Shirley—an elderly goat who struggled to stand and walk—was with us for just under two months before she passed. Despite our limited time together, Shirley was a valued member of our family whose life and incredible story of survival deserves to be shared.

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When it comes to dairy, animals are often milked to death, even on small-scale farms.

Shirley spent her life at a goat dairy farm that repetitively bred her for milk production—all while battling health issues impeding her ability to stand and walk. Regardless of the pressure reproduction put on her ailing body, Shirley was bred until she could no longer produce milk. Without bringing in money for the farm, the farmers couldn’t afford to keep the ten-year-old goat or continue her care.

Instead of sending her to slaughter, which is customary, Shirley’s “owners” felt that she deserved to enjoy the rest of her life in peace. So, they relinquished her to retire at Farm Sanctuary––but the heartbreaking truth is that it was just too late.

The farmers meant well. They present the small dairy as a kinder alternative to factory farming, taking better care of the animals and environment. In theory, Shirley should have enjoyed a better quality of life than those on factory farms. But a working farm must make money to survive, which means all animal care is transactional.

Despite the fact that she could hardly stand or walk, Shirley was still exploited for dairy. As a younger goat, Shirley contracted a meningeal worm infection. With timely treatment, goats can recover. But because the farmers didn’t catch or treat this illness in time, Shirley developed permanent and irreversible neurological damage that severely weakened her hind end. She could still get pregnant, though, so the farmers proceeded with her breeding.

Like cows and other mammals, goats must be pregnant or nursing their young to make milk: a food specifically formulated for their babies’ development. But because farmers want milk—and not surplus goats—they get rid of any animals they no longer need. Tragically, farmers routinely separate mothers from their children so they can sell the milk (and any products made from it, like goat’s cheese or goat’s milk soap) to people. Males can’t produce milk, so they’re sent to slaughter. Some females join their brothers; others are kept to “replace” their mothers once their milk production declines. This process is the same for cows used for dairy.

While we don’t know what happened to Shirley’s family, we were sure she could form loving relationships at Farm Sanctuary.

Goats are herd animals. They find safety and comfort in groups, and they look out for their loved ones. On many working farms across the country, they rarely get the chance to fulfill these loving instincts. Once Shirley received proper care, she could also show her care for others.

We joined Shirley with a small flock of goats and sheep. She was particularly fond of Sadie—a young goat who had also contracted a meningeal worm infection—and the two spent much of their time together. Their growing bond reminded us of a mom and her daughter. Shirley was cautious around people at first, but in time she began to lower her guard. Despite her troubled past, she was sweet, friendly, and able to trust those who now treated her with kindness.

All the while, though, Shirley’s frailty increased. We provided medication for arthritis caused by years of weakness in her legs. But we could only keep her comfortable for so long.

So when Shirley showed further signs of decline, we made a difficult call to our veterinarians. Since there was nothing more that we could do and we did not want Shirley to suffer, they helped her pass on through humane euthanasia. Hers was a difficult loss for us all—particularly for Sadie and the rest of the flock.

Despite a life cut short due to improper care, we’re glad Shirley finally knew the peace, love, and support she deserved. And we have hope.

People sometimes ask why we do our work, considering that these rescued animals might not have the longest lives. Our answer: an act of kindness is never wasted. Of course, it’s heartbreaking to lose a treasured friend. But these animals, whether they’re here for a day or a decade, matter.

We owe it to each rescued friend to provide whatever comfort we can—especially since humankind has caused them so much suffering. And in sharing Shirley’s story, we can keep her memory alive and perhaps help improve the lives of others.