Goldie – Queen of Goats
Preface:
When I originally began to write this stream of consciousness essay, there was no way I could have foreseen the events that were to unfold in the next 24 hours. I had my laptop with me most of the time and for some reason I felt compelled to write whatever come into my head as the events were happening. It is only now, three months later, that I am able to go back to what I wrote, add a preface, epilogue and photos to present it for others to read.
October 18, 2006
Imagine your favorite pet: the one you loved the most of all, of any animal you have ever had bless your life. Recall the love you have, or had, for them. Often we love an animal, with his/her unconditional love, unlike any human we have ever loved; this is the love of which I am referring. Now imagine this pet as a major part of your life, influencing all aspects of how you have lived, and even make a living, for the last 11 years. Now imagine this wonderful creature being more than an animal, imagine she be like your best human friend and your foster child. If you can image these things, you may come close to understanding the feelings I have for Goldie, the most wonderful goat you could ever have the pleasure to know.
Goldie resting in the son with her triplets – 2002
Today is a warm day in the middle of October and I have just returned from the barn.
Goldie is old now.
Today, she cannot walk on her own; her front knee “went out” on her again yesterday and if she takes a step she falls. Larry and I just moved her out onto the grass in the sun, which is not as depressing as being in a stall. She can’t get up on her own, so we help her up. She will stand for a little while and then, if she tried to take a step, she’ll fall. I help her into a comfortable position. She resigned. She is a smart old gal. She reaches out her head and nibbles some grass. I pet her and tell her I love her and hold back tears because I know she is nearing her end. It is not fair to this wonderful, strong, loving Queen to live a life like this: a depressed life of frustration & pain. She has lost so much weight, though she’s still about 150 pounds, but that is nothing like the 215 she was just one year ago.. She stopped eating grain and began loosing weight when her feet got bad this Spring. She has always had bad feet, but in her old age, an infection set in in her rear feet which made walking painful. I’d lovingly wash, and carefully trim her feet and treat her in every way I knew how, but healing takes longer when you’re old. She shifted her way of standing, putting all her weight on her front legs and since getting up and down with her arthritis was hard, she would stand all through the night. Now her ‘good’ front knees keep going out on her. It’s just like with a human getting old, things start to go, and one thing leads to another. I know itï’s the way of life: we all get old and eventually die. It’s just so very hard to see it coming. To see Goldie will not be with us much longer. Its tearing me up.
We all must go eventually. I’ve seen my share of death. It’s never easy; it’s always hard, and harder when you truly love the one who’s passed. I’m a Healer. I help people, and their animals, all over the world. I have saved many a life, and comforted many a grieving human at the lost of their love one. Still, this makes it no easier for me. I know a lot about helping the sick, but I can’t cure old age. We have to accept the inevitable. But, it still doesn’t make it any easier. I know the pain of loss; the indescribable grief, and knowing this doesn’t make all this any easier. The lucky thing for animals is that we can help them pass from this life, when this life has no quality worth living to it. We can’t do that for humans, so it is nice we can give this gift to out animals friends. And this, I an afraid, is a decision we are going to have to make for Goldie soon. It’s tearing me up.
And so I must write about her…
Even though it was 11 years ago, I remember the first time I saw Goldie like it was yesterday.
It was in October of 1995. We wanted to get a milk goat, and had gone to a goat show in Knoxville. We didnï’t know a lot about goats then. We were looking for a doe to purchase but had about as much money as knowledge at that time (next to none). Most of the does we saw that were even for sale (there were not many) were out of our league in terms of cost. We looked up and down the aisles and were about done, with no luck at finding a doe and in almost the very last stall was a plain little blond doe stand up and looking at us and screaming her head off. “Meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!ï” She yelled to me. I went to her and touched her and looked up and saw the sign “For Sale”. I looked at Larry and asked,”What about her”. We decided to wait to ask about her. The person who owned these goats was busy showing her goats so we waited ½ hour. Anytime we’d walk away the little doe would scream to us to come “baaaaack”. She really wanted us to take her home. Finally the woman came and we asked about the doe. She was not an American or Purebred, she was a mixed breed and was $75. I would have paid $100, which to me was a lot of money at the time.
The doe did not belong to the woman but was being sold for by her for a friend. We paid for the little doe, who’s name was Goldie. As we walked her out of the goat area she pooped and her poops were loaded with white things. A breeder who was near by looked and said, “She’s full of worms”, and gave us a look like we were complete rubes, which maybe we were, but I already loved this little doe and so we drove her home. On the way home we stopped at a farm supply store to buy a wormer for Goldie and when I went in the store, Goldie yell for me to come back the entire time.
And so Goldie was seven months old when she joined our then, motley goat herd, which consisted of a little buck named GoatBoy, a wether named Smiley and wild little doe named Little Girl. We first put Goldie and Smiley together in a stall for the night and the next day, GoatBoy was in there with them as well. I had to leave the very next day to go to WV and it’s amusing, when I spoke with Larry on the phone after I had gotten to WV he said, “That doe is the ugliest goat I’ve ever seen”. She was a LaMancha doe with little tiny”elf ears”. I fell in love with her personality so quickly that we didn’t even really notice her odd looks and tiny ears.
Goldie’s first kids “the Bruins” – 1996
Goldie was bred by GoatBoy in the Fall of her first year and presented us with extraordinary twin does in Late Winter in 1996. I remember it was 20* that night she had her first kids. Buffalo Gal and Burrita were brown and black and were identical twins except for one big difference: one had elf ears and one had long Alpine like ears. It was ridiculous, but that was Goldie.
Goldie feeding her daughters Trouble and Blondie – 1997
The next year (her second) when she went into labor she was having trouble delivering. The first time in my life I had ever seen anything born was our first year of goats (the year before), now here it was our second year of having kids. We had never seen anyone assist a birth before and all we knew was from the few books we studied. I ran up to the house to try to find a vet to come help. After ½ hour I could reach no one who could come. Frantically I ran back down to the barn. I was quite attached to Goldie at this point and the though of loosing her was horrible. I entered the barn and found Larry, Goldie and two little babies. Larry told me the story and once again, Goldie proved herself remarkable.
Goldie could not deliver the kids; she needed assistance. I was up at the house. Larry knew he had to “go in” and even with no experience he knew he had to do what he had to do. Goldie stood, with no one holding her. She was not tethered or tied. She just stood and let Larry do what he had to do as best her could. Larry managed to get the kid positioned right and then out come Trouble (so named because of the trouble she caused her birth) and after Trouble came Blondie.
And, of course, Goldie was a great mom and wonderful milker..
Eating a ‘mater
In 1999, came her first set of triplets and something else remarkable. Goldie, who was always a lower member of the herd challenged the current queen, a big bitchy Nubian named Belle. We were present at the battle and a battle it was. Ouch! If you have never seen or heard goats seriously knocking heads, you can’t imagine the force they pound each other with. In the end, Goldie won the battle and thus became Queen. She was a good and benevolent queen as well, and reigned until the Summer of 2006.
A mother you can walk all over – 2000
Assorted Fond Memories of Goldie:
~Goldie was a great mom and loved her babies. Not only that, she was kind to other kids as well. A sight I will always hold fondly in my memory was when one day we came down to the barn and there was Goldie laying on the soft bedding under a large hay rack. Around her, nestled around her I counted 9 kids. She looked up at us with a real smile on her face as if to say “Look at all the babies I have”. She was truly happy with her brood. Only three of the kids were actually her’s, but they were all safe and warm gathered around the Herd Queen.
~When my friend Pete came for a visit, I let Pete have a go at milking Goldie, and she was as good as gold and extremely patient with Pete as he attempted to milk her. She never fidgeted or raise her foot; she was very understanding of his inexperience. Afterward, as she was want to do at that time of her life, she bullied him just a little. She could sense his lack of goat experience, and being 200 pounds, she was seeing what she could get away with. It’s only natural, to make sure the new herd member knew his place. Later on we took a walk. The rest of the herd had moved on, and Goldie stayed back with us, as she often did. She always knew humans were the ones to stick around. You never know what we were going to do. She had been pushing Pete a bit, but as we got to some quite steep land, she moved on ahead single file. Then Pete slipped, he fell and Goldie immediately turned around and hurried back to him to see that he was ok. She was truly concerned about him, and let Pete steady himself on her. After that she didn’t push him, but stayed near to make sure he was steady and ok.
~Goldie had a strong neck and could swing her head around with some force. She always knew where to swing her head and hit men right in the balls. I always though it pretty funny. We often had to warn male visitors of a possible surprise strike.
Goldie resting her head on her new daughter, Quan Yin, after a difficult delivery. – 2002
Yes indeed Goldie is a very special, one-of a kind goat: She’s smart, loves people, loves to be milked, and loves her children. She knows her name as well as understand other words such as “no” and she comprehends what we might want her to do. Most of the time I really feel we understand each other on a level that is hard to explain. She is always easy to work with. These days, we’ve been using a sling to aid in moving her around. Larry on one side and me on the other, holding her up. It didn’t take long for her to figure out what was what with us and the sling and she’ll start “walking” as we bare her weight- she let’s us know where she wants to go.
We’ve been hoisting her up in her sling to get her weight off her feet and so that I can work on her feet. Again, she understands the drill, and puts up bravely with her treatment. Afterwords I always give her a couple corn chips as a treat, which she appreciates.
