Is this goat supposed to look like that?

[thebritt]

Quote:
I noticed that too. Since it's listed on craigslist, that ad could be forwarded to the nearest Animal Control officials......Looks like West Wichita...even gives a phone # !

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Save the goat!!! Maybe you could send an ad telling them you were interested in seeing the goat, and ask if they had any other animals for sale, and when they give you the address, call animal control on them.

 

[thebritt]

Quote:
Sounds like a plan....can it be executed?

 

[username taken]

HEY GUYS! STOP PANICKING FOR A MINUTE!

Now before you start charging off to 'rescue' this goat, use a bit of common sense.

Yes, the doe is skinny. But is she milking? Its not uncommon for really high producing does to look like that - nothing much you can do about it. From these pics she doesnt look like she's milking, but then again there is always the possibility that the photos were taken right after she was milked out.

Now the second, more important thing is, the ad says 'healthy' but I would be extremely suspicious that there is an underlying health issue responsible for the emaciation. You go charging off there with $50, buy the doe, take her home, turn her in with your existing goats/sheep/cows/horses/chickens, figure you'll give her a heap of love and food and she'll be alright. Chances are this doe is chock full of worms and lice, which combined can drag them down awfully, and you just introduced that to your herd. Even worse - I would be highly suspicious that the doe is infected with Johnes disease - prevalent in dairy animals of all species, and causes emaciation even if they are getting enough fod. Now lice and worms you can deal with, Johnes is untreatable, incurable, and they shed the organism in their faeces and it is HIGHLY infective, so basically if you bring one infected animal onto your property, you are pretty much guarranteed that the rest of your flock is infected. And its not just restricted to goats - sheep and cattle get it also. Johnes is a death sentence - it remains viable in your soil for many many years, and vaccination isnt 100% effective so there is NO eradicating it once you've got it, unless you euthanase all the animals on the property, destock and do not restock for 5 - 7 years, or begin fresh on another property.

I strongly urge you to proceed cautiously in rescuing this animal; please only do it if you can secure a trustworthy record of her history, AND you have a very good quarrantine area set up.

I am not against rescuing livestock; on the contrary I do ALOT of caprine rescue. But I do a lot of leg work checking into the history of the animals, and I have an EXCELLENT quarrantine station to protect my herd. If you cant be sure that she is safe to introduce - then dont get her. I passed up on rescuing a 4 yr old british alpine girl just recently, even more emaciated than the photos of this one, because she was at high risk of Johnes infection.

Oh another thing to add is dont believe the age of her ... check her teeth yourself. Alot of rescues come to me 10yrs+, with no front teeth left, those does are physically unable to eat grass so are faced with a lifetime of handfeeding, grain and hay ... ask yourself if you are prepared to make that committment.

 

[alinda]

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO " CHILLIN" WITH CHICKENS. I AM THE ONE WITH THE SKINNY GOAT. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I GOT HER FROM A FARMER APRIL 24TH. YOU CAN ASK ANYONE THAT LIVES AROUND HERE, HOW SHE LOOKED THE DAY I BROUTGH HER HOME COMPAIRED TO HOW SHE LOOKS NOW. I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW SHE LOOKED. HE EXPLAINED SHE WAS THIN BECAUSE SHE HAD TWINS AND HAD STILL BEEN NURSING AND THEY HAD TO REMOVE THEM, AND LATER HE SAID HE BREED HER. AND HE SAID SHE IS 4 YR. OLD. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD YOU CAN TELL BY THIER TEETH. HERS ARE WHITE, NO BLACK ON THEM. I KNEW NOTHING OF GOATS, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO LEAVE HER. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT ALL I CAN, AND DO EVERY THING I CAN FOR HER. I KEEP A FULL BUCKET OF PELLETS, GRAIN, CORN,WHICH I FILL TWICE A DAY. AND HAY IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR HER. PLUS SCRAPS, GRASS AND TREE LIMBS. I LOVE ANIMALS, AND THEY ALWAYS EAT BEFORE I DO. AND I HAVE BUCKETS OF WATER OUT AT ALL TIMES. SHE HAS A SHED WITH FRESH STRAW FOR HER SHELTER. AND I HAVE GIVEN HER WORM PELLETS. I REPEDLY BRUSHED HER,"SHE LOVES IT" SHE DOSE NOT HAVE LICE OR ANY BUGS I CAN SEE. SHE DOSE NOT GO WITH OUT. SHE IS STILL THIN, BUT I AND MY NEIGHBORS THINK SHE IS LOOKING SO MUCH BETTER THAN SHE DID. VERY ATTACTIVE,AND I THNK SHE IS HEALTHY. ANY ONE IS WECLOME TO COME CHECK. SHE IS VERY SWEET, GENTLE, AND LOVES ATTENTION. I NEVER REALIZED THE EXPENCE OF KEEPING A GOAT. I AM ALONE ON A FIXED INCOME, AND REALIZING IT IS MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD. I DECIED TO TRY TO SELL HER BEFORE I GET TO THE POINT OF NOT HAVEING ENOUGH MONEY FOR HER NEEDS. PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO JUDGE BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE JUDGEING.

 

[Fudgie]

You are so correct Alinda, Guilty as charged!!!! I am sure I could have been turned over to the humane society if people had come by my farm from time to time. We buy some REALLY NICE cattle this way, they are horribly skinny and wormy and we buy them for nothing and give them good vet care and get them turned around and they make nice additions to our herd.

I never really thought about that, you are correct you just judge first and ask questions later. I am sorry and I apologize....

and

You will be able to find all kinds of info on goats on here. Helmstead is a whiz at goats. Again i am sorry I judged the situation without knowing the facts!

 

[bheila]

Alinda-I wasn't able to view the picture before you deleted it.....but we're all guilty of seeing skinny animals and thinking it's been starved. I'm sure your guilty of this too

It wasn't just one person her on BYC who that that the goat was underweight it was several. Maybe you'll have a better response to your ad if you put the goats whole story on the ad about why she looks the way she does. Good luck and

 

[Fudgie]

That is a good idea! to add the story, it would deter the people(like me) assuming the worst!

 

[aaronzclark]

I agree Alinda but don't get mad at us how the crap would we of known that
she was being taken care of, you did not post that in craigslist so don't tell us not to be quick to judge

 

[redhen]