Skip to main content

Gratitude Gate

Author: Jarvey

Just put one foot in front of the other.

Posted on by Jarvey

Up until his arrival, Rocky had not walked more than a step without falling directly on his face.  His reaction time with his front legs was non existent.  The tremors associated with this condition are called Intention Tremors.  They start from a single focal location and ripple through his body.  When he gets excited they become more intense, when rested very mild and while sleeping none at all.  This makes rehabilitation very unique to the individual animal.  Even more unique than with a human because they can’t tell us a word of what they are experiencing.

With Rocky, his age works both for and against him.  His brain should respond more rapidly just as any young animal experiencing new situations every day.  This will help to speed up his reaction time to obstacles and positive reinforcement for successful attempts.  The down side is Rocky’s physical size will grow very quickly also.  Rocky’s breed is called a Boer goat.  Considered a meat breed, as apposed to dairy, they grow to be very large and heavy set with males closing in on 200lbs.  As Rocky’s body grows, his brain will have to adjust foot placement and center of balance.  With so many hurdles to overcome, the most incredible part of the animal world kicks in, lack of self-pity.  With a will for true survival, giving up is not an option.

My responsibility to Rocky is to be his ultimate guide and caretaker through this process. Not only providing the physical means to progress but also the mental ones. Encouragement based on positive reinforcement the brain wants to survive.  Food is the ultimate reward especially early in life.  The body needs it and the brain knows it so coaxing with food will render a strong response to the body’s hunger.  You can literally watch the connections being created from the moment the bottle or food is within view or heard. Signaling the body’s response to rise and legs to move towards the reward.  Of course there is the bond we create with them emotionally, one that often defies logic.  It has been proven in a recent study that goats do actually respond similar to dogs when they encounter a situation they can not solve, just by simply looking at us.

“What next?” They say.    

As a rehabber, our answer is “Let me help to show you.”

 

Rocky’s diagnosis and Ollie’s castration an afternoon at the vet

Posted on by Jarvey

In many areas of the country it is said that a lot of veterinarians don’t know a whole lot about goats.  Some people say you either have a good vet or one that doesn’t have a clue.  We are so fortunate at Gratitude Gate to have some amazing veterinarians in our area that know their goat stuff! Working as a technician, I prided myself as being a sponge.  I was always working directly with our vets on diagnosis and treatments and asking all of the questions in between. I will never claim to know more than a veterinarian but instead find it a vital part in treatment and rehabilitation plans for all animals that come to the sanctuary.  Collaboration and information can go hand-in-hand to create a successful working relationship.

Rocky and Ollie both arrived at Gratitude Gate on a Saturday, we made that call to the vet Monday morning.  I had already assessed both of the boys were stable upon arrival and in separate quarantine areas.  While Rocky had already been seen by a vet several weeks before, we wanted to make sure we established his patient relationship right away.  Ollie’s experience on the other hand may not be as enjoyable but, there was no time to wait for his castration.  Both of the boys were put in the truck. Rock on the front seat in his little tub and Ollie behind my seat.  I am known around town for having silly goat faces looking out my windows.  They are too small for a trailer, of course they are in my truck!  Don’t worry, we tarp up to catch the unwanted excrement!

We arrived at the clinic and Dr. Jen and I discussed what may be going on with Rocky.  Sometimes I get a little proud when my diagnosis is the same as the vet’s.  To me it just means I have done my homework.  She agreed that Rocky’s overall healthy and body condition was excellent.  Miss Gloria did a fantastic job keeping up those muscles! Dr. Jen also noticed Rocky was not experiencing nystagma (rapid eye movement,) which can mean more serious issues in the brain.  He was not in pain, had full vision and hearing and seemed aware of his surroundings.  All very good signs that led to the belief that Rocky was born with a under developed cerebellum or a lesion on that area.  This area of the brain is responsible for coordination and balance.  The only two areas Rocky was having issues with.  She agreed that it was very much like a disorder seen in cats called Cerebella Hyposplasia. This was the best news as it fit with everything Rocky was exhibiting.  Cerebella Hypoplasia is a NON progressive, non contagious disorder that affects only one area of the brain, balance.  Cats generally will improve with time, learning to compensate as their brain helps to create new pathways for signals to travel.