We decided that 2004 would be Goldie’s last year of having kids. She would be 9 years old which, we felt, was a good age to retire. With her not-so-great feet and tendency to have multiple kids, as well as needing occasional assistance with kidding, we decided not to put her through the strain anymore. We promised Goldie that with this last kidding, she could keep a girl to stay with her for the rest of her life. We also let her breed Ulysses, whom she has always loved.
The first day of Spring, 2004, we knew she was closed to kidding so right after morning barn chores, I decided to run to town for groceries so I could be back to be with her that afternoon (when we though she would kid). I went to town and when I returned Larry was not at the house. I turned on the barn video monitor to see if Larry was at the barn and I saw him, Goldie and kids. Larry said hurry down to the barn. When I got to the barn, Larry was standing in the center isle and smiling. I looked into Goldie’s stall and there she was standing there happy and proud as can be with FOUR babies!
Larry told me how he was working in the barn and Goldie came over to him as if to say “it’s time”. She went to the kidding stall door and said “let me in, it’s time to have my babies”. Larry told me how the birth went fine and he had already gotten everything all cleaned up when Goldie revealed her surprise. She had already delivered triplets, and Larry figured that was it. We had never had a goat have more than 3 babies and so it never occurred to us that Goldie had another kid left in her. Larry was all cleaned up and ready to head to the house when Goldie started to push to deliver the fourth kid. It was twisted and Larry had to “go in” to straighten it out.
Larry kept saying (jokingly) “Four babies? Goldie, what were you thinking?”
Goldie stands proudly with her quads, here just a couple hours old. – 2004
There is another story I have written about the female of the four, Goldie Jr , which you can read here.
When Goldie’s last daughter, Goldie Jr. was an adult, we came down to the barn in the morning and found that Goldie Jr. had her head stuck down low in a stall wall. She had been trying to get at some hay that had fallen from the hay rack in the stall next door and managed to get her head stuck. She was pretty pregnant a the time and was laying on the ground looking a bit uncomfortable, Now, normally this could have been a dangerous situation because a stuck goat could easily be the target of pot-shots from other goats, but Goldie Jr. was safe. Standing above her, guarding her, resting her head on Goldie J’s back was Goldie. She stood all night protecting her daughter.
Goldie resting with her daughter Sadie – 2000
I spent this afternoon writing about Goldie. She spent the afternoon in the sun. We just returned where we helped her back to her night stall. She knows the drill. She can’t stand up on her own, but see us with the sling and trying to get up enough for us to get the sling under her. Together we muscle her up and she “walks” to her stall, with us supporting her weight. It’s an ordeal, but we are will to do if for her. Put stand her in front of the hay rack and give her a couple of chips. We pet her and tell her we love her. I’m not sure how long this can go on. She’s a great gal; she lived a great life. She will always reside in my heart and mind.
I love you Goldie.
October 19, 2006
This morning when we went down to the barn we found Goldie sprawled out and moaning. She could not right herself. We got her in a comfortable position and I held her so she would not roll over.
In my arms, as I wept and told her how much I loved her, she went to sleep. She told me she was so very tired and wanted just to sleep. We thought when this time came the decision would be so hard, but in reality it is not our decision at all; it is hers. We will make the necessary arrangements today. She deserves to rest and pass from this life with dignity. I already miss her so very much.
Later
How could I have guessed, when I started writing this yesterday that today would be like this?
I’m stunned and numb. 1/2 hour ago I was holding Goldie in my arms. She was resting her head on my chest and I lay my head on hers. She was comfortable and calm in my arms. I was crying. Now, she is gone and I wait in the barn for the cremation person to come take her away. Goldie was strong, and it took longer than I though it would for her to pass from this life. But now she is at peace at she can move on to the next life.
Still Later
Now I’m back at the house. It’s 11:45 am. It all happened so fast. We went down to the barn at 8:00 am. Less then four hours later there is a huge hole in our herd and in my heart that can never be refilled. She’s really gone now. We’re suppose to get the ashes back this afternoon. I have her collar draped over my neck. In the barn, when I put it there, it was still warm, but now it is getting cold. I’m just so stunned and sad. I’m sad because I don’t want her not to be in my life anymore, but, it would not have been fair to her to make her stay. It was time. She was a great lady, a great Queen; the matriarch for our herd. She was the foundation of our herd and so could be considered the center of my life for the last 11 years. Thank you Goldie. Thank you for being a part of my life and giving life to our herd.
Born: March 11, 1995
Died: October 19, 2006
Her legacy will continue on….
Goldie gave birth to 22 children in 9 years:
1996: Buffalo Gal Bruin, Burrita Bruin
1997: Blondie, Trouble ‘A Bruin
1998: Sparkin Spartacus
1999: Sadie O’Grady, Yosh, Stan
2000: Nilla Puddn’, Willie
2001: Niblets, Walden
2002: Joyce, Harvey, Quan Yin
2003: Martini, Rossi, Rob Roy
2004: Lane, Shane, Zane, Goldie Jr.
~Molly Bunton, October 19, 2006
Epilogue:
We spread Goldie’s ashes on a Oct. 21, 2006, two days after her passing. I could not let her physically go before that. It was an incredibly beautiful day. The light was wonderful and had a golden cast to it. I took photos in celebration of Goldie that morning which you can see here. We spread her ashes where she always liked to lay, and watch me garden and the herd graze. I took photos when we spread the ashes as well. Her ashes got all over my hands and the ashes in turn got all over my camera. I thought it was fitting. Goldie will always be with me when I take photos.
I miss Goldie so very much.
She was a wonderful friend, and the most extraordinary animal I will ever have the honor to have known. There will never be another like her.
Goldie’s ashes dusting a Fall leaf – 10/21/2006
Filed under: Goat Stories
125 Responses to “Goldie – Queen of Goats”
Posted:
Feb 6th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
This is the most beautiful thing I think i have ever read. I feel your pain, I too have a doe who I know her time is close, it is soo sad and I wish she can stay with me forever, but like you said, it is not fair for them. I am sorry for your loss and Goldie is definently priceless!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 7th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I have a pygme goat ready to kid any day. This is my first time ever having any goats. I hope everything goes good.
Sincerely,
Dustin
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 7th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I love your set up and I hope to get one just like it some day.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 7th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
That was one of the saddest tales I red about a farm. Goldie was a good goat. I felt the same way when my cat died.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 9th, 2007 at 10:27 am
I’m so sorry for your loss, I know it feels like you’ve lost a member of your family, and of course she is.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 10th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
I am so sad after reading Goldie’s story.
I have an older goat named LaRita and she is awesome. I don’t look forward to going threw loosing her. Hope you have peace now. I believe Goldie does.
Blessings to you and your family.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 10th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
I smiled and cried when I read Goldie’s story. I can tell that spending the time you had with Goldie was a great gift. That is what I try to remember most when I think about the animal family members that are no longer with me. Goldie is leaping and playing in a lovely meadow now. God bless.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 12th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Hi I started out with goats a few years ago and now i have a good sized herd if Nubians and Boer (with a Alpine/Saanen doe) And found your web-site the year i got your goats and seen how old she was and thogut she was she a great goat. I loved her just as l love all your goats even tho i have never met you or your goats. I found it so hard to read that she passed away and i felt as if i raised her and kept her thats how your web-site made me feel i to have a doe that is only 4 years but has a large udder and love her to death she was my first nubian and still think about how im never going to get over it. I hope some day that me and my wife will show our own baby to my beth. But i have to say keep up posting and writing im sure there are many others like me. And max was such a doe!!! I wished you could send me some pictures! Of her now!! Thanks for all the help.
Alex Cripps
Hazy Day Nubians
http://www.hazydaynubians.piczo.com
Canada
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 12th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
My heart goes out to you. I know what you speak of as my girl “Flower” is like your Goldie. She is a special animal that is more human than any people I have ever know. She’s a beautiful black LaMancha that we begged for! She too begged at 3 days old to have us take her home.
She’s still young, only 15 months, and pregnant for the first time. She’s already miscarried once. I had her at UC Davis last week and I was crying like a baby that something could take her away.
I hope I can be as caring as you when the time does come, for her sake. Right now I can not IMAGINE life without her.
God Bless!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 14th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Thank you everyone for your comments. I really appreciate them so much. It was very difficult for me to get this story up to share with others because I would cry every time I tried to work on it. I am glad I can finally share with you.
Alex:
Sadly Max passed away from an unexpected heart attack this summer. And we lost Uly to old age as well. It has been a difficult year for out herd, but this is the problem when you have a herd for a long time and goats start to get old. sadly the cold hard fact of life is death.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 16th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Molly,
I sit here with tears running down my face, I have just read your story about Goldie. A beautiful story. I lost my first goat Babby freddy a little over a year ago,he was the friendliest,most loving goat I’ve ever known ,still to this day every time I go to the barn I think of him. I still miss him very much. He will always hold a special place in my heart as I’m sure Goldie has a special place in yours. I want to thank you for sharing your story .I touched me in so many ways. Maybe your Goldie and my Babby Freddy are friends in there other life.
Debbie
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 16th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
Thank you Debbie. I am sure Babby Freddie and Goldie would get along great and be best friends.
