Mischievous, Friendly Goats
At our shelters, goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) are almost notoriously friendly. Like border collies and basset hounds, they wag their tails, respond to their names, and form strong bonds with peers and people.
As much as any farmed animal, goats display the ability to understand and respond to human communication using eye contact, gestures, and body language—traits they likely developed over thousands of years evolving alongside human populations. In the United States, although goats are not as commonly incarcerated and slaughtered as are other animals used for meat, dairy, and fibers, nearly half a million are kept for milk production, while worldwide millions more are needlessly processed into food and fabric.
Farm Sanctuary provides refuge to many different breeds of domestic goats, allowing them the freedom to graze fresh pasture and range across play structures designed for their enjoyment. Our visitors are regularly moved by the inquisitiveness and playfulness of these merry pranksters, who are always eager to greet guests in the hopes of receiving a scratch or a leafy snack.
A Brief History of Goats
Goat Facts
Suffering for Their Meat, Milk, and Fibers
In all three industries, playful, intelligent goats routinely suffer inhumane treatment throughout their lives and are often slaughtered for human consumption.
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United States
621,700 goats were slaughtered in the United States in 2018.
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Global
479,172,098 goats were slaughtered worldwide in 2018.
In all three industries, playful, intelligent goats routinely suffer inhumane treatment throughout their lives and are often slaughtered for human consumption.
United States
621,700 goats were slaughtered in the United States in 2018.
Global
479,172,098 goats were slaughtered worldwide in 2018.
factory farming
Featured Goat Rescues
Transcript
Overtime, we started to notice that Darius was developing this really firm growth on his leg. We took him to Cornell and it wasn't going to be easily fixable. He was starting to lose mobility and his hind end. We tried physical therapy with him, we tried wheelchairs. Sorry, I knew I was going to cry. And we tried really hard to get back to a point where he would be with us for a little bit longer. Eventually, we had to make the decision to let Darius go.
In situations like that, it's obvious that animals grieve because you could hear his cries. We've seen companions die of a broken heart and I was really worried that was going to happen with Halbert. We kept bringing him cut up apples and treats and just sitting with him. I think it was after about seven or eight days, all of a sudden he gets up and he runs over to me and his ears are out to the side. And I remember just sitting there crying I'm so happy that he was back to being himself.
Who's the handsome man? It's you! He had started cuddling with Chucky and then I started to notice the Gilmore Girls following Halbert out to the pasture. A little while after that, I started to notice that Aretha goat would break underneath the gate to come over here to cuddle with Halbert. So now Halbert, who used to just be Halbert and Darius, is now Halbert, Chucky, Lorelai, Rory, Paris, Lane, and Aretha. So it's a very happy ending.
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Featured Rescue Stories
Featured Rescue Stories
From Gravel Lot to Green Pasture: Sadie Gets a Second Chance
Sadie had no business being in the business world. The young goat was born on a property owned by a sand and gravel company.
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August 21, 2018
Farm Sanctuary Gets Two Goats on the Right Track
Most New York commuters expect to encounter interesting characters on their morning commutes, but it’s not every day that a pair of goats is spotted cruising along subway tracks.
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August 6, 2019
Archibald Salt & The Earl of Pepper: Two Newly-Named Grandpa Goats Retire In Style
For two goats who had spent their whole lives without names, finding monikers that fit was of the utmost importance.
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August 2, 2019
Students Choose Sanctuary Over Slaughter
Five animals' lives have been saved thanks to a group of courageous Fullerton Union High Future Farmers of America students who made an unlikely decision: To let them live.
Read more