Mama Goat

Okay, I did it again... I have rescued a another needy creature.

Not a horse this time though... she is a goat!

I thought maybe I would like to try my hand at a milk goat so I looked around and found an ad on Craigslist that said "6-7 thin goats". I called on it and it turned out to be a goat (meat) dealer. He told me he had only one Nubian. She was a former 4H project and was ready to freshen in the next couple of weeks.

He warned me that she was thin and that she needed her feet done badly.

I went yesterday to look at her. It was already dark by the time I was there, but I could tell even by the light of the flashlight that she was 1)very sweet and 2)in need of some serious TLC.

I am so very, ummm dissapointed in the people who let her get into this condition, let alone in a feedlot waiting to be slaughtered - especially if they were a 4H family. I am pretty passionate about this subject, but I'll save that rant for another day. I want this to be Mama goat's big debut.

I walked her around the yard today and found that she leads very well. I was happy to learn that, as goats can be very stubborn. I hope she also has milking experience.

She doesn't seem sick at all, just in need of some groceries. I put her on a medicated feed today and and tonite I'll give her a CD and T shot to help stave off whatever she was exposed to at the feedlot.

Except for her bag it is even hard to tell Mama goat is pregnant. I really hope her kid survives. It is alive an moving inside her, but it is pretty small.

I will have someone over as soon as possible to help me with her feet. I don't think I have the knowledge to do them on my own.

I'll be trying to get some baby oil on her legs to soften the mud and treat the scalds on her legs as well.

She is really making up her bag. I hope she will hold off a while on having her kid. I want to get some more calories and those vaccines on board.

Welcome home goaty!

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I Hate Animal Abuse

WARNING GRAPHIC PICTURE....

I hate animal abuse. I don't care if it is committed against a kitten, a horse, dog, or even an animal bound for the slaughter house. I believe that we have a moral obligation to all life to protect, preserve and honor. No, I am not a vegetarian. I eat meat. But I believe that even our animals destined to be harvested for food deserve dignity, respect and kindness.... but I am headed for a tangent here.

Today I went with Tom on a service call into the mountains. We pulled over to the side of the road right before we went into a pass so that we could make a few phone calls before we lost reception.

We had the windows rolled down and we heard a vehicle coming that was making a funny noise. It pulled around us and parked in the restaurant parking lot. The "funny noise" was coming from a dog's carcass that he was dragging behind his truck. The dog was tied to his bumper by a piece of bailing twine by his hind leg. this was NO accident. He didn't tie a dog by it's hind leg and then then "forget" it was there!

Tom took a picture while I called the sheriff. Actually I have called them three times today. It seems that Scumbag lives in the mountains and the Sheriff was in another part of the county today. They promised me they would go visit him tomorrow.

Sigh. I have emailed the officer this picture and I gave him a good description of what this monster looks like. I hope they do something. If they don't I might just send my little picture to the TV station....

No way this is an accident. NO WAY!