Goldie Jr. kidded on Feb. 11th and she is so happy with her new little family: a boy and girl. She really missed her mommy and was all alone in the world after loosing her. Now she has babies of her own, and little Sunbeam to keep with her and brighten her life again.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 22nd, 2007 at 10:33 am
This is a beautiful story that has touched my heart to the point I started crying. I only have three dairy goats, 2 Nubians and 1 Lamancha but I am so attached them all, I don’t know what I would do if I lost them. This will be Stormy’s (2 year old Nubian) second kidding, she made so much milk for me up to 3 quarts a day. She only made her milk for me. If I left her for a day and my parents milked her for me she would make only 20 ounces!!! Your website has helped me in many ways and I want to thank you.
Kristen Stevens
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 24th, 2007 at 3:12 am
Molly,
Your Goldie was so lucky to have you as her mom….That is one of the most touching stories I have read in a long time…You gave her a good quality of life and there is no doubt that she would not have lived as long as she did with out you…..It is always hard to say goodbye and death seems so final…I am sure Goldie is in a much better place now with no more pain although we are the ones left behind with only our memories to hold onto….Godie will always be a part of you and live forever in your heart…I found your story very touching to my soul and although I never met Goldie I feel I know her some how through your words of your memorial tribute to honor her life on this earth…God Bless you and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers…Pam in Oregon
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 24th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Hello
I had just read your story of Goldie.
I am so sorry for you, she was special.
My husband and I are going to buy our first goat this year.
I hope ours will be like yours a special family.
Thank you for the life story of Goldie.
Teri
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 26th, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I read on your website when you lost Goldie. It was nice yet sad to read the story of her that I saw just now. A beautiful story.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 28th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Molly,
I read about a life of a simple goat that became such a wonderful part of your life.i bought two goats last year along with there babies,It soon became the most wonderfull thing that has ever happend to me and now three year old daughter,The happieness that i recieved from this no eared goat and her big mouth still bring the biggerst smile on my face,and the healthy milk she gave my daughter soon had her gaining weight and being able to eat more foods.I have no idea what i am doing this year as i waite for babies to come.Your information you give on this websit i so wonderfull,it better then the goat books i have.Thank you for taking your time to help others.
with much thanks RuthAnn
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 3rd, 2007 at 8:30 am
What a lovely story Im bawling like baby and my nose is running what an honour it is for you to have been associated and loved by this glorious creature Im looking at getting my first goat which I hope i will have half the pleasures you had with Goldie and how lucky you are that you can see her in many eyes all around your farm
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 5th, 2007 at 8:20 am
I loved Goldie’s story. I went through the same thing with my dog, Shy. I have a horse with a special personality also.
Your site has been so helpful to me and my children. We have always wanted goats and now we have a small herd of 12 and growing.
Have you ever thought about publishing your info? I would love to have a book to keep and I’m sure other people would too.
Missy
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 9th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
That was such a touching story regarding Goldie. We are just now starting our goat farm. I bought “Momma” who had twins last October and she is a wonderful milker for my first try. I will let yuo know how it goes this fall when I breed my females. Thanks for all your help along the way. Lisa
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 10th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Hello,
My five goats are showing signs of labor and one is going first (we can tell)she has refused all her kids in the past but I hope she can be as good a mother as Goldie. Your website has helped us so much. I just wanted to say thank you and that I am so sorry for your loss.Goldie seemed like a wonderful goat. Rest In Peace.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 15th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Molly,
I have two does that seem to mean as much to me as goldie meant to you. One of them is at the point where she is no longer able to stand with any weight on her left back leg. She is a wonderful momma and last week gave birth to her first set of triplets ! She has her own room and does not have to put up with any shinannigans from the rest of the herd. It is going to break my heart when the time comes. Thank you very very much for sharing your experience, as painful as it is. I have to go get another box of tissues as I am still crying. Colleen and the Wickkid Wind Herd
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 4th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I am so sorry to hear about Goldie. I am pretty new to the goat world and I have been coming to your site since last year when I got my first dairy goats. I read about Goldie then and was sad to hear about her now.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 11th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Hi Molly,
I just now read your touching story about your Queen goat Goldie. I am so sorry for your loss. I had always seen Goldie’s picture on your website, but I was so shocked this time to see that it was a memorial picture.
Goat Heaven’s herd is growing; we lost our Billy just over a month ago to CAE. The herbs I gave him from your website had bought him at least 6 more months of a good quality of life. But this disease, like time, is unstoppable, and eventually it falls to us to release
them from rhis life when the time has clearly come.
There can be no greater tribute to Goldie than to share
your great love of these wonderful animals thru your
freely shared knowledge on your site and the wonderful products you provide, so that we can all help our own beloved animal companions.
Peace and comfort,
Rose.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 11th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi, I live outside of Rochester NY and grew up in a tiny town at the top of the state where there are many farms. When I was in second grade my Daddy bought me a lamb to raise. I had a blast with that little ram that grew to be huge. We had a big house and about an acre of land that we raised a big garden on and a sheep, several rabbits and chickens at different times. That was years ago. I am in my 50s now and having discovered that I am allergic to cows milk recently, I have discovered raw fresh goat milk that I get from a small farm about an hour away. How I wish I was still in the house I grew up in so I had room to raise a few goats. When I go to get milk from Lilac, I hate to leave her and her two new kids, one female white girl and a brown billy. So cute! I always go to the state fair and have to visit the sheep and goats. I always said I thought goats had awesome personalities. Now that I need their milk I am finding out I am falling in love with them. I am really close to saying I have to have some goats. I am loving NY less and less because of the taxes and the ridiculous restrictions on choices of foods you can buy raw, etc etc and etc. I could easily see myself settling in the mts of NC or VA where it isn’t so hot, and just buying a very small farm to put a few goats and a couple of dogs on. My husband is 63 and it might be difficult to persuade him, but ya only live once, right? Though I would have absolutely no clue as to what the heck to do with a goat except love them and enjoy their milk, etc. Gosh, I wish I could pick your brain for days. Thanks so much for putting up this great site. Mary Ellen Cota
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 19th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Goldie’s story moved me to tears, for I have just recently lost my beloved Maggie. Their stories are so similar, it’s uncanny. Goldie was a wonderful gal. My deepest sympathy to you.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 19th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
A beautiful and touching story! Goldie was as fortunate as you were, to have had such a big-hearted mom and friend. Our oldest goat is only seven, just middle-aged really, and in very robust health but I know I will outlive the herd and there is a part of me that tries very hard to pretent it isn’t so, that I will always have the comfort of my reliable and loving caprine family.
Last year I had to have my Sabrina, my truly faithful canine companion put to sleep after sixteen years. I didn’t think it possible to have felt the sort of overwhelming grief that generated; I haven’t been hit that hard emotionally since losing team mates, men among whom there was a warrior’s brotherly love, in a dark green country a long time ago. I take consolation in knowing Sabrina was adored and looked after right to the last moments; it took three shots to put her down;she was strong of heart, a fighter to the end. I believe you can draw the same solice.
There is a marvelous poem called RAINBOW BRIDGE; I don’t have the room for it here but you can Google it easily. In my deepest heart, I know it’s true.
You have some really beautiful boys n’ girls. Show them the same care & love you showed Goldie & it will help you move on.
Best Regards, Ma’am,
Ray & Kathy
Tahara Farms / Sheeba Goat Dairy
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 22nd, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Hey Molly,
Was just visiting your site to get some information on scours and babies and was so sad to see that your beloved Goldie had passed. Of course I had to find out what happened…I loved reading about her! She was “some goat”! Unconditional love from a critter is the most incredible feeling in the world and the heart breaks ever so deeply when they are gone! Love to you and your herd and thank you for sharing your life and knowledge so openly with all of us!
Deb Burk
GoTees Farm
Dresden, ME
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 23rd, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Molly,
Your story of Glodie touched my heart and made me cry. I have my little herd of goats and I feel about Sadie the Queen of my herd, as you do Goldie. I do not look forward to the time that Sadie passes from this world. As she is only 3 1/2 yrs old, I expect many years with her yet.
I have other goats that I love as well, but none so special as Sadie..my first goat.
Thank you or sharing your story.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 28th, 2007 at 9:58 am
I feel for you greatly about losing Goldie. I just went through a similar experience. My husband bought me a baby billy for our anniversary. I had him 2 years when he got the meningiel worm. Even though he had been wormed faithfully the vet said that it doe sometimes happen. I was devistated when he couldn’t get up anymore and I had to have him put down. This goat was like a pet dog. Didn’t need a fence. As long as I was around he was happy. I know that Goldie and him are resting very peacefully. I’m sure they are roaming the clear blue sky together.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jun 8th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Molly,
You may recognize my email address since we have just recently corresponded in the last couple of days. I am further expanding my knowlege of your website and while I have seen the picture of Goldie every time I look, I have not had the courage to read the story. So….yeah I’m sitting here crying after reading the story because I feel the same way about my goats and I guess my “Goldie” is named Vanessa although I do adore all of them. I have seven so far. Vanessa is about 18 months, so she is still quite young, but we have been through some pretty serious trials together.
I am very happy to see how many people look at your website and care about goats. They are the best!
Thank you for the story of Goldie and everything else on the website.
Leigh
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jun 21st, 2007 at 1:40 pm
i love your goats and your goat molly looks just like one we have called momma-do she came to me and my husband with one kid all skin and bones , her feet were so over grown she could hardly walk being of the heart for we both are there was always room for one more she never has to be fenced on our 300 Ackers of land all we have to do is call and she always comes on the run with the rest of our goats. the best thing about her is she may only have one set of twins a year but she is the mother to many . after her kids are two months old she will take any other new born just like it was her own … with her around we always have a wet nurse on the farm .
