Boycotting PetCo

[Nuguum]

I am Boycotting PetCo. They have in the past always done grants which included Equines. They have decided that they will no longer be providing grants for horses, horse rescues, etc, as they do not consider horses companion animals. The following is a direct quote from the Executive Director, Paul Jolly.: "The PETCO Foundation no longer funds horse rescues. Our mission, to raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them, is being interpreted more narrowly now and applies to companion animals."

Please pass this one and post it on other forums. Somehow I don't think the hundreds of thousands of people that own horses in the US will agree with Mr. Jolly that horses AREN'T companion animals.

Please lets get the message out there about PetCo's stance on horses. They sure do like the money from horse owners when we shop online with them, or frequent one of their stores. I for one will not longer give my hard earned cash to them.

[arabhorse2]

I've never gone to a PetCo for horse products. It never occurred to me to do so since PetCo is geared toward dogs, cats, fish, birds, etc.

FWIW, I don't consider horses companion animals; I consider them livestock, and prefer to keep that as a legal definition.

I buy my horsey stuff at either TSC, SS, or a tack shop.

Besides, it's PetCo's decision what charities/rescues to which they'll donate. By all means, if you don't agree with them, shop somewhere else.

[snkstacres]

While I understand your anger and the idea of boycotting, Petco does very little good for any equine rescue I know of anyhow. In order to apply for in kind support, you have to have a paid fundraiser of 20 hours a week, a thousand email members, and a host of other things. This might apply to HSUS, ASPCA etc etc but not the average equine rescue. I dont come anywhere close to eve qualifying for support.

But, if they would like to see companion animals, I have many who;s soul value is as a companion animal. they excell at there job. They come with other companions, many many dogs arrive here, countless cats, they all go hand in hand with rescue. And with all of the come the people they are companions too. Petco needs to open its eyes. If they chose to decline equine rescue because of the economy or because they CHOOSE to support dogs and cats instead, then ok. But to say our animals are not companions is an uneducated response.

[Guilherme]

Horses are livestock, not "companion animals." It would be a Very Bad Thing if that ever changed.

I don't shop PetCo as I have no pets.

Everybody gets to vote with their dollars, including PetCo and the OP.

G.

[trubandloki]

Add me to the group that says 'horses are livestock not companion animals'.

I consider my horses my pets but they for sure are livestock and it is best they be kept that way. :yes:

[BuddyRoo]

While many of Petco's customers may be horse owners in addition to having dogs, cats, or pocket pets, Petco's focus isn't on livestock but on companion animals. I've never seen a Petco with horse related stuff in it.

Additionally, one of the ways they raise funds to donate to the rescue organizations they support is via some of the manufacturers of petfoods they sell--most of which do not have any livestock component.

I dunno. While I guess I can see your point....the fact is, they're doing SOMETHING beneficial and I just can't fault them for that.

[caffeinated]

I have other issues with them, primarily related to the fact that they hire people who know nothing, sell living creatures, and give erroneous or seriously misleading advice about their care (I mostly get fired up over the fish, heh)

But I can understand them not wanding to fund horse-related rescues/charities. Everybody's cutting back right now for lack of funding, they have to make choices like that and narrow their focus probably as much for economic concerns as anything else.

Given all they do for local rescues and adoption groups, it's hard for me to fault them on that particular front...

[RedTahoe]

[QUOTE=caffeinated;4285231give erroneous or seriously misleading advice about their care (I mostly get fired up over the fish, heh)[/QUOTE]

NHR: I was at PetCo when a family, who had been cycling their saltwater tank for weeks went into buy saltwater fish. The salesperson was going to sell them a diseased Clown Fish (had growths and "furry" patches on it and was throwing itself around the tank) for half-price.

While the family was deciding and the salesperson walked away, I told them the fish was diseased and putting it in their tank would kill everything.

They opted to go with a small SW aquarium store instead.

[Angela Freda]

I can understand cutting back funding, things are tight. I can understand cutting funding for a species you do not sell items for- horses.

