Every year we have a number of goat babies. Because our land space and feed bill are limited, we sell babies in the fall. In December, I found a home for the final five kids. We also asked the land owner to take Esther and Abby. We reviewed his space and lodgings and were satisfied with the security. Victor Rogers wanted to use goats for grazing. We thought it was the best home possible. Victor's place was in Penbrooke Township and he owns 20 acres of brush.
What we did not contemplate was that rural areas have strong predators. Victor already had five goats and placed our seven in a separate shed and enclosure. The fence appeared strong; however there were barrels near the fence. When large dogs run in packs, they are vicious predators. Our hearts were broken when Roger reported at the new year a pack jumped the fence and killed Abby and a baby. They maimed Esther and bit two others. We know that Esther has always been wary of dogs and definitely put up a fight. Then they entered Victor's other area and killed three of his five. Esther was bitten on both front legs, and her care was complicated. Victor has since set security measures in place.
We arrived home from holiday break on Thursday January 9, with obligations and weather problems. We picked up the five goats from the breeders at Manitowac Wisconsin on Friday. The timing was to pickup before snow/rain storm that was going to hit the area and we arrived home as the storm begin. It brought other problems that required attention with a sudden sewer problem flooding the basement during the weekend.
It was not until Monday January 13 we fetched Esther from Penbrooke Township. Her care by Victor Rogers was going to be very difficult and long. She was completely off her feet, stumbling on her knees and of course uncooperative. We carried all 155 pounds of her to the van and drove home arriving at dark. I had communicated with Dr. Vigil over the weekend. He waited for us and was at the house by 5 pm. He had received help from a local vet hospital for triage materials. She had been deeply bitten on her back flank, her right front leg and three times on her left front leg. Her left shoulder (or in goat anatomy her elbow) was swollen full of pus. Dr. Vigil and I worked in the dark to clean her up. She had wild look when we put her in our van; however she knew she was home and tried to use her legs to jump out.
In these two weeks, her least damaged leg is better. Because she had not previously received quality care, there was a lot of infection. We still clean out infection daily. I am not certain of her quality of life prospects. She is a strong goat, and has begun to stand on the least affected leg. Yet the other leg has three wounds on it. Her flank bite has healed into a heart shaped scar. If she can manage the two block trip to the Waller Street Field, she will be okay. This will be her retirement space. Sometimes there is no place like home.
What we did not contemplate was that rural areas have strong predators. Victor already had five goats and placed our seven in a separate shed and enclosure. The fence appeared strong; however there were barrels near the fence. When large dogs run in packs, they are vicious predators. Our hearts were broken when Roger reported at the new year a pack jumped the fence and killed Abby and a baby. They maimed Esther and bit two others. We know that Esther has always been wary of dogs and definitely put up a fight. Then they entered Victor's other area and killed three of his five. Esther was bitten on both front legs, and her care was complicated. Victor has since set security measures in place.
We arrived home from holiday break on Thursday January 9, with obligations and weather problems. We picked up the five goats from the breeders at Manitowac Wisconsin on Friday. The timing was to pickup before snow/rain storm that was going to hit the area and we arrived home as the storm begin. It brought other problems that required attention with a sudden sewer problem flooding the basement during the weekend.
It was not until Monday January 13 we fetched Esther from Penbrooke Township. Her care by Victor Rogers was going to be very difficult and long. She was completely off her feet, stumbling on her knees and of course uncooperative. We carried all 155 pounds of her to the van and drove home arriving at dark. I had communicated with Dr. Vigil over the weekend. He waited for us and was at the house by 5 pm. He had received help from a local vet hospital for triage materials. She had been deeply bitten on her back flank, her right front leg and three times on her left front leg. Her left shoulder (or in goat anatomy her elbow) was swollen full of pus. Dr. Vigil and I worked in the dark to clean her up. She had wild look when we put her in our van; however she knew she was home and tried to use her legs to jump out.
In these two weeks, her least damaged leg is better. Because she had not previously received quality care, there was a lot of infection. We still clean out infection daily. I am not certain of her quality of life prospects. She is a strong goat, and has begun to stand on the least affected leg. Yet the other leg has three wounds on it. Her flank bite has healed into a heart shaped scar. If she can manage the two block trip to the Waller Street Field, she will be okay. This will be her retirement space. Sometimes there is no place like home.
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