When it rains it pours

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. I know that we did.

My hopes for Donald to cart have come to an end. Yesterday the silly boy broke his other front leg. He is so curious about the world, that he doesn't worry about getting hurt I guess. I am still going to work with him, and the other boys, but Donald will be a forever pet. Perhaps since he learns so fast he will help me to train other babies.

I love my little guy so much, and I think this year has been as hard on him as it has us. I pray that the coming year will be much better for all of us.

Helpfull baby boys

Right now the fat belly boys are still in the "sick pen". I'm worried that putting them in with the bigger goats Donald will hurt his leg again. Besides, I love to be able to look out the window at them, and to watch them look in at us.

Today we were doing some work to the back door, it opens into the boys pen. At first Kirrian and Acheron only wanted to keep the cats inside the house. Right up until Donald decided that he was coming inside to help. Of course the other two had to come in and take the screw drivers, pliers, hammer, and every piece of paper they could get their mouths on. For not being in the house before, those boys sure did have fun "helping" fix the door.

Gotta love a Goat

Every day I am touched by the amount of affection that "livestock" hold for us silly humans. No matter what kind of a day we have they are there to love us. Each day as I feed there are several of my goats that won't eat until they have had a pet, scratch, hug or kiss. Who ever said livestock is stupid really needs to adjust the way they think.

Donald follows me to feed the San Clemente Island Goats even though he and his buddies were fed first. He leans into my leg with his shoulder and tips his face up for a kiss. Once he has it he's off to eat. Kirrian and Acheron want their loves, scratches and kisses after they eat.

Daffy wants his nose scratched and told he's handsome, Honey wants to have her ears scratched. The dairy girls all have different ways of loving up on us too. Chick (Donald's mom) wants to be hugged, kissed and her neck scratched. Then she pets me. Sweets (Kirrian and Acheron's mom) wants to get a quick neck scratch, then she wants to pet me. When she has had enough she kisses my cheek and walks away. Samantha wants to lay her head on my lap and have her ears scratched, her neck rubbed good, and a kiss on her face.

So, if livestock are stupid, why do they make such wonderful pets? They are all so individual in wants, needs and what they like. Livestock animals touch the heart in ways that traditional pets can't or don't. With all the love they share it amazes and touches me. I wonder how people could possibly think such lovable animals could be a threat.

fall fun

Today the weather was quite nice, and the boys were loving it. Donald has decided that it is really fun to play tag with the other boys. He's a bit smaller than they are, and more agile as well. When they think they have gotten him, he jumps up on something to get away. After having broken his leg he sure does love to jump. He stands up on his house several times a day to look in and see what I am doing. He's also learned that he can knock on the window with a foot and get my attention that way too.

I had the boys out with me this morning to play while I was doing some yard work. Watching them run about and try to herd the turkey and chickens was more fun for me than them I think.

Fall Weather

All of the fat belly boys are enjoying the cooler days. Donald's Angora sire is showing up in his super soft fuzzy fur. The other babies are putting on a heavier coat also. None of the adults of yet have winter coats.. We've been enjoying walks, and playing games together. I haven't been able to spend as much time of late with them. The city I live in is trying to make me rehome all of my animals. We don't have an animal control ordinance here. There is a nuisance ordinance instead that states anything that irritates one neighbor is nuisance, and the city can force removal.
Because I am disabled, and the goats are part of my therapy I have involved the local Disability Advocate in hopes of keeping my pets. In the mean time, the fat belly boys and I will continue to go for walks, and to work on the many things that they have learned over the summer.

Fall is in the air for sure

Donald is getting around very well on his leg now that it's out of the cast. I decided that he and the other "fat belly boys" would winter out in the sick pen. I'm being over protective, and don't want Donald to get hurt by the bigger goats. They are all getting a nice winter coat, and looking so very cute. I really hope we don't have a harsh winter this year, the last couple were really bad. Daffy and some of the older dairy goats don't have much of a winter coat, but all the babies do.
The pen they are in is right outside the living room window, and my bedroom window. We put their house under the window, as it was the best place for them. They have additional shelter from the porch roof there. Donald has become quite the little voyeur with all his looking in the window at us. The other day he really startled one of the boys and my husband. He also seems to enjoy watching TV through the window. Silly boy.

Donald's cast is off!

It's been 5 weeks now, and we took the cast off today. His leg is really weak from muscle atrophy so he has a soft splint on to support the joints. He was following me about being very happy not to have his cast on anymore. His happy outlook just amazes and humbles me daily. I'll post pics of him with his soft splint when the rain stops.