What I can not fathom is making the PR error that that statement is, and alienating your customers [how many horse peeps also have cats and dogs and other traditional companion animals?] by citing the 'horses are not companion animals' reason? Big DUH.
They could have simply said 'times are tough and we have had to cut back our funding, and decided to focus our funds on those species for whom we also provide supplies'

Their statement says to me that they are on the slippery slope to being ok with horse slaughter, saying horses are not companion animals. It's ones prerogative to have the personal opinion that horses are/are not companion animals, but in a service industry aimed at pets... you might want to keep your opinion to yourself if you are of the former train of thought. If that is not the case they certainly could have worded it so that it would not come across as such, perhaps they are that out of touch with horse issues and hot topics?

Imagine the loss of revenue to the equine industries if everyone who thought of horses as companion animals stopped buying the horses, the supplies and the services because they are truly only livestock? $$ouch$$

Regardless, that means that while Petco does not carry horse products, I will be sure to get my cat and dog supplies elsewhere. Thanks for the heads up Nuguum.

[jeta]

I choose to not support them because of crappy customer service......I have pets, but I have shopped at Petco exactly once.....The store had just had its Grand Opening and had one visible employee at the check out who it was pretty clear was not trained in the basics of her job...( All I wanted to do was pay for my dog food ).....I felt like I was at K-mart trying to figure out how some of these big box places don't feel the need to have enough cashiers on duty to take my money.....:no:

[DMK]

hmmm, i don't expect Seminole to support cat and dog rescues, so it seems unfair to expect petco to support equine rescue. let me check my offense-o-meter... nope, not even a tick of a response. 11nth bag free still owns my loyalty!

[JSwan]

I can understand cutting back funding, things are tight. I can understand cutting funding for a species you do not sell items for- horses.


They could have simply said 'times are tough and we have had to cut back our funding, and decided to focus our funds on those species for whom we also provide supplies'





I agree, Angela.

I don't shop there and have no intention of every shopping there so it's no skin off my nose. But it does seem as if the statement could have been phrased more elegantly.

[arabhorse2]

I don't buy stuff at either PetCo or PetSmart anyway because their prices are exorbitant, so I don't have a dog in this fight, although I do own a Great Dane. ;)

Angela, horses need to remain classified as livestock. I consider mine pets, but I don't want the legal classification to change to 'companion animals'. As Guilherme said, that would be A Very Bad Thing.

Call your horses your soul-mate-glittery-fairy-friends for all I care, just don't push for their legal definition to be changed.

[Glimmerglass]

Please pass this one and post it on other forums. Somehow I don't think the hundreds of thousands of people that own horses in the US will agree with Mr. Jolly that horses AREN'T companion animals.

I cited this in another thread a few weeks ago but under New York State law, for example, there are stiffer penalties vis-a-vis the "Buster's Law" statute (http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/legalservices/ch118_busters_law.htm) - Laws of NY Chapter 118, Section 1., revised § 353-a. However horses are precluded from that statute.

5. "Companion animal" or "pet" means any dog or cat and shall also mean any other domesticated animal normally maintained in or near the household of the owner or person who cares for such [dog, cat or ] other domesticated animal. "Pet" or "companion animal" shall not include a "farm animal" as defined in this section.

Troy Record 6-29-09 (http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2009/06/29/news/doc4a4863c26dbc1815080784.txt)

Under current state law equine animal cruelty is a misdemeanor, unlike “Buster’s Law,” dealing with cats and dogs, which has felony status.

State Sen. Roy J. McDonald, R-Saratoga, and Assemblyman Tony Jordan, R-Jackson, have pledged to change that with formal legislation. But the Assembly has already gone home and the Senate is paralyzed by an ongoing power struggle.

Anyhow back to your discussion ...

[DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho"]

Legally Ted may be livestock. That's okay.

Privately, however, he's my Sweet Pea Pumpkin Butt. And probably best that that stays private anyway.

[Angela Freda]

I don't buy stuff at either PetCo or PetSmart anyway because their prices are exorbitant, so I don't have a dog in this fight, although I do own a Great Dane. ;)

Angela, horses need to remain classified as livestock. I consider mine pets, but I don't want the legal classification to change to 'companion animals'. As Guilherme said, that would be A Very Bad Thing.

Call your horses your soul-mate-glittery-fairy-friends for all I care, just don't push for their legal definition to be changed.
To each his own.

[BeastieSlave]

hmmm, i don't expect Seminole to support cat and dog rescues, so it seems unfair to expect petco to support equine rescue. let me check my offense-o-meter... nope, not even a tick of a response.