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 9:27 pm
It was heart warming and heart breaking to read your journey through life and death with Goldie. It is obvious she blessed your life as you blessed hers with love and respect. The inability to stop the aging, illness, pain… and saying goodbye is the sad part… I share your loss and tears. I also have known the love of extraordinary animals and can vouch that decades do not keep memories of those special friends from suddenly “popping” into your mind…like they are still with us…
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 3rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Silence……..just all choaked up and sitting here in silence…………so beautiful a story. Thank you for sharing this wonderful part of your life with us.
PS Your site has saved lives for us and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Tina M Aden
Aden Farms
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 15th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
I read your story while endlessly searching for info to help my two wethers of 11yrs..They are not doing well,and I`ve exhausted the few vet possibilities. I lost my favorite a few yrs. ago…I was lying under a horse blanket with him,to help get his body temp. up ,when he died.Needless, to say, I cried with your story as if I had known Goldie…Thankfully,they live on in our hearts…..Take care…..
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 20th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
What A beutiful storie I could feel how much you loved Goldie. I am crying for you right now. What a WONDERFUL TRIBUTE. I enjoyed the pictures of her with her babies. She is young and happy somewhere now!!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 21st, 2007 at 4:22 am
i read your story, and cried, as last night my saanen died, 6 weeks ago she gave birth to triplets all by herself, and was a wonderful mum, and the kids are all strong, she started to look ill earlier this week, i called the vet, but she said that she had no serious symptoms, just plain exhaustion from 3 demanding babies. her death was totally unexpected, and i now have to wait 2 days for her body to be removed, which is distressing for the kids to see. i am also worried about them, they are eating solids, but should i be offering them bottled milk? i am not experienced in this situation. i have 3 other goats, they are pygmy’s, the female one, molly has taken to mothering the babies. the other female is 1 yr old and blind, i hand raised her. the other is a male, and he has escaped to the farm next door, i think the death has upset him.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 22nd, 2007 at 2:17 pm
oh my gosh i really feel bad about goldie. I have just bought a 6 year old girl for my 11 month buck. i have already attached to Heidi. Crash my buck i have had since 4 months and have spoiled him CRAZY , not even a year yet and i will be saddened like crazy when i loose the both of them. I feel your pain and am truely soory for your loss of goldie. She is in a happy place thinking of her bestest friend of her happy years, Molly
I am sorry
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 23rd, 2007 at 8:39 pm
I also miss Goldie now, thank you for sharing your story!
Greg
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 31st, 2007 at 10:48 pm
I just read you storie about Goldie, I cryed and laugh at some of the stories.
It just touched my heart, Goats are a very loving animals. I have one High Pockets and she is a nubin doe my husband bought he at the auction and brought he home and said come out side and see what i bought you, So I did and when our eyes made contact i fell in love with her.. I dont even know how old she is, But it doesnt matter when Goat heaven calls her home I will miss her.
Donna
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 5th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
We recently became an owner of 8 goats, and then Mr. Bob came to visit and now we have 24 goats. This has been an incredible, wonderful, frustrating, happy experience for me.
I never knew that goats needed so much attention! My gosh, I had my hand in as far as it would go helping one of my mama goats give birth. I am the type of person that cannot stand to get her hands dirty. That has all changed.
My goats are so lovable, thoughtless, caring and special. All they want is affection, and hugs (food, and more food!) What a motley crew I have, each with their own warm personality.
I was told not to name any of them if I was not going to keep all of them. There is no way I can detach from these gorgeous animals. I have named a few, and they are so special. My goats sure like to talk, and talk, and talk,……. What creatures. How blessed I am to have the pleasure of owning a goat herd. They have brought me frustration, love and warmth to my soul. If I need a hug, all I have to do is go outside in the field and here comes my pals to say hello, scratch my ears, hug me, or just sit down with us.
I recently went to a horse race in southern Oregon. I had to bring one of the goats with me because she was the frail one. What a character “Red Eye” was. She walked along beside me and my two border collies. People would look and remark , “is that a goat or a dog?” She went to the beach with us and down to the park. I think Red Eye thought she was part of the dog family. I will never forget that trip with her.
One night not too long ago, Red Eye was having difficulty with sucking her bottle, and I got as much down her as possible, and then we curled up on the couch and she slept under the blankets with me the whole night. Now if that isn’t just too cool.
Happy goating.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 5th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
We recently became an owner of 8 goats, and then Mr. Bob came to visit and now we have 24 goats. This has been an incredible, wonderful, frustrating, happy experience for me.
I never knew that goats needed so much attention! My gosh, I had my hand in as far as it would go helping one of my mama goats give birth. I am the type of person that cannot stand to get her hands dirty. That has all changed.
My goats are so lovable, thoughtless, caring and special. All they want is affection, and hugs (food, and more food!) What a motley crew I have, each with their own warm personality.
I was told not to name any of them if I was not going to keep all of them. There is no way I can detach from these gorgeous animals. I have named a few, and they are so special. My goats sure like to talk, and talk, and talk,……. What creatures. How blessed I am to have the pleasure of owning a goat herd. They have brought me frustration, love and warmth to my soul. If I need a hug, all I have to do is go outside in the field and here comes my pals to say hello, scratch my ears, hug me, or just sit down with us.
I recently went to a horse race in southern Oregon. I had to bring one of the goats with me because she was the frail one. What a character “Red Eye” was. She walked along beside me and my two border collies. People would look and remark , “is that a goat or a dog?” She went to the beach with us and down to the park. I think Red Eye thought she was part of the dog family. I will never forget that trip with her.
One night not too long ago, Red Eye was having difficulty with sucking her bottle, and I got as much down her as possible, and then we curled up on the couch and she slept under the blankets with me the whole night. Now if that isn’t just too cool.
Your story about Goldie is so touching, and what a special triubute to her. I can feel her love and affection she had for you and your family.
Goats have a specialness about them. People think that I am crazy because I love my goats so much. My grandchildren simply love the goats. They like to sleep outside with them in the field. Imagine waking up early in the morning and having 14 baby goats walking all over you. It was a magic moment.
Happy goating
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 8th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Thank you for sharing your story so beautifully and gracefully… What a gift Goldie was to you- and I know your tribute to her life is absolutely touching to all and any of us who have ever had the blessing of a special animal friend. She had a gift in you as well, thank goodness for selfless people such as yourself. Thank you also for softening my heart today and making me pause and reflect on the special friends and moments that although sometimes almost ubearingly painful, give this lifes journey depth and texture and make living worth living afterall.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 8th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Thank you for sharing your story so beautifully and gracefully… What a gift Goldie was to you- and I know your tribute to her life is absolutely touching to all and any of us who have ever had the blessing of a special animal friend. She had a gift in you as well, thank goodness for selfless people such as yourself. Thank you also for softening my heart today and making me pause and reflect on the special friends and moments that although sometimes almost unbearingly painful, give this lifes journey depth and texture and make living worth living afterall.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 8th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Thank you for sharing your story so beautifully and gracefully… thank goodness for selfless people such as yourself. Thank you for sharing her life and making me pause and reflect on the special friends and moments that although sometimes almost unbearingly painful, give this lifes journey depth and texture and make living worth living.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 11th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Thank you for the site and God Bless you and all your family. Your tribute to Goldie was beautifull. If only all of humankind felt that way towards animals and people this would be a better world. Thank you again and God Bless…
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 29th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
I have a few goats and have had my first goat die. I am sorry about your loss.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 29th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
I have a few goats and have had my first goat die. I am sorry about your loss. your tribute was beautiful.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 30th, 2007 at 8:31 am
I just had one of my favorite goats d ie the ot her day. What a tragedy, what a loss. Red Eye, a boar g oat was my buddy. I have a loss in my heart.
I didn’t have her very long like you did Goldie. Goats are such lovable animals. I hope that your pain is lessening, it hurts rea lly bad for me right now.
Patti
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 8th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Molly, I don’t have any goats. I happened upon your site quite by accident, first reading and soaking up your tutorial on kidding…and then found your story- Goldie’s beautiful story- and was mesmerized. Goats are people. Love is love. Family…is family. Goat or no, I understand the love, the pain, the ache you experienced, and it wrenched my heart. Further…I think I want some goats!
God bless you, Larry, and your family of many, tiny-eared Goldie legacies. When I get goats, I will come back here to brag…and I hope you remember me.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 9th, 2007 at 12:08 am
I’ll be the one freakin’ out because I don’t know anything about goats!!!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 16th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
The pain of separation from an animal — who is so very close to our own soul — never goes away, it just becomes more bearable with time.
I cried hard after reading about Goldie – it brought up the pain of the loss of my soulmate, a 15.2 hand chestnut stallion who knew me better than I knew myself, and loved me unconditionally. During the summer months, at night, he would pluck the fly screen on my bedroom window, because he was bored and liked the sound. Eventually, when only 3 strands of wire remained, he’d stick his big head in the window and snuffle and gently nibble my face (the homemade frame of my waterbed put me right up there within his reach). When an animal who is that close to you passes to the other side, you feel like you have lost a part of yourself. Fortunately, t is a temporary loss, but still, it impacts the rest of your life!
