Finding Cheap/Free Sources of Meat for Dogs/Cats

[Guest guest]

Here's my list of 29 ways of getting meat cheap

or free for pets.

I have not found anyone else in my area who has

gotten prices lower than I have. You too can get

the best prices in your area. It just takes a

little groundwork at the beginning, but after

that, you're good to go indefinitely.

Happy cheap-meat-getting!

Lis

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Finding Cheap / Free Sources of Meat:

1) Look up meat and poultry packers, processors, and

distributors in the yellow pages (or online). You may

be able to get great prices from them if you order in

bulk, and/or they may have a discount outlet that is

open to the public.

2) *****I get many of my best deals in Asian/Oriental

markets. I've also heard that Hispanic and Caribbean

markets have great variety and prices too. But not all

ethnic markets are the same - some are much cheaper

than others - you must visit a few and compare at the

beginning.

3) You may be able to join a barter group.

4) Google breeders (i.e. rabbit, goat, lamb, etc.) who

are in your geographic area. They may have culls they

want to get rid of, or stillborns, or lower prices

overall.

5) Try bulk buying - Look up bulk suppliers and frozen

bulk foods in your yellow pages (or online).

6) If you have a Chinatown nearby, definitely make a

visit.

7) Let your friends, relatives, and neighbors know you

want any freezer-burnt or old meat when they clean out

their freezers, and tell them to pass the word along.

Freezer-burnt meat may be dried out on the edges but is

perfectly safe for pets as long as it has been frozen

all this time.

8) If you belong to a church or social group, tell

those members to mention it to their friends and

relatives as well. You may be allowed to put a notice

on the bulletin board or in the newsletter.

9) See if there are any co-ops or meat buying groups

near you. Check on , or google to see.

10) Try Craigslist - it's amazing what you can get for

free or cheap.

11) *****and I get GREAT meat, fish, and poultry all

the time (for free) through Freecycle. Join multiple

Freecycle lists if there are a few close by you.

12) Some Wal-marts, some Costcos, and some Sams

Clubs have good deals, but you must make sure it's

not seasoned meat you're buying (most of the time

that is what they have, and some pets have difficulty

with it).

13) Definitely watch the flyers for specials. You

can usually see the rest of the flyers online (the

ones that don't get delivered to your home, but are

only a short drive away).

14) ***** hands down, the bulk of my best deals have

been marked down meat at regular grocery stores. They

reduce it the day before it is going to expire, and I

go as early as I can in the morning to get it before

it is gone.

15) Tell friends and relatives who hunt and fish that

you want first dibs on any body parts they don't want.

You can probably get at least the organs and maybe the

head. Also ask them to put you in touch with their

other friends who hunt and fish.

16) A great tip I learned here a while back – some

restaurants throw out things they don't use, like the

organs that come inside whole poultry, or raw meat

that falls on the floor. See if they'll save them for

you. Find somebody who knows somebody who works there.

17) Farmer's markets are great, but pick and choose

carefully for the best bargains. And sometimes at the

end of the day some vendors will reduce their prices,

because they don't want to take it back with them.

18) Some people contact taxidermists, who have no use

for the meat.

19) Join the RawFeeding Group and find people

there who are in your vicinity. Ask them where they

get their meat deals. Join other raw feeding lists

(there are many), and ask if there are other raw

feeders in your area.

http://pets./group/rawfeeding/

20) Tell your butcher you want the meat that they

would normally throw out, that is almost out of date,

or that people ordered and didn't pick up, or stuff

that was dropped on the floor, or their freezer

clean-outs, and parts that don't sell (like trachea,

lungs, spleen, etc.). Some butchers will save their

trim for you (once they get to know you). Build a

relationship with them first. Many butchers will

give you these things for free, once they know you

(and especially if you are a regular customer who

buys meat for your family).

21) Yes, roadkill works too (where it is legal), and

as long as it is fresh. In some places you can get

your name on the list and get called when they have

large roadkill (like deer).

22) You can raise your own meat/poultry if you have

the room.

23) Post a message in CarnivoreFeed-Supplier or

CFS-Canada if you are in North America:

http://pets./group/CarnivoreFeed-Supplier/

http://pets./group/CFS-Canada/

Both of these groups specialize in matching up meat

suppliers with raw feeders.

24) Speak to local farmers.

25) Also look for heart, tongue, and gizzards which

count as meat (as opposed to organ) in the world of

raw feeding, but are often cheaper than other muscle

meats.

26) Find somebody who knows somebody who works at the

grocery store. They can introduce you to the meat guy,

who may become more willing to save stuff for you or

reduce items about to expire, once they know you.

27) Check the internet. Some suppliers have affordable

prices, even after shipping costs are calculated.

28) Double-whammy: if a meat is on special this week

at the grocery store, go in and check the expiry date

on the packages. Then go back to get it when it is

reduced again (reduction on the special) the day of

or day before expiry (depending on their policy).

29) Somebody had a great source a while back: some

schools (colleges) that teach butchering sell the meat

really cheap, that the students have worked on.

Lis