This pretty much sums it up for me too (though I don't have a Seminole store). I expect that the economy might have something to do with the narrowing of their definition of "companion animal". There's probably less to give and the stores do focus on small animals....

Is this really going to affect equine groups that much?

[CoopsZippo]

While I understand your anger and the idea of boycotting, Petco does very little good for any equine rescue I know of anyhow. In order to apply for in kind support, you have to have a paid fundraiser of 20 hours a week, a thousand email members, and a host of other things. This might apply to HSUS, ASPCA etc etc but not the average equine rescue. I dont come anywhere close to eve qualifying for support.




I work for Petco... Our local, I am in PA, Adoption Partners BY NO MEANS have no paid fundraiser. We have a few guidelines which are laid out on our website..

http://www.petco.com/petco_Page_PC_welfareapplication_Nav_547.aspx?Core Cat=LN_PETCOFoundation_ApplicationsforSupport

I also put in a call to Corperate and they say they ARE NOT dumping any equine rescue partners. Until the OP posts proof of where they got their info I don't take hearsay.

I am very proud of the fact that when we do fundraising 100% of what is raised in the store go to the chosen partner. (Each store picks who they want to raise funds for.)

You can also lookup who is a partner by state with Petco. I see many horse rescues listed here in PA on the list.

Heck rescues could earn 15% for each sale sent to Petco by becoming a Petco affliate.

[danceronice]

I have other issues with them, primarily related to the fact that they hire people who know nothing, sell living creatures, and give erroneous or seriously misleading advice about their care (I mostly get fired up over the fish, heh)
...

I had a great PetSmart guy in Arlington who knew his fish...wintered his koi in a kiddie pool in his house so they didnt' have to deal with the freezing. He knew his fish, their bettas were always great....*sigh*

But yeah. Don't get me started on most chain-store fish people.

I don't buy horse stuff from PetCo or PetSmart (when I have a horse for which to buy things, but that's as may be.) I buy from TSC, a livestock supply company that knows how to deal with large animals or with poultry.

[wendy]

why on earth would you expect a dogncat supply store to support equine rescues? Not that I care, I only shop small locally owned dog supply stores, who actually stock nice products and sell them for fair prices.

[arabhorse2]

To each his own.

I agree. But that doesn't mean your 'own' should become my 'own', and vice versa. Which unfortunately is what I see the animal rights people trying to shove down our throats.

I shop at the evil, globe-dominating Wally World, rather than any pretentious, overpriced 'companion animal' store anyway.

Lexi doesn't need hair bows or floofy sweaters that say 'Princess' on them. What she does need is decent food for reasonable prices.

[trubandloki]

I shop at the evil, globe-dominating Wally World, rather than any pretentious, overpriced 'companion animal' store anyway. Lexi doesn't need floofy sweaters that say 'Princess' on them.

Oh, but they do have those at Wally World. I have seen them! Though they do not seem to come in any size that would fit a normal dog. Heck, I think they are too small for my barn cat.

[arabhorse2]

Pish posh, Trub!

How dare you compare the low class, polyester, cheap shite at Wally World to the upper crust, polyester, cheap shite at PetCo/PetSmart! The prices and 'ambience' of the stores make all the difference! :D

[Bluey]

why on earth would you expect a dogncat supply store to support equine rescues? Not that I care, I only shop small locally owned dog supply stores, who actually stock nice products and sell them for fair prices.

Around here, the small pet stores are the ones that are overpriced and sell backyard, sometimes we wonder if puppy mill puppies.

I don't know about Petco, but our Petsmart doesn't sell puppies, works with our local rescues and every time we can and every Saturday and Sunday we take adoptable dogs by there for the public to look at them and they have a cat room we keep cats for adoption there all the time.
They have really been nice to work with all these years, so most people in the small animal world around here sure don't have much bad to say about them.

I would say that it depends on management of each store how well it serves the customers and community.
What works here may not be ideal somewhere else.
Some managers are not as bright as others, as those Petco remarks show, if they are true.

[Huntertwo]

I volunteer for The Animal Alliance Welfare League and PETCO has been very generous to us. http://www.ctaawl.org/

They allow us to set up a cat/kitten adoption booth on weekends which has resulted in homing many unwanted cats and kittens.

P.S. We are always in need of donations. Many of us feed the Ferals out of our own pockets.

