Nothing except the humans lives in the house (by invitation anyway) now my old cat's gone
All the dogs work - well, except the hound and she'll work next season when she enters the pack
There's a cat calls this place 'home' and catches small furries about the farmstead
We've a load of all kinds of bats come out to play each evening - they keep the flying insects under some sort of control.
Most of the beef cattle and sheep are unequivocally farm animals (even those with names and that come up for a bit of fuss) except perhaps my funny little 'geeps' - but although they're not commercial they're not pets either
The hens do as they please and sometimes we can find some eggs, which is nice.
Hillie the house cow and her two daughters certainly have very special status and a very special place in my heart - but they have to pay their way too, in milk for the house and rearing calves to sell
The pigs are nearly pets - but some get eaten and if a sow doesn't perform, she's sausages
So that just leaves the ponies. We cherish the idea that we'll ride them, for pleasure and for shepherding, and that we'll use them for work about the farm - but they can be here whether or not that comes to pass, so I think that probably makes them pets.
The Muscovies when I get them (yes, meeting part way sounds good, goosepimple
- just need to get the duck house sorted and we'll arrange it) will be expected to contribute eggs and any boys reared will be for the pot - but they'll be much loved and safe here, whether they make a contribution or not. (I don't know what it is about Muscovies - I just really like to have a few around.)
And there's a refurbished pigeon loft awaiting a consignment of fantails and possibly some other fancy pigeons too - which will unequivocally be for the pure enjoyment of seeing them fly about the place. (Anyone got any baby fantails, or other fancy pigeons, wanting homes?)
So no, we don't really have pets as such - but we have an awful lot of animal & bird life about the place which fulfil those needs
