Pandemic Goats

We’ve had goats for about 10 years. Yet this year feels like we have acquired pandemic goats, as many folks we know who have acquired canine and feline COVID companions. With the loss, within a year of each other, of our longstanding original mother and daughter goats, we were left only with Phantom – the docile wether acquired to keep Snowhopper company after her mother Clementine died. His being all alone prompted a search for an appropriate companion for our backyard pet. At first, a charismatic female caught my eye on Craig’s List, but she was already committed to another family. So we acquired Clara and Luna – they were in need of a home with shelter as their farm didn’t have room for them in the barn, and it was winter. Then, the owner of “Miss New Hampshire” said the arrangements fell through and we could acquire her. Although we hadn’t been looking for more than one companion, we now found ourselves with an additional 3 new goats — a herd of four. Poor Phantom – now distracted from grieving by the newcomers, was clearly lowest on the totem pole. Clara, the dominant female, bullied Flor — short for our new amended name: Senorita Flor de NH (Miss Flower of NH) — and wouldn’t let Flor in the goatshed. While I appreciated that we had taken in two goats that needed shelter, I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d done the right thing. My husband built Flor an annex – a “lean-to” off the side of the goat shed for Flor to have cover at night. They have since settled in and Clara sometimes even tolerates Flor’s presence in the shed; they appear to be peaceably coexisting as best we humans can tell. I’ll admit I greatly enjoy the many entertaining photos my husband has taken of Flor, who exhibits enthusiastic dog-like affinity for humans – yet this charming photo of Clara reminds me that even she, with her often frustrating behavior towards the others, is deserving of my affection and attention as well.