[CoopsZippo]

Unlike Wally world.... At least Petco AND Petsmart offer affordable bennies to PART TIME EMPLOYEES and their dependants after 90 days.

But this is a whole different subject....

But as a rider I need my bennies just in case I play stunt woman while out on the trails.

NO Petco does not sell dogs or cats. Heck we try to educate folks on ADOPTION FIRST even on small animals.

Petco also takes ALL injured and or sick animals to the vet. Even the $2.99 mice.

[equest]

While many of Petco's customers may be horse owners in addition to having dogs, cats, or pocket pets, Petco's focus isn't on livestock but on companion animals. I've never seen a Petco with horse related stuff in it.



Yeah, the OP's request to people to boycott PetCo because it does not fund horse rescues is equivalent to a dog owner requesting that people boycott a horse supply store which gives charitable support to horse rescue and not dog rescue.

And the point is .....

[magnolia73]

I buy my dog food at the local feed store. Nice people. Convenient. I have no idea who they contribute to. I buy cat food at Trader Joes. I donate money to whom I see fit. Probably the best solution is to buy from the person who has what you need for the lowest price/most convenience and make your own donations. Then you don't get all upset and offended when PetCo gives to the cat shelter instead of the horse farm.

Off topic- when Jaws was a young pup, I bought him a rubber chicken for $14.95 at a very chic and trendy pet store near my work. They sell things like "puppy petit fores" decorated with cheese whiz icing for $4.95. Jaws loves the rubber chicken and despite hours and hours of trying to destroy it- the thing still looks new. This is a dog that can take out a rawhide in 5 minutes.

[Angela Freda]

Yeah, the OP's request to people to boycott PetCo because it does not fund horse rescues is equivalent to a dog owner requesting that people boycott a horse supply store which gives charitable support to horse rescue and not dog rescue.

And the point is .....
Not upset that they do not, but that they stopped doing so.

And I believe the OP applied for a grant they offered in the past, not a fundraising thing.

Per the OP, and it includes her source. Funny what happens when you READ:

I am Boycotting PetCo. They have in the past always done grants which included Equines. They have decided that they will no longer be providing grants for horses, horse rescues, etc, as they do not consider horses companion animals. The following is a direct quote from the Executive Director, Paul Jolly.: "The PETCO Foundation no longer funds horse rescues. Our mission, to raise the quality of life for pets and people who love and need them, is being interpreted more narrowly now and applies to companion animals."

[Mara]

I agree. But that doesn't mean your 'own' should become my 'own', and vice versa. Which unfortunately is what I see the animal rights people trying to shove down our throats.

I shop at the evil, globe-dominating Wally World, rather than any pretentious, overpriced 'companion animal' store anyway.

Lexi doesn't need hair bows or floofy sweaters that say 'Princess' on them. What she does need is decent food for reasonable prices.

By "decent food", I hope you don't mean "Old Roy". That stuff's crap.

[danceronice]

I have had exactly ONE job that has offered benefits on a part time position (a state-funded position in MA.) I don't consider not providing bennies to part-timers as some sort of evil conspiracy. That's life in the part-time world. The state of Michigan didn't pay benefits on seasonal workers and the college I'll be working for doesn't pay on part time either.

And I do shop at the evil Mart of Walls, when I'm around one. Generally you get better deals on the foods than grocery stores or pet supplies. And yeah, I have never seen a PetSmart or PetCo sell dogs--I think it's actually against corporate policy precisely because most/all pet shop purebreds are puppy mill dogs. Small pet stores, yeah, and do not get me started on the Puppy Store in Las Vegas.

One of my freak goldfish rescues came from Wally World, too...One-Eye Jack, the one-eyed comet. Every time I came back for a month, he was still there, so I finally decided why not. He did quite well.

Angela: the problem with the "direct quote" is there is no context and no link. An uncited source is an invalid source. Where was this quote taken from?

I don't particularly care if PetCo gives to horse charities or not, or what charities they chose to give to for any animal. I'm just saying, you can't call it a source if it's just something you typed with no reference.

[Aggie4Bar]

Add me to the list of folks who consider horses to be livestock, not 'companion animals'. Nor do I want to ever see them defined (legally) as companion animals.

