BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?

Subject: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 01:07 PM

Our neighbours, who do not have a good track record when it comes to pets, have just brought home a rooster and a goat. The rooster doesn't crow too awfully much, but the goat is right outside our back-door and cries piteously most of the time, but even more so when we speak to it. We don't talk with the owners very often, but they did ask our son for a cutting from my Rog's grapevine which we gladly gave.

Anyway, I have read, online, that goats are herd animals, duh, and as such are very lonely and cry a lot when alone and also do not like being moved to new places, taking about a week to settle in.

I called animal services this morning because it sounded so distressed, then I called them back and cancelled the call, at least until tomorrow, to see if it settles down. Rog has said he'll ask them about it IF he can catch them when outside. Right now, they aren't even home.

I was okay with that, except that Rog went over by the fence to speak to the poor thing and saw they have it on a rope attached to a collar. I read online they should never be put out on a rope as they can easily strangle.

Do any of you have experience with goats and what would your advice be? Wait awhile and see how it settles in; wait until Rog might get a chance to speak with them; call Animal Services today for the on-call person or wait until tomorrow and call them directly to speak to, to see what they recommend?

The only goat I ever had was a mean billy which I sold quickly as he kept knocking my toddler son over. Regardless, I like goats and cannot stand the plaintive, strangling cries of this one. It wrenches my heart. (We could offer to buy it from them, though I suspect since they just got it, that won't be an option.)

It looks as though they are building a chicken coop for the rooster...he doesn't seem to be as close to our property line.

These are the people who used to go south for the winter, left an elderly mother behind one year who didn't know a large, beautiful dog, kept in the backyard no matter the weather, was ill, until my daughter found it dead one morning. We did call Animal Services that time. They got it, spoke with the old lady and did an autopsy. It had been ill for some time with internal tumours and did not starve to death, just wasn't well observed.

Thanks for any suggestions. I hate interfering with neighbours; this area has a kind of live and let live way about it and I don't mind them having the critters...just want to make sure the animals are well cared for.

Tks,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: gnu
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 01:12 PM

I'd give it a week before I'd call anyone. I do not have any experience with goats, but calling might land you in trouble with your neighbours.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 01:30 PM

They are not there? But it's tied up alone in the backyard. Is there any water or shelter for it?

Even if it's unhappy, I doubt it's in any danger in the short term. I'd phone animal services for advice on Monday, and see what they say.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 01:32 PM

Well, the farm next to ours is a goat farm so we have 'um just on the other side of the fence... I persoanlly like goats... The are freindly and clean animals when taken care of properly... Rope is not good for goats... A chain is much better and the goat won't chew thru it either...

The goat will settle down afetr a few days... It is a social animal and misses its buddies right now... If there are any dogs around the goat will make friends with it if the dog itself ain't a meany dog... Cats will also become chummy with goats... But the best scenerio would be for the neighbors to buy a second goat... Then there will be complete peace...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: Ebbie
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 02:36 PM

I used to have an angora wether (a neutered 'brush' goat, rather than a milking breed) to help me clear my land of its thornbushes and he loved us and our dogs. I think we were his herd. He was a social animal and although he had a pen for his own he was free to roam my fenced property. He even spent some time with the horses. I enjoyed him a lot.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting a neighbour's goat?
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Aug 10 - 03:32 PM

Thanks, folks. I have calmed down and it seems to have, too, though it still appears the owners are gone. It is definitely lonely as every time I talk to it, it cries back and looks for me. We will keep an eye on it and call AS tomorrow, esp. if they haven't shown up. It does have shelter, but we can't tell if it has water or not. I like goats well enough, I just want to make sure it's well taken care of.:-)