I’ve worked as a healer and a psychic. The two actually go together nicely. It has been such a blessing to know that our beloved animals who were so close to us in their furry physical bodies, have the opportunity to be with us after they pass on. Goldie no longer faces any barriers and sticks close to her beloved humans, enjoying contact with them and protecting them as best she can.
When a beloved elderly friend passed away, I had to smile through my tears at what happened next. She had always been a friend to all animals, big and little. The critters knew she was a true friend (I’ve seen a fully grown, adult wild crow cry to her with ‘baby crow’ sounds, to get her to feed it).
When she passed over to the other side, the humans couldn’t get near her for quite a while. Her horses and dogs were clustered all around her, joyfully greeting her. Everyone else had to wait a bit to greet her, and that was exactly as she wanted it. The horses and dogs were closest to her heart. One of her dogs had made the transition only months before she did. He had been hanging out with her husband who had passed on years before. I had seen the dog frisking joyfully around the husband’s legs right after the dog passed on. That little dog absolutely hurled himself at her when she arrived on the other side!
Thank you, Molly, for sharing Goldie with the rest of us!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 20th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I cried I laughed. Having just bred our first Doe yesterday, we have much ahead to look forward to from our Annie. You changed my perspective on keeping goats- Thank you!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 26th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
what do you do with all those babies?? i hope they dn’t become goat meat becuase they are offsprings of your favorite goat! She’d be devastated if she had known!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 26th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
In the past I have worked animal control for years and when the issue of do you use your goats for meat pops up ? it makes me think that a lot more people should than they do I am sorry this may seam cruel but my job took me on to a lot of farms were animals were starving from over population and people who refused to cull there goats ? believe me people there is a lot worse things out there than using them for meat when you have found them starved as I have?. Sorry if this offended people but it all boils down to this if you are going to raise animals you have to make some guide lines and sometimes its not the choose you wont to make but the best for the animal.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 26th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Judith’s comments were gutsy, and may greatly upset some readers, but I have to agree with her that she has a point. The unfortunate reality is that goats produce both little girl babies AND little boy babies. From what I have read, there is a demand for the girls, but a farm only needs one or two boy goats, or bucks. They can service a great many does.
My understanding is that one has to make a decision by the young buck’s fourth month. Either keep him as a ‘stud goat,’ neuter him and use him to help clear weeds and brush and as a pet, or send him to slaughter before his meat becomes stinky. One cannot keep an unlimited number of neutered male goats (called wethers). They require regular upkeep and feed in addition to what they can scrounge.
Not everyone is comfortable with the concept of slaughtering animals for meat. I respect others’ feelings, but also realize that there are times when an animal will suffer much less from an expert and quick slaughter than from a lifetime of short rations, painful hoof conditions, illness, being stuck out in bad weather, etc.
By the way, I recently came across the conditions under which animals are butchered in the kosher way, and I am impressed. They cannot live more than 2 seconds, so an incredibly sharp knife is applied at just the right place, and no pain or suffering of any kind can occur. It’s an almost instantaneous transformation from body to winging back home again. Those who enjoy eating meat might like to look around their community to see if they can locate a store which sells kosher meat.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 29th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Hi My name is Erica Ashby ,
I visited your web site so I could work out when my girls would have their babies .
I was so touched by your story about Goldie,she was very special,I cried when I read about her .
I had a doe with CE last year I nursed her for nearly a year before I could let her go ,in the end I just could not see her suffer any more .It just breaks your heart to have to do this ,I wished she could have just died on her own .Thankyou for sharing your story .
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 2nd, 2007 at 4:52 am
Hi,
my name is Jeni, I have 5 acres on the midnorth coast of NSW on which I have 10 goats ( 8 angora, one saananXalpine and a X of the above goats) . I have just read your story about Goldie and it has made me realise that my favorite and oldest doe is probably nearing the end of her road. She has been a great mother(twins only) and never bullied anyone , I don’t know how old she is as we bought her as a pregnant doe who was a good and capable mother already, but we have had her at least 6 years. She has always kidded on her own as I have only just discovered( through your web site) that goats require help birthing….. we’ve been very lucky so far with does doing their own thing with no problems so far, but we won’t trust to luck in future. I was given what was described as a small fluffy white goat ( I thought angora) which turned out to be the saananXalpine doe we now have (she is due to kid any day) and I think she has been intimidating Nosey (short for nosey parker) my matriarch(former!!). Holly is much larger than my angoras and tends to bully them for food(she’s greedy!). All of my goats have horns. Holly is friendly with people and her kid ( a beautiful buck named Maximus or Maxi for short) if you know of any one who wants to pick up for free a saananXalpine doe(good udder) and her 12mth old son(angora father but favours his mother) they are available. I sympathise with your loss of Goldie and wish you and your goats good health and happiness. I also congratulate you on your website it is exceptionally informative and easy to use. Thanks for the site and if you know of any one who wants Holly and Maxi and can pick them up, please give them my email address. Sorry this has rambled so long but this is the first chance I have had to talk goat to someone who has goats.Thanks again.
Jeni Locke.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 11th, 2007 at 3:54 am
Your story is so touching, thank you for sharing it. I own my own herd and have some versions of Goldie there. Though none have such an awesome personality altogether like her.
I lost my matriarch on 10-3-07. I bought her late in her life, with other ‘better’ prospects. But none could compare to my Mai Tai. She was fullblood boer doe. She was the only one with personality and such a calm and gentle nature. She would tolerate other kids, but was firm in her reign. She never did like bad behavior.
Her last and only breeding year she showed us what a good ole girl could do and gave us triplets. I think she was bred so much in her past that she was probably having 2 sets of kids each year. I wanted her to keep her daughter Cherie, because I wanted a daughter from her and for her to see what it was like to raise the baby through and through. She loved it.
I bred her again for the next year and she had a false preganancy and she immediately was retired. Her body had taken the toll and I knew she needed to be retired. She gained blissful weight, but her feet got bad. We never could beat her foot rot issue. It would appear healed and then another break out would occur. I think it won the war in the end.
I have never seen a doe with such complete happiness in her eyes. Even the vet was stunned. When he checked her after the false pregnancy she had a slight fever and her foot was bothering her, but her eyes, oh her eyes! He said her eyes are so bright and they are just shining! He had never seen a goat in pain and a little sick with eyes like that.
I told him I know. I know she is truly happy here.
She was so happy to have her family. They were hardly ever apart. She just absolutely loved her girl. I’m certain she never got to ‘keep’ a kid before.
I was always amazed by Mai Tai. One of the triplets died, he was injured and he never healed. Mai Tai seemed to know this and was always around him, watching and caring. She always made sure he followed her and took extra care with him. She was such an attentive mother.
My other does began to push her around in the end. I let Mai Tai out many times to graze and she did so at her leisure.
She went on her own one day while I was at work. She was in her favorite spot to lay and appeared to have gone peacfully. I really hope so anyway.
I miss her and her presence is ever felt. Sometimes I catch myself looking for her. She wasn’t a ‘pet’, but more like a friend. She was set in her ways and got a happy ending after all. I could never hope to be more honored to have been her last home and hope her thoughts were as bright as her eyes shone.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 23rd, 2007 at 4:37 pm
I was so heart struck after reading this, I have a loss for words. I have lost some very close animals before and can partially understand your loss. I know it has been almost a decade or more. but those losses are a major impact in a life. I have wept for days over a loss. But we must move on and grander the affection of another. I hope you find another QUEEN!
Jon
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 31st, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I’m terribly sorry to hear about goldie , and I hope goldie Jr. will be just as good. I thought I might tell you about my goats so here you go.I live in a small town in northern Alabama,and I’m 12 years old. I am just begining with Boer goats and goldie seemed to fit the personality of my first time pregnant goat named Prancer. She and another goat named Comet were my first goats that I got from a local breeder of mixed and boer goats.When me and my grandpa first put them in our barn , Prancer kind of questioned about my loyalty.Soon we became best friends.Just recently we had a new member of our farm. His name is Billy and he’s ful blood boer and I got him from around athens. Together I have 3 goats and hope to get more.Prancer,is about 5 months pregnant and about to have a baby or two.I can never go away without them going Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane, becouse that is my name , and it sounds just like Lane.Once again I’m very sorry , andgood luck!Your always welcome to email back so gby.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 7th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
I live on a small farm and decided this summer I was going to make a chemical free soap using goats milk ? with the rising price of hay it was a way to pay for my goats feed and them pay for themselves I did very good this summer with it and now coming up onto the breading season for my does and the slowing down of the milk I knew I had to put some away for the winter I tried freezing the goats milk in containers . This worked well but only if I was going to be making big batches of soap to a time I hate wasting good things even though the cats loved the left over milk that I would take out.. Well I knew I had to think of a different way to put milk away and in a form that I would be using it all? so now I pour my milk in to ice cub trays freeze it and put the milk cubs into bags or containers in the freezer, this way I can take out as little as I want or as much as I want . I hope this helps some of you goats milk soap makers?
