Had Farm Sanctuary not received a call for help, this adorable goat kid might not have survived.

The family that bought the hybrid pygmy/Nigerian dwarf kid brought him home with them to be a pet who would live largely indoors with supervised outdoor time. Following the breeder’s instructions, they fed him a diet of grain and timothy hay. After three months, Avery had developed a painful urinary-stone blockage so severe it required surgery.

After he appeared to have recovered from the operation, Avery was discharged from Cornell University Hospital for Animals, but a few days later his caregivers brought him back in excruciating pain. Avery was hospitalized again and fitted with a urethral catheter. An exam revealed that he needed a second surgery, this time a cystotomy. This was far more than the family had bargained for when they’d decided to have a pet goat, and it was also more than they could afford. This is when Farm Sanctuary, contacted by hospital staff, stepped in.

A series of missteps, beginning shortly after his birth, set Avery on a path that led to painful medical procedures. First there was the castration by “banding,” a method in which an elastic band is wrapped tightly around the top of a kid’s testes and left on for about two weeks until the blood-depleted scrotum and testes desiccate and fall off. This primitive procedure is performed within a few days of birth, and such early neutering is associated with increased risk of urinary stones.

The breeder’s faulty nutritional advice also contributed to Avery’s medical problems. Young goats should be nursing from their mothers, not eating a diet of milk replacer, grain, and hay.

Beyond enabling proper nutrition, keeping mothers and babies together is important for the animals’ emotional health. Mother goats and their kids form deep bonds, and in the rare instances when they are given the chance, they spend their lives together. Like us, goats derive happiness, comfort, and fulfillment from their families. A breeding operation, whether it services an industrial clientele or a private one, is in the business of bereaving mothers and their newborns.

The business model includes “disbudding” and “descenting,” which Avery also endured before his arrival at the shelter. In this procedure, an iron heated to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit is pressed to the horn buds of a baby goat, stemming the growth of the horns. It is then put slightly behind the horn area to destroy the scent glands also found in that part of the scalp. These practices are widespread in the goat business, whose breeders and farmers consider horns to be a nuisance or a safety hazard and believe descenting will reduce the natural musky odor emitted by unaltered males. In fact, horns are important tools for goats, who use them to scratch itches, hook branches for browsing, and assert their position as they rise through the ranks of their herd’s hierarchy. Additionally the blood vessels in their horns expand and contract to help regulate body temperature. It is cruel to remove these appendages merely for human convenience. As you would guess, disbudding is also traumatic for its survivors. The procedure is excruciating, often causes baby goats to fall ill, and can result in permanent neurological disorders and severe, lifelong pain. The procedure is far more invasive than the dehorning of cows and is considered cruel by many veterinarians. Luckily, Avery appears to have escaped lingering ailments from the procedure. Still, he has experienced a pain we can scarcely imagine, and he will never get to enjoy the horns that are his birthright.

It is in the interests of merchants to gloss over just how much of a commitment these animals will take — how they will require appropriate housing and outdoor areas, companions of their own species, informed and consistent care, and veterinary interventions that can become quite costly. We know hundreds of adopters who will tell you that having a relationship with these amazing beings is more than worth the effort, but these folks approach farm animal care with knowledge and preparation. Most importantly, they adopt with the goal of enriching not only their own lives but also the lives of their animal friends.

When we took over Avery’s care, he was facing his second surgery. A complication during that procedure necessitated further treatment and required Avery to stay in the hospital for weeks. Recently, Avery was finally able to come home to our New York Shelter, but he continues to require strict observation and ongoing care. Despite all he has been through, this little guy is starting to feel better at last. He is no longer in severe pain, and full recovery is on the horizon. We are excited to help him flourish.

At Farm Sanctuary, Avery will receive expert, individualized care for his whole life. While producers discard animals who become too costly due to age, declining productivity, or special needs, and well-meaning hobbyists may be unable or unwilling to provide the care they need, we stick with every one of our animal residents through every challenge. This has given Farm Sanctuary unprecedented insight into farm animal health and behavior. There are very few places in the world where you can observe farm animals receiving continuing care while acutely or chronically ill; blind; deaf; geriatric; arthritic; or missing limbs. Farm Sanctuary is such a place, and our staff has witnessed how these animals can continue to experience the fullness of life. Each one has a great desire to live. Each one deserves that chance.

Thanks to our generous supporters, we are able to rescue individuals like Avery. If you aren’t already a Farm Sanctuary member, won’t you consider joining so you can be part of this amazing community of compassion? A compassionate world begins with you.