I love PetCo. They're the only place nearby that carries the premium quality petfoods and at affordable prices. There are a few private kennels and vets in the area that offer the same brands, but they charge a lot more for them. And if for some reason PetCo doesn't have the dogfood I want in-store, I can order online and get free shipping. So I'm a huge fan.

[Angela Freda]

Angela: the problem with the "direct quote" is there is no context and no link. An uncited source is an invalid source. Where was this quote taken from?

One would guess that since OP runs a 501 and applies for many grants that the quote is direct from a letter/e-mail to the OP telling her they were no longer offering equine grants. I'm guessing here, but it makes sense right?
FWIW other rescues on the board Nuguum posts on also received the same response, iirc verbatim, so I doubt she's making up the quote.

[RedTahoe]

Edited:

It is not a "direct quote" from any one person, but it is very clearly stated on PetCo's website:

http://www.petco.com/Content/Content.aspx?PC=welfareapplication&Nav=384

(At the bottom near the two document links)

"Please be advised that the PETCO Foundation no longer funds horse rescue or wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. The PETCO Foundation does not fund salaries of any kind."


I'd be very careful calling this a "direct quote" from the Executive Director.

[TheHorseProblem]

I choose to not support them because of crappy customer service......I felt like I was at K-mart trying to figure out how some of these big box places don't feel the need to have enough cashiers on duty to take my money.....:no:


Exactly, BUT it depends on the store. The one closest to me almost never has what I need (they carry it but most of the time it's out of stock) and they have a skeleton crew at all times. I've walked out of there more than once. The store a few miles away, however, has better parking and always has plenty of my brand of dog food.

Than one day I cruised through PetSmart, and the dog food I buy for the big dogs was almost one third less that it is at Petco. Yet they don't carry the brand I buy for the *special* little dog with allergies. Grrrrr.

[DMK]

By "decent food", I hope you don't mean "Old Roy". That stuff's crap.

wally world also sells iams, and while i don't feed iams, they are one of the few catfood brands that has a reasonably priced canned food that does not contain wheat gluten or other grain binder. that weorked well for me untol i just gave up and went fore the wellness canned as well as core wellness dry.

so unless you are really shopping the labels, chances are that wally world iams chicken (and only the chicken) is better for your cat than many of the pricier brands.

[arabhorse2]

By "decent food", I hope you don't mean "Old Roy". That stuff's crap.

Nope, I don't buy Old Roy, but Wally World pretty much has the 'companion animal' stores beat for prices.

When you're on a budget, the big box stores tend to be a better deal. Not always, but most of the time.

Lexi's going on 6 y/o, and except for a bout of bloat w/torsion when she was 2 y/o, she's been extremely healthy. Pretty good for a Great Dane, I'd say. :)

I do have to say that PetCo's cat and dog adoptions are something I deem 'a good thing'.

[RedTahoe]

wally world also sells iams, and while i don't feed iams, they are one of the few catfood brands that has a reasonably priced canned food that does not contain wheat gluten or other grain binder. that weorked well for me untol i just gave up and went fore the wellness canned as well as core wellness dry.

so unless you are really shopping the labels, chances are that wally world iams chicken (and only the chicken) is better for your cat than many of the pricier brands.


Iams is not really all that good anymore; however, the Wal-Mart at which we shop sells Newmans Own Organic Advanced Formula which compares to some of the pricier foods sold at specialty stores.

[JSwan]

I really don't see what the big deal is.

I most sincerely doubt PetCo HQ is celebrating this decision with a big fat horse steak BBQ.
:rolleyes:

They don't "hate" horses.

I'm surprised they offered funds to equine rescues to begin with. They don't sell equine products, they don't target that market, and there is simply no reason to consider equines in their corporate philanthropy.

I don't think the release is worded very well but get over it already. The word "livestock" is not intended to be derogatory in any way, and I've never heard it used in that manner except by horse rescues/AR groups.

[Ambrey]

Their statement says to me that they are on the slippery slope to being ok with horse slaughter, saying horses are not companion animals.

What an excellent illustration of the "slippery slope" fallacy!

Deciding to focus their funding $$ on the animals they sell products for does not, in any way shape or form, indicate in any way that they are "OK with horse slaughter."

[LexInVA]

In other news, I just farted. It smells like peppermints. :)

[JSwan]

In other news, I just farted. It smells like peppermints. :)


Mine smell like roses.

[LexInVA]

Mine smell like roses.