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 8th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
When I had too much goat milk, I’d freeze it in canning jars. This was a disaster: putting the jars in hot water to defrost the milk ended up causing the jars to fracture in the water and there went all that good goat’s milk! Some might wonder why I didn’t microwave the jars on low. Microwaving changes the molecular structure of everything…even water! I didn’t want the milk’s structure changed in a bad way. We don’t use our microwave anymore because of the scientific discoveries. (For more info, you can go to Mercola dot com and query ‘microwave’)
Geez, why didn’t I remember the good ol’ trick of freezing everything from juice, to water, to you name it, in old fashioned ice cube trays??!!! Thank you so much for the great tip. Now, where did I put those trays (giggle)?
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 12th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Sorry for you loss she was adorable!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 19th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Hello, I finished reading this story with tears in my eyes. I am just beginning my story with my goats. I started with two seven month old nannies I bought this past August, and as luck would have it one was pregnant and in fact had her first kid yesterday, 11/18/07. He is the most handsome little boy I’ve ever seen and they are both doing just fine so far.
I am already very attached to my new family members, and they make my heart smile. People might not realize how they get under your skin unless they have some of their own. Reading your story caused me to think ahead and know that someday I too will likely face the heartache you’ve had to deal with, and I can only hope to do as well by these girls (and boy) as you’ve have done with all of yours. I’m sorry you had to suffer through the loss of your beloved Goldie.
Being new to all of this I find your website very helpful, and I just want to say thank you for providing this great information to those of us who have a lot to learn…blessings to you and yours, and take care…Judi
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Dec 3rd, 2007 at 3:30 pm
We didn?t want to add any thing else to our family but when I got the chance to rescue a one year old Australian shepherd we jumped on it .
To bring you up to speed on this fall my husband found out you don t oppose a buck goat when its breading season Twister our 250lb buck goat jumped the fence and my husband tried to put him back in . Twister took this as a threat and hit my husband with his head right in the ribs and bounced him off a chain link kennel fence. My husband got two cracked ribs out of it.
This put Twister on a major shit list with my husband and I didn?t want to get read of him because he is only this way in the fall witch is good over all for a buck. Some can just plain be mean no matter what the time of year.
I happen to be to a show and there was a local animal shelter there getting donations for there animal shelter they had a cattle dog up on there board but informed me they though she had a home coming up and then told me about suzie needing rescue .
I have owned boarder collies but never a Australian Shepherd but when I was told about he boredom and how she was rejected from many homes because of he destructive behavior it was clear to me that he was a high dive dog . I had raised German Shepherds for years and run into it with them also .
Now I know when the American Kennel Club says research a bread before you get it they know what they are talking about . Suzie has been in a animal shelter twice and in there different homes over the one year of her life . She has paper work stating she has been abidance trained by a top kennel and still she has behavior problems. She has never seen live stock in her life I brought her home and the next day I put her on a 30 foot lead this was the best time Twister was out again . She took one look at him nipped his heals and he went around me twice with her in hot pursuit then she nipped him hard a second time and put him back in the pasture, if ever a dog could have a smile on her face she did .
I think its incredible that there is some breeds of dogs that just instinctively know what they are bred for. This summer is going to be a real joy as I teach her how to bring them home for we have 300 ackers to rome. The really funny thing is all of suzies bad chewing habits are gone .
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Dec 9th, 2007 at 5:54 pm
I too have goats. And I lost one of my kids that was only a little over 3 months old. She was such a little queen. But after reading this my heart only aches more for her. The pictures and memories that I keep can’t be told because you’d have to be here to see them. But I know that she had a good life. And I have to say that this is the best piece of reading that I have read in a while. It made me cry and the photos made me laugh. But it was well worth the reading. The time spent with goats is worth the work and dedication that you have for them. They love us even when no one else does. So this is for all the goats in our lives. We love you and miss you but will see you soon.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jan 6th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
As I read your wonderful story of Goldie and then all the comments posted about Goldie’s story I realized how your ability to talk about this wonderful bond we can have with our animals keeps Goldie’s memory alive. She will live on in your memories and for us reminds us of all our “Goldie’s” in our lives as well. Thanks for sharing.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jan 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
This is a fabulous story. I’ve had goats for 30 years (since I was 2 years old)! I’m down to two, my old gal, Jael who is going to be 17 this year, and her going to be 4 yr old daughter. They both have CAE and won’t be bred, but, I know its going to be just as sad for me when its Jael’s time to go. I had both her mother (who lived to 15) and her grandmother (who lived to about 14). Her mother, Hester was my “lap goat” – and at 250 pounds, it was no small feat! I was 12 years old when Hester came into the world – twisted. My mom’s words were, “She’s your goat – go get her.” I remember my 12-yr old face twisting up as I reached in, Hannah, the mom, calmly waiting until I had a hold of Hester, straightened out her legs and said, “Okay, I’ve got her legs – you can push now.” And out came Hester. I can’t say that I liked every goat, but, 95% of them I did… and Jael is just as much of a card as her mother was. Seventeen years together is a long time. She’s moved across a state from my parents home to my home, and she’s taken quite a shine to it. I don’t know when her time will come, she’s still going strong, but, if I could do only half of the memorial you did for your Goldie, it would be worth it.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
This was a very sad story. I have had a dog that done almost the same thing. She was my life i had her for almost 12 yrs and on my 17th birthday she climbed on my bed and she never left that spot. I am now 30 and starting a goat farm and i know i will have hard times but hopefully not as bad as this one. Well to everyone reading this Happy Goat Farming and God Bless
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 11th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I found your website today, as I’m preparing to go off next week for a weekend of kidding, and it is just wonderful, and the story of Goldie inspiring. If I ever have my dream of buying a “farmette” and having the goats I’ve dreamed of, I hope I’ll be able to buy one of Goldie’s amazing progeny from you. She sounds like one in a million. My dog Emma, now 11, is my Goldie, and I hope I won’t be writing that story for at least a few years. Thank you for what you wrote.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 20th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
We’ve only been raising goats for 5 years now, and chose LaManchas mainly because of their outstanding personalities. We’ve visited your site many, many times since our first goats…………..sometimes for information, sometimes just to look at the pictures of your adorable LM kids & check out their great names!!! I guess it’s been awhile since our last visit, and I was so saddened to read that Goldie has left this world & has gone to another. Your love & respect for all your goats is very obvious, and for Goldie most of all. That was the most beautiful tribute I’ve ever read, and yes indeed, made me cry!!. Wishing you a healed heart & continued love & success with all of Goldie’s family members and the other members of the herd. Wishing God’s love & peace for you all.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 28th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Molly,
I want to thank you for sharing the wonderful story of your friend Goldie even though it was painful for you. What a great way to honor her for the great mother & family member she was. I took in two orphaned yearling nannies this winter. They had lost their human mother that loved & cared for them. They had been kept alive but had no real care or love. They have been a great addition to our home & are now very healthy & happy. I discovered your site while searching for their needs.
I want to share with you what was on my heart as I read about Goldie, & then reading the comments of fellow animal lover’s. I was hoping that someone would mention that our animals were not created to live 10 or 15 yrs. & then die. God created them to live forever in the Garden Of Eden. They were not created
for man to eat but to be man’s friend. We all know the animals have been a far better friend to man than mankind has generaly been to them. I obviously can’t disclose all that I would like to say to comfort you in an email forum, but I want to share with you that I take tremendous comfort in the truth that one day all creation (the animals & enviroment) will be restored by Christ himself. Not pie in the sky, not my crutch. I just know by faith I’ll see my precious animals again. Thank you for your wonderful website.
Jerry
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I can’t begin to tell you how much Goldie’s story touched me. She was truely meant to live her life with you. We are about to purchase our first goat and are very excited. The person we are buying her from loves her goats just like her children and knows each one’s name and there are 32 of them. They follow her around and when they hear her voice they call back to her. My children and I can’t wait to finally get our goat home and lavish her with lots of love. Thank you so much for sharing your story and GOD Bless You and Your Family.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 6th, 2008 at 12:06 am
I knew as soon as I saw Goldie’s photo, her story would make me cry. And here I sit, with tears streaming down my face. How lucky for you both to have each other in your lives. Goldie sounds so very special, as goats so often are. I’ve been working on a hobby farm for only 6 months or so and have fallen so in live with the goats, just thinking about not having them in my life makes me cry. I don’t know what it is about them that makes them so endearing and easy to relate to but I absolutely adore them. Your site has provided me with a great deal of invaluable information and reading your amazing tribute to a truly remarkable friend has just restored my faith that others feel as much as I do for their animal companions. Thank you very much for sharing your experiences. Your sweet goat will live on in the hearts of many.
