animals on CL, Dreamhorse and the many other online ad sites, if only to take them somewhere beautiful where they could truly rest in peace.

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  3. If someone could email me the location/phone numbers for the older horses, I will see what I can do. I was there just a few months ago.......please email me at phoenixperformancehorses@yahoo.com, emails go straight to my cell phone so I can get back to you as soon as possible. I cant stand when horses like that, that have served their purpose and just need a good retirement just dont get what they deserve.

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  4. I just emailed you what Information I have. Let me know if you get them... I so desperately want to start posting rescue stories!

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