LET'S THROW THE UGLY ONE OUT

It was a miserable afternoon. The rain was coming down in sheets and I could barely see the road. Ahead of me was a pickup truck pulling a stock trailer. It was going painfully slow but there was no way to pass as visibility was so poor. I was tired from a long day's work and content to poke along.

However, I saw something not quite right and pulled closer to the trailer. It had a double hung doors. The one on the left was latched but the one on the right was swinging lazily. Good, grief, it was open. Barely visable inside the trailer was a sea of ears and small bodies. It took a minute to realize that trailer was packed with young goats.

Knowing any moment a goat could fall out on the road, I backed off, flashed my lights wildly and honked my horn. I am sure the rain blocked my efforts to get their attention for they kept on going with the door swinging slowly back and forth. Then it happened.

A little body popped out,hit the pavement and rolled towards the ditch. I put on my blinkers and pulled over. The car behind me also pulled over to see if I were all right. I asked him to try and stop that vehicle or it would just keep spitting out goats. I told him I would try to catch the goat and hold it for them to come back for.

He took off and I went for the little goat. The goat was completely black and not easy to see in the pouring rain. The baby was bawling amazingly loud for a little one as it scrambled out of the ditch and pressed against a fence visibly shaking. Blood was coming from it's nose and I was thinking the worst. A thunder clap made it jumped into the ditch again and we both floundered around in the thigh high water. I finally was able to grab it and hold it close to me.

I put the squirmy little bundle on the floor board of my vehicle and fortunately, the little one seemed to immediately calm down. I waited a long time for them to come back to claim the little one but after 30 minutes, I gave up. I could only hope that the door was now shut and no more little ones were being pitched out on the pavement.

The bleeding out the nose had me worried so I took it to the vet. Jim, the vet, laughed at me for this was the first time I had brought in a livestock stray. He said that the nose bleeding was road burn and that "she", yes she finally had a sex, would be fine.

"Congratulations on your first farm animal." he chuckled.

Only problem was that I did not have a place to put her. I had many dogs in my rescue and most dogs are quite fond of goat meat. It was getting dark, still pouring and I was panicking a bit. I did have a temporary pen that I had put my fox in when I first got him so I made that do for the evening. It had been a tough day.

Now I have a weakness for animals and baby animals really get me. However, in bright daylight, as I looked at my new charge, I could only think that the other goats in that trailer had gotten together to throw the ugliest one of them out the door.

She was solid black except for the grey road burn patches. Add little button horns, being really scrawny, plus she had a crappy attitude. I swear, she could curl her lip like Elvis, only on her, it wasn't sexy but in total disdain. I am sure she blamed her current station in life totally on me. She really had a demon goat appearance. Repeatedly when I came near her, she would try to butt me. It was comical for I could fend her off with one hand.





Not a picture of a grown up Nubby but the Internet picture shows a very similar attitude.


I called the young fellow that worked for me and between us, we fenced off a nice chunk of property and built a rather attractive shelter. I was really proud of what we had accomplished. However the little one only cried when we turned her loose. Tim thought I needed to get her a friend since they were herd animals. The look I gave him was as black as the goat. This was just temporary wasn't it???

I made the mistake to name her which tore down my resistance to her. I chose Nubby which covered the horn situation. It wasn't too long before I was thinking Tim was right and that maybe another goat would be best. Nubby was so unhappy alone. I realized I was on a slippery slope. Isn't this how "cat ladies" got started?

Since I passed a goat farm on the way to visit my parents, it was natural to pick up a baby on the way home one day. I selected a sweet little salt and pepper colored yard goat. This one had a great attitude and was comfortable around people. Now that Nubby had competition for my attention, she became a much nicer goat. Perhaps it was just that she no longer felt alone and defensive.

Finally all was well and everyone was happy for the two goats bonded immediately. My herd was intact and sufficient unto itself till Lucy Faye Lorraine joined the group but that is for another day.

Did you ever have an animal enter your life unexpectedly, very much UNwanted, but it managed to worm its way into your heart against your better judgment?