It's better than peanut butter, no? :lol:

[kdow]

Around here, the small pet stores are the ones that are overpriced and sell backyard, sometimes we wonder if puppy mill puppies.

I don't know about Petco, but our Petsmart doesn't sell puppies, works with our local rescues and every time we can and every Saturday and Sunday we take adoptable dogs by there for the public to look at them and they have a cat room we keep cats for adoption there all the time.
They have really been nice to work with all these years, so most people in the small animal world around here sure don't have much bad to say about them.


Same here with our PetCo - they have a little nook near the front that has adoptable cats all the time (it's run by one of the local rescue groups, though I forget which one, and there's almost always someone there handling the cats, cleaning the cages, etc.) and plenty of special events where dogs and other adoptable animals can come in. (They even have rat day when the local rat rescue can bring in adoptable rats, and people can bring in pet rats for competitions and contests.)

Also, while there is some turnover in the staff, many of them have been there for at least a couple of years now, and recognize our dogs and greet them every visit and ask questions about how things are going.

As it happens, we don't get our dog food there - they don't carry Evo, which is what both dogs do best on - so we go to a local independent store for that. (They also don't sell animals other than some birds, which they seem to specialize in, and often have one or two cats for adoption from a local rescue.) But PetCo is quite good for us for little stuff - treats, puppy pads for traveling, leashes, etc.

[Chief2]

why on earth would you expect a dogncat supply store to support equine rescues? Not that I care, I only shop small locally owned dog supply stores, who actually stock nice products and sell them for fair prices.

Exactly! PetCo is the most expensive pet supply chain store around! My vote: horses are livestock, pure and simple.

[Susan P]

I think horses fall into a unique category but if I had to choose it would be companion since they serve as partners and pets by most owners, they are workers and fun. How is that not companions?

[JSwan]

I think horses fall into a unique category but if I had to choose it would be companion since they serve as partners and pets by most owners, they are workers and fun. How is that not companions?


Well - I have a goat as a pet.

Do you think I have the right to demand that all zoning, tax, and animal laws be changed just because I like to refer to him as a pet?

Call your horse a pet if you want - I don't keep mine as companion animals. They're huge, require a tremendous amount of open space, are horrifically expensive to maintain, and require specialized housing.

They are working animals - I keep them to ride - not to sit by me while I watch TV.

I happen to treat mine as part of the family, the goat included. But that is MY business - not the governments. Nor anyone else's for that matter.

[danceronice]

How about chickens? What if I have pet chickens? That's a companion animal.

Horses are livestock. They don't live in the house and 99% of the people who own them have them to ride, drive, race, or some other working purpose, even if it's just hacking out on trails.

[DMK]

Iams is not really all that good anymore; however, the Wal-Mart at which we shop sells Newmans Own Organic Advanced Formula which compares to some of the pricier foods sold at specialty stores.

no, i agree - but if you are trying to avoid grains and most especially gluten when feeding cats (a very good idea), your less expensive options are few and far between. iams is at least helpful in that one type of canned food, so i tend to recommend that when people stare in horror at the price of the more upscale grain free brands!

[BeastieSlave]

Deciding to focus their funding $$ on the animals they sell products for does not, in any way shape or form, indicate in any way that they are "OK with horse slaughter."

Agreed! I really feel this has been blown all out of proportion.
How the heck did a company that's primary focus is small pets suddenly become the target of boycott because they decided to direct their (almost certainly dwindling) donations toward groups that serve the needs of those small animals? I still have not seen anything that makes me think Petco has done anything remotely 'wrong' by doing that!

It is a shame that equine groups will no longer be eligible for that money, but I bet the company had to set some limits. It might be better to look at it this way: the horse folks were fortunate to have gotten money in the past!

[Angela Freda]

What an excellent illustration of the "slippery slope" fallacy!

Deciding to focus their funding $$ on the animals they sell products for does not, in any way shape or form, indicate in any way that they are "OK with horse slaughter."
No, but the way they worded it does.

[snkstacres]

hehehe ok, I had to put in another two cents worth just to be fair. I dont blame people for not wanting horses called companion animals. At least legally. Some may do the job of a companion while others are strictly for riding or breeding. I just happen to have lots of rideon lawnmowers, weedeaters, babysitters etc etc.

