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Rescued goat needs home to call his own
(by Joan Demirjian - December 28, 2011)
Billy, a goat residing at Geauga County Humane Society's Rescue Village in Russell, was rescued from a farm where animals died from neglect.
Rescued goat needs home to call his own
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Billy, a rescued goat living at Geauga County Humane Society's Rescue Village in Russell, is lonely.
He had a horse partner who has now gone to a foster home, as have several sheep and goats that have been adopted. Rescue Village staff hopes Billy will find a home soon.
Christian Courtwright, Geauga County humane agent, said they took in Billy during a rescue from a property in Huntsburg Township last year on New Year's Eve.
There were several farm animals and some were deceased at the site. "The animals were not being fed and were starving," Mr. Courtwright said.
"Billy was one of three goats," Mr. Courtwright said. He was 9 months old at the time. There was a horse and several chickens. Another horse was dead of starvation.
Charges were filed against the two owners, and a court case is pending.
The goats taken from the farm were in better shape because they were able to escape the barn and get to grass outside to eat, Mr. Courtwright said.
Goats by nature want to be with other animals, and Billy does not do well without a partner, he said. He bonds very quickly with all types of animals.
"He calls out now and is nervous without his sheep friends," Mr. Courtwright said.
"Billy has seen a lot of animals go, and it's his turn," he said. His friend Fred, the sheep, is leaving, Mr. Courtwright said.
"He's a big, but nice goat," he said. "We walk him on a dog leash. He likes to be around the horses, ponies, sheep and chickens."
He had a type of polio that caused his back legs to be somewhat weak, so he is not extremely agile or fast, Mr. Courtwright said.
"But it's made him sweeter, and he tries really hard to be nice," he said. "The school kids love him, but no one has adopted him."
"I work in the barn, and he wants to be with us," Mr. Courtwright said. "He loved it when the workmen were working on the building.
"Goats are social animals, and he was hungry for attention. The other goats were the same," Mr. Courtwright said.
He does need a strong pasture fence and something in the pasture to climb on, like a picnic table. He will need to be vaccinated once a year, he said.
"We would prefer he goes where there are other animals," he said. "He would be a perfect companion for an older horse because he is gentle, and he could be added to a herd of sheep or goats," Mr. Courtwright said.
Hope Brustein, director of Rescue Village, said, "Billy is a character. Anytime someone comes to the barn, he stands on his hind legs and watches everything.
"He likes to sit on a table looking over everything," she said.
"Billy loves companionship with horses and other animals. He has a great sense of humor, too," Ms. Brustein said. "We laugh with him and we believe he laughs at us.
"He's really a great goat," she said. "He deserves a second chance."
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