There is no cure but there is learning to cope. 

After this great news about Rocky, we could turn to more routine matters of turning Ollie from a buck to a wether.  There are several ways this can be done.  All can be very successful or have there own problems.

  • Burzzido – The clamp! The idea is to clamp this tool down on the spermatic cord and snap it, rendering the testicle useless.  The most important part it making sure to do TWO full clamps, one over each cord.  Always recommend pain medicine afterwards, especially on an older buck.  There is no incision and makes it less likely to have to worry about complications including tetanus.
  • Banding- Many people use this method on very young bucks. A small “cheerio” looking rubber band is put around the scrotal sack that is tight enough to cut off blood supply.  Within 2 weeks the testicles and scrotal sack will shrivel, die and fall off.  Again most importantly make sure BOTH of those testicle are below the band!
  • Surgical removal- Again, a sure way to solve intact male issue is just to get rid of those testes all together! This is a great method but not practical for every situation.  Depending on the time of year, maggots and infection pose a real threat.  Pain medicine again helps to ease the discomfort after surgery.

We chose to clamp Ollie, as he could be Ferdinand’s buddy in the dairy barn while we waited for his post castration probation period (4 weeks) to run its course.  2 Minutes and done, including his booster shot and pain medication injection.  Now we wait till he can join the rest of the herd without unwanted complications.

Our whole visit was good news all around and of course Rocky had to meet everyone and show off his absolutely heart melting personality.  Poor Ollie sulked in the back of my truck, somehow they just know that was more than a routine visit!

Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!

Posted on by Jarvey

Rescues happen even when you try to help prevent them.  I will often scan places like Craigslist as it is amazing the animals that are sold for profit or situations that will ultimately turn out bad.  I came upon Ollie in one of my searches. He was located about 50 miles from me on a farm, being advertised at a low price in hopes of a good home after his herd was killed by coyotes.  I contacted the owner concerning the situation to find out they were really only rehoming him because he was an unaltered male. They were getting new does and the owner did not want them impregnated by Ollie now that he is a year old. Ollie is 3/4 myotonic/ fainting goat and 1/4 pygmy.  This wasn’t going to work with a new herd of Nigerian Dwarfs that come with their own set of livestock guardian dogs.

Now this happens often from what I have noted in my experience.  So I talked to the man about castrating Ollie, (at this time known as Petey.) I explained that the vet can do it right at the farm for a very inexpensive price.  Within a couple of weeks, you can create a special little friend now deemed a wether.  No silly rutting behavior, pregnant does or horrible smell.  I have had nothing but good experiences with my own wethers and Ollie is only a year old.  Not too late at all! The man said he had not thought of this option and was going to speak it over with his wife.  He was grateful for my advice and looked forward to keeping “Petey” with his incoming does.  He thanked me and I felt glad I could help just by giving a little insight.

About a month later I heard again from the man, this time Ollie was given an ultimatum.  Unfortunately the vet was called to late and the owner was out of time.  I was emailed on a Friday, the new goats were coming the next day.  He offered to drive him to me on his way to Maryland today or he had to stay in a crate for 24hrs and sent to the local auction Monday.  I was Ollie’s get out of jail free card. You hate to get frustrated as the man was very nice and I knew I could offer Ollie a beautiful home.  He would be a perfect friend for Ferdinand and I had just picked Rocky up not 12 hours prior to his arrival.

When he got here, his crazy hair and great big horns won me over immediately.  He was a little taken back by Ferdinand, who was wearing his vest to keep off the chill.  So you couldn’t blame Ollie for hiding behind my leg and staring at this weird, tongue waggling creature. He remained trusting and just slightly cautious. His fainter genes showed strongly when his attempts to move away in a quick fashion were taken over by his suddenly immobile back legs.  Over the next couple of nights, I would peak in and they would be sleeping closer to each other under the heat lamps.  No doubt in my mind with these two be buddies for life!

