Today started off in a typical, pleasant fashion. I got ready for work, did animal chores, tidied the house a bit, then began working. We were just finishing up grooming our first dog of the day, and the second customer arrived a little early and was sitting and chatting with us. The weather was exceptionally fine: blue skies, low humidity, and a soft breeze blew through the open windows. All was well. Until suddenly, it wasn't.
We heard a goat scream. From where we work, we have a good view of the goat cozy and a long, elevated bridge I had a carpenter friend build for them several years ago. The goats love this spot, and after breakfast on a nice day, they lie up there contentedly chewing their cuds and surveying their domain. It is usually a very peaceful scene.
When the terrible sound of a goat screaming in pain and fear reached my ears, I jumped and looked outside. There, to my horror, I saw a goat hanging, suspended head down from the bridge, her hind leg stuck in the ramp. I don't move as fast as I once did and knew it would take me a bit to get out there to help her. Time was clearly of the essence. The panicked goat vocalizations continued, causing a massive dose of adrenaline to dump into my bloodstream. My very pregnant daughter was there with me. "You can move faster than I can," I said, but I was talking to the back of her head; she was already on her way. I put the dog I was grooming into a crate, asked my customer to be patient, and headed out to help. My daughter somehow moved at warp speed... through the house, across the long deck, down some wonky stairs, through the back yard, through the tricky gate, over the muddy pasture, through another gate, and with strength driven by panic, quickly lifted the dangling goat back onto the bridge.
This is the goat in question. She is a recent addition to our place and such a pleasant one. She is lovely to look at with her gazelle-like facial markings and sweeter and friendlier than any goat we've ever had except our very first one. She is a dream on the milk stand and produces sweet, delicious milk. Having favorites probably isn't nice, but she ranks high on the "best girl" list. Her name is Happy.
Once Rachel lifted her from her dangling position, she had another problem. Happy's leg was stuck tight in the gap at the top of the ramp. Mind you, this ramp and bridge have been used by countless goats for years with no difficulties, but today, a freak accident occurred. Here is the area where it all happened.
See the black and white goat? Happy's leg was wedged just to the right of where her left front leg is, and she was suspended, head down, in that triangle of space you see between the two animals.
With some skill and finesse, Rachel managed to free the jammed leg. Happy laid there, stunned, until Rachel gently lifted her down. She walked off on three legs. I was on the phone to my veterinarian so fast!
In the end, Happy seems to be ok. She didn't get so much as a scrape, though her lower leg is slightly swollen. She is limping but bearing weight. I have given her an injection of anti-inflammatory medication, and my husband and son-in-love will help fashion something to ensure no goat ever gets stuck in the ramp again.
My pleasant morning went awry, but my amazing daughter saved the day, and my dear little goat seems to be not much worse for her awful adventure.