Sara.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 7th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
This is a great story, and it sounds like she was so very special to you. I thank you for writing something so beautiful.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 17th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Your story about Goldie is a wonderful story. All the good times and love you had with her. She’ll be waiting for you at the Rainbow Bridge. We have a little pygmy goat named “Billy”. We feel the same about him as you did Goldie. He’s getting pretty old. When we first got him (4 months old) our vet said, ” the way ya’ll take care of him he will probably live to be 15.” July 1, 1995 is his birthday so he will be 13 this year. Goats are very smart animals. Like you were talking about Goldie knowing what you were saying to her. Billy’s the same way. When time comes it will be hard for us to do what we know is best for him. He will be in the back yard where the rest of our loving pets are. There’s gonna be a croud at the Rainbow Bridge waiting on us!!! Thanks for your story.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 19th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Sometimes I wish that either our animal soulmates lived longer, or we led shorter lives, because watching them grow old and pass on has got to be one of the most difficult experiences we must go through. People who don’t understand the bond you and Goldie had (and others like it), or those who claim that “animals don’t have emotions and souls,” are people whom should be pitied for their lack enlightenment. Though we are still fairly new at this, my husband and I have always treated our menagerie as the close friends and sensitive, intelligent beings that they are. Just because my herd can’t speak English doesn’t mean that they can’t speak and understand me, or I them. The language of the heart knows no barriers…
I come from a long line of healers…it’s always the ones you lose that stick with you the longest. The trick is to work to save who you can, honor the ones you lose, and celebrate the lives you help to heal. Time doesn’t erase the memories or the heart ache of those gone, but it does aid in lifting the spirit to a higher understanding. Blessings on you and yours.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 pm
it is amazing how animals can touch one’s heart. Amazing how such special personalities they can have . There are just certain ones that stand out and are human-like. My freind sent me this website as we just aquired a new family member. Annie is her name and she is a Boer red baby goat. She was very sick, near death and we took her home to try to help her while our friends were out of town. They have a goat farm or ranch. We have seen that look of death and I could not leave her out in the barn. Our friends who are doctors live up the street and came down that sunday to help us as no one would see her. She is ours now. Such a personality and a little lady. I am so excited to have her in our family of a white shepard, black lab and 3 cats. I think she thinks she is a dog by now.
Thank you for your story about Goldie – I knew I would cry and I did while reading it. by your words, I can tell she was something special!
Peace to you -
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 8th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
hey you story about Goldie made me cry i loved it so much. im actually raising a goat and i love her so very much even though ive only had her for two three years. i had a goat before her and i had only had her for a week before she kidded and i had grown so fond of her already and then out of no where a week after she had her babies she passed away i was so sad i could not stop crying. she had me fall in love with her so fast and i did not even have her for so long. my goat right now had some kids in june or july we sold the boy but we kept the girl i love them both so very much whenever i go to milk Wisteria she always nibbles my hand just to tell me how much she loves me. she was the replace ment goat for the one i had lost and i love her and much maybe more.
im actually looking at being a cheese maker im only 18 but i really enjoy it. well i will be 19 in november. i really enjoyed writing and telling you about my goat you can contact me any time you like just email me. thank you.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Sep 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hi Molly. I thought I was all alone in my intense love for my Lucy. Now I know I’m not. Thank you for that. Lucy is down now, three weeks and two days. She has not been able to walk. A dog got to her last year and we have been working with out vet ever since to fix her leg. Then, just when we were to get this latest cast off, she fell and hurt her good front leg. Now, I see her going down and I don’t know what to do. My husband and I, too, have been helping her “hobble” out of the barn every day and then back in at night. We have been forced to begin talk of what to do when her time comes. Last weekend I sat out in the pen with her and fed her her favorite treats: rosebushes and watermelon! She loved it. Then I gave her a bath and she loved that, too. It was a good day. I will sit with her again tomorrow and enjoy another day of companionship and love that I have never known with another. And I will cherish those moments with all that is within me. I will also enjoy her daughter and the next generations from her. Thank you for helping me not to be embarrassed about loving a goat so much. I just can not help it. They love us so much and are so precious and giving. And they give us such a treat with their milk. I’ll keep posting on Lucy on my site: EnjoyCountryLife.blogspot.com. Thank you for your site.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 5th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I understand the love you felt, it is beautiful and I wish more
people were as compassionate. It is very hard
adjusting after loosing part of your family and it is a hard part of live to go on after many losses, especially ones that were tragic and never had a long life, take comfort in knowing you were so bonded with her and she did have a wonderful life.
Thank you so much for loving animals and respecting them,
lin
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 22nd, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Awww, I really enjoyed Goldie’s story and she definitely was one special goat. It must be a great comfort to know that her special story continues to touch even more people. I think she was a very smart goat indeed to have chosen you!
Thanks again for sharing her story.
Rossi
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 9th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I feel your pain molly.Ive had a doe pass on me too.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 10th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Hello Molly,
I love that story about Goldie, and I am actually planning on getting some goats of my own someday.I also want to thank you for your compassion for animals essay. I had been wondering why I love my dogs so much (some of my family are’nt exactly animal lovers.) But thankyou, thankyou for that essay. love my “puppers” and I am very suprised and very glad that my dad let me keep all five of them.
-Jessica
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 15th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Tears are streaming down my face, and there is a huge lump in my throat after reading your touching tribute to Goldie. I have recently aquired my first doe, whom I fell in love with the first day I got her.
I have loved & lost many pets in my lifetime & can tell you that they can be as big a part of life as our humans counterparts. They love unconditionally & are so very forgiving of our faults.
Thank you for sharing Goldie with us.
Terrie
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 18th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Hello there!
I am Not a big fan of La Maches but after reading about Goldie I am Starting to like them, I Own my own Goat named Tulip she is an 2 y/o Alpine doe and in April she is expecting and Hopefully twins.
Good-Bye!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 19th, 2009 at 12:15 am
Molly~Your story made me ball!!!! My husband got around 80 baby goats from his friend who has a goat dairy. I fell in love with one I named Teddy. He was a LaMache crossed with something. He looked like Goldie but had kinda a fuzzy coat. He was so adorable. All of the other goats are very rowdy and jumping around. He was very very mellow. I told myself I wouldn’t get attached to any of them but I couldn’t help it. I was drawn to Teddy by his sweet nature. We have lost about 20 of our 80 goats. Teddy was one of them. It totally broke my heart. I told myself I wouldn’t get attached to any more of them, but I can’t help it. They have the neatest personalities. Goldie sounded amazing. I really enjoyed reading your story. It also reminded me of my old mare Goldy that I had from birth until I was 28. She was part of the family. That was 10 years ago that she died and she still is on my mind often. She will always be in my heart. Thank you for your story. ~Melanie Bairos
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:03 am
Thank you for telling your story..I don’t own any goats or know anything about them.
I just moved into the country from a big city and the people next door have Many goats and for the past few weeks I have been feeding them grass from my yard as it appears they have no grass in their pen.
They swarm the fence and call out to me..even the babies everytime I go to leave the house or am in the yard. I think they are pretty smart! Cause it makes me want to feed them!
Your story had me in tears by the time I got to the end of it.
So thanks:o)
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 22nd, 2009 at 6:24 am
Your story is beautiful and i applaud your strength in telling it. You brought Goldie to life for even those of us who were not priviledged enough to know her. This story has struck a chord in my heart as well since i have a 10 yr old friend whom I know will not be with me much longer. She is so dear and is such a wonderful mother. She has not been able to kid for the last 2 years as her births have become very difficult and I won’t put her through that again. She is, however, a fabulous “aunt” to the other babies, letting them climb all over her. Some even seem to prefer her company more than their own mothers, other than when they feed of course. =) “Paige” is a beautiful soul. Thank you for sharing Goldie with us. I hope I can be as gracious when my Paige leaves me.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 4th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
that was the sadest thing i have ever heard i hope everything goes well
P.S. i might have my first goat this summer or fall
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 4th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
also what a wonderful story
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 7th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Hi Molly. I’m sitting here at five-thirty in the morning, reading your Goldie story and sobbing. It was a really nice story about a great goat/friend and your loss makes my heart ache. I, too, have goats, and I understand the connection to certain goat personalities. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story.
Teresa<
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 20th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Hi Molly,
Your story about Goldie truly touched my heart. I cried and cried while reading it. You were such a true friend to her and she obviously had a wonderful life with you. She was MEANT to be with you from that very first day at the auction. I went out to love on my goats a little more after reading about Goldie this morning. Thank you for sharing your story.
Jami
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 23rd, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your story about your life with Goldie. I am STILL crying, even after reading all of the comments, as a few months ago, I rescued a couple of emaciated young goats from an auction. They were both in horrible shape. One was an Alpine doe, who I estimated was 6 months old and weighed in at only 22 pounds… The other was a Lamancha doe, who was close to a year, yet weighed only 39 pounds. It took a couple of months to get them healthy, and then I gave them to my sister-in-law, where they now are living the life they so deserve. She saw them and fell in love with them immedietaly, and WE needed more goats like a hole in the head.(We have 35 goats, and love them dearly…but we HAD to rescue those two gals…even tho it was a risk, and we did not need them.) Well, I just read your Goldie story, and Katie, the Lamancha we rescued, looks almost identical to your gal….she is now about 75 pounds, and little Yoda the Alpine is 70……….I also lost my first goat at under 2 years old back in 1991… I still miss my very special Daisy. ANyway, thank you for sharing…….
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I have been along time fan of this site …and my self also love La Mancha’s ….I have one that is a rescue she only gives 3/4 of a gallon of milk a day due to a utter Ingres she got with the other owners …she was in a place fenced in by pallets and jumping over them to get to more food she got her utter cut on a nail so she lost one half of one side ….In any event I have bad hands form years of working in fish factory’s but refuse to give up milking my goats .. I see a site on making a 10.00 milkier … I made one and had to remodel it to make it work for me …I hope this helps everyone who has problems with milking it doesn’t make things faster but it makes it so you don’t have to filter the milk and its easier on the hands ..
