King of the hill
Goats are such cute creatures, especially as babies. I have fantasized about having goats for a while now—maybe it’s the vision of milking them and making fresh goat cheese. It might also be because they can mow your lawn and eat your weeds. I have found nothing to dislike about goats. To engage my inner child fascination with this big-bellied animal, my mom and I visited a goat farm, Goatlandia, in Sebastopol, California last weekend. Actually, my mom is more infatuated with goats than I am. It was her request that we go somewhere to pet goats for her birthday. I heard her wish and obeyed.
My mom’s wish come true!
Goatlandia sits on 38 acres in Sebastopol and serves as a sanctuary for goats that have been stranded on streets, tied up on posts, injured by predators, destined for slaughter, injured by humans—you name it, and they provide a safe haven for them. Deborah Blum is the founder and “Goddess of Goats.” She works diligently to make sure the farm animals are treated with dignity and have a happy lifestyle.
This goat went into a trance as she was being petted.
Volunteer-run, Goatlandia offers private tours, bottle babies breakfast club, special events, and more, all in the name of raising money to keep Goatlandia as a safe haven for not only goats, but roosters, who are often discarded, dogs, turkeys, llamas, sheep, ducks, geese, and even neglected pigs and horses.
Our tour guide, Kim, knew all the goats’ names and led us into various pens where we could interact with the gentle animals. We were instructed that goats are like dogs in that they like to be pet on the butt and between the ears (horns on goats). This was true! My mom and I were in our element, going from goat to goat, tan and white, all black, deep russet, all white. Each had their own sweet spirit and seemed to enjoy the human interaction.
The tour concluded with a visit to the pig pen where we met a large black pig with stubbly hair who loved belly rubs. How can you resist this snout?
I highly recommend a visit to this extraordinary sanctuary where animals and nature collide into one peaceful residence. I just may adopt one after I get settled in my new home!
Fact: Goats are like potato chips; you can't have just one! Amber Swope
Ciao for now,
My goat fix was magical.Who knew how affectionate a goat could be.
Like a dog , they know their name and come (when called) when treats are involved. I loved this gift!!
God bless Deborah and volunteers! Terrific photos, adorable of creatures and humans❤️ Goats truly are cute as can be. We always squeal with delight and slow down when we spot them.🐐
Curious what next birthday will bring!