
Well, imagine my surprise when I returned home after going to town one day to the bleating "Ba-aa-aah,-h, Baa-aa-aah", that unmistakable sound of a young billy goat. Here, looking at me, was my new living and breathing lawnmower, all tuned up and ready to go.
The nine month old Sammy was standing at the gate in the side yard which is now used as the paddock for Angus, our Shetland pony. Angus received a companion, a paddock mate, although we weren't sure that he was very happy about it. But a little time and patience is all that is needed to change that.
As I walked up to the cute little fellow, he put his head through an opening in the gate and licked my hand. He let me pet him just like a dog. In fact, his behavior is much like a dog. He likes to follow us around the farm, occasionally stopping to munch on some grass, weeds, or thorns near the property line. But this does create one problem; Sammy loves roses. Not to look at and admire but to eat, thorns and all.
Angus loves to chase Sammy and I suppose if he caught him he would bite, but Sammy is quick and a bit more agile than his little equestrian pal and he darts around Angus' house and ducks into the stall built to store our pony cart, behind which Angus can't reach him. But as time goes by they seem to be starting a bonding process so it should work out well.
So we've added another new member to our adopted animal family, a cute little goat who needed a home. And our Ark continues to grow in number and variety. You know, I think Noah would be proud and we continue our effort to give God's special animals a place where they can grow and prosper and we can enjoy and study them. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.
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If you enjoy reading about pets and other animals found on a small rural farm, you'll like my book, Honey, We Shoulda' Bought the Ark, now available through my Outskirts Press author page at www.outskirtspress.com/honeyweshouldaboughttheark. Book can be bought direct from Outskirts or through links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble, where Kindle and Nook versions are also available. Animals: A Wonderful Gift from God, who gave us dominion over them.
