The Seattle Police Department, which is likely to disband its mounted patrol unit as part of this year's budget cuts, says its seven horses will be sold or donated to "good homes," not sent away to the glue factory, Animal Farm-style.

"It's up to us as a police department to make sure that every animal goes to a good home," says SPD spokesman Sean Whitcomb. "All of the horses are highly trained animals. They might be suitable for other law enforcement units.

"The bottom line is that these horses that have served so well will go to good homes where they're treated well." However, Whitcomb said, he doesn't know "what kind of market value" the "highly trained, beautiful horses" will have.