You will find picture here http://www.eternal-power.info/milker.jpg
if anyone has any question feal free to ask
the info is free for eveyone to use
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 26th, 2009 at 12:36 am
What a beautiful tribute to your pet! You wrote it very well, I was moved and touched by it, and I loved the photos of her life. Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad you’re surrounded by people who understand your attachment to Goldie. God loves his animals too and he chose you and your husband to be her guardian angel on Earth.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Apr 27th, 2009 at 12:35 am
Hi Molly,
It was a wonderful and hard breaking story. You did what ever you can to save Goldie and how humanely treated your Goldie. This story has touched my heart.
I am planning to move country side in few years and want to raise goats.
Thanks for the lot of information that I read from your website. Is there any specific reason why you have fallen love with LaMancha goats?
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
May 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
This was a very beautiful and touching tribute. I too have a wonderful goat like goldie, a reject to her former breeder, but she turned out to be the most beautiful loving mother I have. I am sorry for your loss, even though time has passed, your story still touches those of us who truly feel the full exent of your love towards a wonderful loving friend.
Thank you for sharing!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
May 17th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Just read this as I am trying to get ready to lose my own matriarch of 12 years, Jeannette. Nothing can get you ready or fill the void but it does help to read beautiful stories like this and to remember that most of their lives were the good times.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jun 1st, 2009 at 5:34 am
Hi
hey this is a very interesting article! I have to go to bed, it`s late.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jun 25th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
This article was very touching-my favorite part was about the love of an animal at the very beginning. It made me feel good that someone else feels the same way I do.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 4th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful story. I have tears streaming down my face — on Monday, I lost my favorite chicken, Tux.
I know, I know, “just a chicken,” right? But this chicken was part dog and 100% pet — sometimes the bodies they’re given just don’t quite do their souls justice. This chicken taught my dog not to chase chickens (by pecking her on the nose), and was always the first to greet me or anyone else who came to the farm. She’d fly up on my shoulders when I least expected it and nuzzle my neck.
We will never forget them.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 7th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I am sorry for your loss and know how you feel.I have a small farm in buffalo valley tn,where all animals are loved as humans,I had two goats Dixie and Duddle.Two weeks ago Duddle passed away, me and my wife cried for two days.I wish you the best.
Chiggerhill Farms
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 21st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Hi, my name is Erin and I just recently adopted an abanded goat. I have no idea what breed she is about 2-3 feet tall, almost pure white with a black dorsal stripe. And this story reminds me of our story. She is best friends with me and my horse Sunny (20 yr old Quarter horse). I love this little goat and if you have any advice PLEASE send me some. But Ya she’s kinda like my goldie.
-Erin
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jul 23rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
i have a goat i think around five years old,she is having a hard time walking with her 2 front legs seem to hurt,she stands in her back legs ok but is walking on her front knees to go eat,it is killing me to see her like this and i dont know what is wrong with her,can someone help me.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 12th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Carlos… My Goat, Little Girl had two babies named Ruckus and Rascal, when Ruckus got pregnant she started having front leg weakness. I believe her twins were robbing her of calcium. A homeopathic remedy for that is Calcium Phosphate and Geletin. The Calcium Phosphate you can get online at a homeopathic website. The geletin you can get in the vitamin department of Wal-mart. You might also give her Gatorade for electrolites and if she’s in pain get Arnica from the homeopathic site. Never touch the Calcium Phosphate or Arnica yourself when giving them to her, With remedies, if you touch them they won’t work for her anymore. I’ve been treating my goats, horses, dogs and cats with remedies and they work great. You might also want to give her Echinacea, also at Wal-Mart if you think there’s an infection. You can tell by if she has a fever. Good luck. Love them goats. I have ten right now. Expecting some more in a couple of months. Kiddo is a real Don Juan with my girls.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 21st, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Hi Molly i have 8 goats right now and they are just so sweet i love goats so much they are so funny. I am only 13 and i raise goats i have lost some it is very hard . Your website is so helpful i don’t think i could of done it with out you website .Goldie was so sweet and a good mother
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
I think Goldie would have wanted you to eat her!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 5th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Dear Molly,
What a wonderful,heartfelt tale. Goldie was a life changing gift. Bless her and you.. Many years ago I lived on a small farm with a goat named Hilda.She was smart,beautiful and very generous.She loved the company of dogs,horses,sheep and people.Thirty seven years have come and gone since Hilda’s time and I still feel it in my chest when I think of her.I know it will be the same for you,but rest assured Molly, time does dull the pain and the sweet memories grow sweeter.Joan
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Oct 20th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
This is the sadest story i HAVE READ IN MY LIFE I dont want to think about it when my goat passes
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
I am just now getting into goats. I have had a couple people suggeste your website to me so I am now checking it out. Your story is both very wonderful and very sad! I was crying even before I was halfway through! Thank you for sharing with us!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Nov 2nd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I’m sorry, but I just have to say that I think you are a disrespectful IDIOT!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Dec 27th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
I have come to your website often , and I refer others to it when a kid leaves our farm.
Reading your story about Goldie was very heart warming. I know the loss you speak of from similar experiences. None are ever the same, some animals are just very special.
May Goldie always live in your heart . Her gentle spirit is a blessing to you.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Jan 27th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
I have a 3 year old doe who gives triplets each year…she give over a gallon of milk a day and is a LM/Sannen the problem is she has cone tees i have been told i should cull her ..i lose one to two of her kids per year if i don’t bottle feed them …for the first two weeks then they can handle her big tees …is this a bad thing …???
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 9th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
We just lost one of our goats, she was only with us briefly but I loved her nonetheless. I was with her too at the last. Your story is beautiful, goats are an underrated animal that bring us much warmth. I think I’ll always have them.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 4th, 2010 at 10:11 pm
I’m still drying the tears off my cheeks. I am a newbie to the goat world and your story made me recognize how dear these unique creatures can be. All 7 of my “children” are less than a year old and I so look forward to having the same experiences you shared with Goldie. They will be forever and eternal, the memories we hopefully will take with us when it is our time.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 8th, 2010 at 11:17 am
I have just finished reading your website. It is a wealth of information, I really love it. I am a petsitter. One of my clients has a small herd of Nubian does. I am on maternity watch now as 7 does are expecting within the next two weeks. I am going to pass on your spreadsheet and hopefully next year we will be able to zero in on the dates. I taught a new Mom how to nurse her twins last year. We have three new moms coming this year, hopefully with your advice things will go well. I am trying out the information today about the ligaments and being able to put your fingers close together at the tailbone.
Thank you for this website and your wonderful stories. I felt like I knew Goldie too. I had a whether for 14 years that was a close companion and know how it feels to lose them. I will be checking in frequently for help. Thank you again!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Mar 8th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
i am truly touched by this story i found myself crying for adleast a half hour after word. i to have lost goats from my herd and i feel your pain . my most beloved goat bandu ( 2 year old buck) has brightened my day in more ways then i ever thought possible. i love him more than some of my friends . i fear more than anything the day he grows old.
sometimes animals come along and touch your lives forever . goldie has a place in my heart. im sorry for your loss.
ps this was beatifully written
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 5th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
What a lovely tribute to Goldie. I came to your site through a Google search for dairy goat lifespan and now am in tears after reading your touching description of Goldie and the love you shared.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 18th, 2010 at 9:31 am
hi it was so hard hearing about Goldie she was a very sweet awesome goat i just recently last year purchased two little nubian goats one buck and one doe i had the buck wethered they were only 6 days old and i raised them from a bottle i am so attached to them i cant imagine losing them they see me come home and yell for me as soon as they see the car. i understand the pain of losing a loved animal two years ago i lost my little 2 pound chihuahua she was 9 years old and it was hard i still cry over her I have a horse who is 37 years old yes 37 i have had him since he was 18 months old he has always been there for me i have cried a million tears in them years with my arms wrapped around his neck and his head laying on my shoulders he is such a good friend but i know we are close to the end because he is so old i just dread that day everytime i go to the barn i wonder if he will be okay i worry about him all the time even though he is healthy and the vet says he is in good shape for his age probaby 12 years ago i lost my old pony i had had since i was a child she was 40 years old and i went to the barn and she was down on the barn floor ( she ran free and never left the yard had full run of yard and barn she was my barn goddess) i yelled for my husband to go get the phone and then i set down on the floor with her she looked up at me and nickered and then i wrapped my arms around her and held her head in my arms and she died right there before my husband could get out with phone i think she was waiting on me we were inseperable i use to ride her to town when i was a kid and share ice cream cones with her and cokes she loved pop and could turn a bottle of pop upside down and drink it anyway enough about that i just wanted you to know that i know your heartache and fill for you now they are all running in that big pasture in the sky i know God has a special place for them thanks for your sight
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Aug 25th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
Feb 10th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I am so thankful I stumbled upon this website! I currently have 2 LaMancha. Doe, both ready to kid as we speak. I am new into goats, we got them to have our own milk, but I have always been a huge animal lover as well, so it is like I gained more pets (family members). Thank you for sharing your experience with those of us who don’t have much yet! Goldie sounds like an amazing goat, what a gift to have that many years with Goldie and memories to last for a lifetime!
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
May 5th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
I was in tears reading.
Thank you for sharing your life with Goldie. She was truly a gentle soul on this earth plane.
Reply to this comment.
Posted:
May 16th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
What a lovely, touching story. I had tears in my eyes throughout the story. Not just for Goldie but remembering The first goat I every had was a Nubian who also died at 10 years old. She was a kind gentle goat and though I continue to have goats, she will always remain in my heart. Thank you!
Reply to this comment.
Leave a Comment