Petco does not sell horse feed and so I dont ask them to support my equine rescue and dont blame them for not. They do support rescue. I love seeing the dogs and cats from the shelters in there instead of the puppies from the mill. And Petsmart is much the same but I do know, it varies from store to store. Do I shop at these stores, yup, Paris knows they have better quality bully toys. The simply do.

I shop at a high end dog and pet food store close to Bird4416 in Canton cause not only do they always give me a heck of a deal, they always send me out the door with supplements and samples for my friends. And.........................they always donate to my horses as well. TC Country, best animal and equine store I have EVER been in.

But Wallysworld. Say what you will but the Wally'world in my community absolutely supports me. they give me all the broken bags of pet food for the animals at the shelter and............. they donate $1000 dollars a year to my hay fund and $1000 dollars for me to send two underpriveleged kids to horse came each summer.

Two years ago, the manager here called me at xmas time. He said he still had $740 dollars in the kitty and it was mine if I could write a letter telling him what I could use it for. Merry xmas.

Every Wally;s world has a set amount for nonprofits in there community. Its a very very simple form and all they ask for is a thankyou. All rescues, make note of this please.

[Angela Freda]

the thing is, tax wise they are considered companion animals- no write off... and on the other hand they want them to be livestock [but still you get no write off].

I love how the government gets it both ways.

[Bluey]

the thing is, tax wise they are considered companion animals- no write off... and on the other hand they want them to be livestock [but still you get no write off].

I love how the government gets it both ways.

Are you sure?
All our horses have always been considered livestock for tax purposes.:confused:

Maybe you are thinking of business or hobby designation, that is different, but not companions or livestock?

[Coreene]

How about chickens? What if I have pet chickens? Chicken no make good pet! :lol:

[JSwan]

the thing is, tax wise they are considered companion animals- no write off... and on the other hand they want them to be livestock [but still you get no write off].

I love how the government gets it both ways.

That's the first I've heard about that. If your horses are used for business purposes you can "write them off" just like you can if you have a dog breeding business.

Business versus personal use - not pet versus livestock.

I'd have to look into tax issues associated with things like search and rescue but if it's similar to the volunteer work I do some expenses associated with volunteer work can be deducted - I would think that at least some horse expenses associated with search and rescue could be.... mileage certainly - but special equipment perhaps.... I'd have to look it up though.

Where horses are considered pets by local government, the horses are usually taxed and the land is no longer eligible for land use valuation. Often, exemptions are giving for a breeding operation and all that does is encourage people to breed horses so they can obtain land use on their land. Otherwise - the taxes would drive them out.

I don't think there is anything good about changing the legal definition to pets. It would destroy the horse industry, and it certainly has not done dogs and cats any favors. They are killed by the millions each year.

[magnolia73]

I want a pet goat!!!!!!!!!
I would buy him food at the feed store and let him eat grass and weeds. I can have livestock, sort of, if I can place his house just right on my lot to meet the requirements for setbacks.
I will name him Herbert and knit him sweaters.

[Angela Freda]

Are you sure?
All our horses have always been considered livestock for tax purposes.:confused:

Maybe you are thinking of business or hobby designation, that is different, but not companions or livestock?
I guess that is what I am thinking. In my area boarding horses does not get you an AG designation- you have to be breeding them to get that. It's frustrating because we have developers cutting up large farms into 5 acre McFarms. Open space is disappearing, and other than having dairy, or growing a crop the options for keeping those spaces open and green are slim.

[Angela Freda]

Where horses are considered pets by local government, the horses are usually taxed and the land is no longer eligible for land use valuation. Often, exemptions are giving for a breeding operation and all that does is encourage people to breed horses so they can obtain land use on their land. Otherwise - the taxes would drive them out.
See my explanation, this is exactly what I meant.

I don't think there is anything good about changing the legal definition to pets. It would destroy the horse industry, and it certainly has not done dogs and cats any favors. They are killed by the millions each year.
The difference [for me] is that those small animals are euthanized in a more humane manner.

[RedTahoe]

Chicken no make good pet! :lol:

There was a guy in Miami recently who was given a notice to find a new place for his rooster, "Clucky." The judge said that the neighbors in the apartment building were complaining of "Clucky" crowing at all hours of the night.

Meanwhile, I was thinking, what apartment building allows "roosters" in their pet policy to begin with? The guy wasn't hiding him or anything.