Gene Baur and Opie
Meet Gene Baur and his good buddy, Opie.
Almost two decades ago, according to published material, this cow, then a tiny calf no more than a few hours old, was abandoned and left for dead at a stockyard in upstate New York. He was a dairy industry discard too weak and sickly to even stand. He lay helpless in an alleyway, where few signs of life emanated from him — let alone any indication of the magnificent creature he was destined to become. Continue reading »
Is that a saltine for me?
Here he is, the one and only Billy O. He’s standing in front of a barn, which keeps him warm on cold nights and dry when there’s moisture and safe when coyotes roam.
I went down for a visit yesterday, armed with a whole box of Saltines. I’m talking the big box, four packs. Billy O was near this barn with his eight other goat friends and two cows when we arrived. “Billy O!” I hollered across the fence and pasture. He was close to a half a football field away.
But he didn’t come running. Nor did the others.
So I’ve just heard from Billy O’s new mama, and she reports that he’s “about in the middle of the herd as far as dominance goes. He has figured out he can boss the younger wethers (neutered males) around and one doe.” There are two other wethers, she says, but she separates them from the rest of the herd. Ha! They are so bossy, they won’t let the others in the barn with them. So separate quarters for them. Our Billy O, though, is now sleeping in the other barn with his herd. That’s our boy. Continue reading »
Those words in the headline — Billy O had a very good day today – kicked off an email last night from Billy O’s new mama. I jumped for joy.
He’s been gone a week now, and I have prayed and worried and prayed and worried (did I include cried?) that he would welcome his new home. My biggest fear was that he’d feel I’d sold him down the river, that his coming here was a mistake and that I never wanted him.
Just last Friday, in an email, his new mama wrote: Billy O is still trying to figure out the goat stuff. He didn’t eat the tree I cut for them or the carrots. I would say he was not a pet goat until he found you. Billy O is puzzled, not afraid. Sometimes he just lays down and watches. He hasn’t gone out in the big pasture much. Just hangs around the barn and corral where there are always other goats.
Is this where that writer lives who loves animals?
I like to look at the very first picture I ever made of Billy O. I was in the kitchen making coffee and heard this unfamiliar sound outside. I looked out the back door and saw this creature with a cocked off head looking in at me. In my mind, he was asking, “Is this where that writer lives who loves animals?”
I hope he knows the answer is YES.
After sharing his life with me for four special months, Billy O left out of here a couple of hours ago. Left in the back of a covered pickup truck, bound for Hohenwald, Tennessee, a tiny community about an hour and a half south of here. Left with a wonderful lady who loves animals as much as I do — and that’s saying a lot. Left to go live on a 200 acre farm with nine goats and two cows and I forgot how many horses and two dogs.
He's always watched.
Billy O has always watched. He likes to stand on the front porch, near the top step, and look out. I’ve never known what he was looking for. But he’s definitely looking.
Tomorrow morning, about this time, he’ll see a new vehicle drive up. It’ll be pulling a trailer, one small enough for a goat. Billy O is getting a new home, down an hour and a half south of here in a wonderful town called Hohenwald.
So I was on Facebook a while ago and saw where an organization I love, Farm Sanctuary, had posted a link witha headline that knocked me out: “Goat Knocks on Good Samaritan’s Door.” http://www.farmsanctuary.org/mediacenter/2010/pr_sacramento_goat.html
Seems that out in California, a goat one day out of the blue was trying to get inside this woman’s house. Around the goat’s neck was a chewed rope. Whoa, I was thinking — Do goats do this a lot? Show up at stranger’s houses and insist on coming in? This woman says the goat knew he would be safe there. I get the same feeling from Billy O. It’s like he’s home. My Mom always said we can fool people, but we can never fool animals. This is a gift that Billy O has given me. It’s of the highest order. Continue reading »
I have my blankey now
Question: Do any of you know any good goat psychologists?
No?
How about any goat psychologists — period?
I’m willing to travel.
Folks, I’m in need. Actually, we (Billy O and I) are in need. Continue reading »
Not this time, Buddy O, says Billy O
This is a photo of Trace and son, Nick, LEAVING late yesterday afternoon WITHOUT one Mr. Billy O Goat. They came here with the full intent to catch Billy O and put him in a large dog kennel to transport him back to paradise at Owen Farm, where Billy O can live out his days and nights as a full-fledged goat.
Wasn’t going to happen.
Not this time. Not that way. We tried so long, they had to turn on their lights when they left! Continue reading »
Want to pway?
It’s been way too long since I’ve let you all know about Billy O. Sorry! He’s been here a tad over three weeks now and is getting so comfortable that he wants to PWAY with me! The other day he started gently biting my pants and pulling me towards him and then releasing me, only to rear up on his back legs(as in the photo) and hopping towards me. All the while, he was extremely vocal, as if he wanted to tell me something. He did this repeatedly. I must admit at first I was scared, but then I thought Is he Lassie come back as a goat? Someone’s in danger and he thinks I’m Timmy and we need to go help?
Ha! When all else fails, go to the Big I and google Goats + Playing. I found out that Billy O wants to pway. I also learned that wethers (neutered males like Billy O) don’t do well by themselves. They need a buddy. Hence the rest of the story here…..
There’s a wonderful farm near us called Owen Farm. They have goats and sheep and cows and horses. And guess what — they want Billy O to come live with them. And, yes, I asked THE question — You won’t kill him for meat, will you? (Gee, that was even hard to write.) Their answer? NO, he’ll just hang out and LIVE.
So Good Folks…..Billy O will be leaving in the next day or so to go live down the road three or four miles with other goats and such. I have visitation rights, so I can go see him often. Which I will. Because I’ll miss him so.
This is hard. Can I just say that? I’ve grown to love that boy. But I start thinking about Billy O running and pwaying with other goats, and that brings a smile to my face and heart. I am thankful that this lost goat found me and trusted me enough to know he would be safe here. How much more honored could I be?
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