Meeting Mr. Inspiration

Posted on by Jarvey

4:15 AM

I got the confirmation the night before that Rocky was leaving West Virginia and was to arrive about 20 miles from my house at 5 AM.  The excitement of bringing a new member in to our family is overwhelming but as any parent knows, you carry a certain sense of worry and concern over being the best you can be, for them.

I climbed in my truck and made the drive early on a Saturday morning. The roads were quiet, unlike the weekly commute on the week days.  If you are like me, 18-wheelers barreling in at 85 mph on either side gives you the creeps to say the least. I pulled into the parking lot of a business duplex and around the corner came a semi with a beautifully equipped trailer, specially trailered for these rescue operations.  Carrying approximately 20 dogs, 10 cats and one silly little goat!  The driver was extremely nice and explained to me how they care for their special passengers while they are traveling.  Rocky of course had won over this gentleman’s heart in the little amount of time he spent with him.

There he was, trying his hardest to get a steady look at me as his head moved similar to a pendulum. I thanked the man as I soon saw the other cars pulling up to pick up their new charges.  I carried Rocky in the Rubbermaid tub full of blankets and placed him right next to me on the seat.  Thankfully I came prepared with some fresh hay as this boy had no time for anything but breakfast at this hour!

When we arrived home slightly after 6 am, Rocky was still showing no signs of slowing down.  I gave him his bottle and thought for sure he would want to rest after the long ride.  The 15 years of work in veterinary medicine wasted no time kicking in.  I checked all the most important things first: Eyelid color, respiration rate and temperature.  All perfect.  His stools looked great, his appetite was awesome and he certainty wasn’t acting lethargic. Some of the best things you could ask for when taking in an animal whom you have never laid eyes on.  He finally settled down for a nap and I could breathe a sigh of relief.

Just rest little one, we have all the time you need to greet life on four feet.</em

“Do you think you can help?”

Posted on by Jarvey

On March 14th, I was contacted on Facebook through a group called Disabled Pets Gathering.  The group’s founder, Sarah Ericson, helps to make connections for disabled animals across the country to get the care they need. It is amazing to watch how quickly you can find people willing to take their time to transport these critters hundreds of miles.  It is a relay of sorts.  Meeting in parking lots and handing off their precious cargo to the next caretaker who is ready for their leg of the journey. Sarah reported to me that she had a 8 week old Boer goat that has a severe neurological disorder in need of immediate rescue.  Originally traveling from Tennessee to Virginia,  this little boy’s trip came to a halt in West Virginia when the rehabilitation center had to cancel his intake.  He was now far away from his original home, with no destination for his future.   Sarah and I discussed his medical history to this point.

Born December 28th, 2016 amidst freezing temperatures in central Tennessee, a mother goat gave birth away from the herd and the baby remained hidden for several hours.  When he was found by the farm’s owner, Gloria, he was immediately rushed inside to bring his temperature up. Gloria stated it took 3 days to regulate his temperature and once regulated, the buckling started with intense tremors.  He was taken to their veterinarian whom gave a poor prognosis in recovering to a normal, self sufficient state.  His recommendation was euthanasia but was willing to try a course of antibiotics and some vitamin injections.  Gloria took the medications but not the euthanasia recommendation.  She knew this little goat was something special.  She also knew with the amount of traveling she did that the best place for him was unfortunately not what she could provide.  In making this decision, his life was saved when she vowed to find him the right place to call home.

Without much history or a strong diagnosis, my heart decided for me that this little goat was going to come live at Gratitude Gate. Sara got the transportation scheduled for 2 days later and put me in touch with Gloria.  We discussed a little bit more about him but “What is this little boy’s name?”

“He is a true fighter so we Named him Rocky.”

Rocky. Such a beautiful name to me.  At 16 years old I rescued my first dog, a German Shepherd abandoned at a kennel at 10 years old.  We called him Rocky Raccoon and he knew nothing but love for the 3 short years I had with him.

So we prepared for our new arrival with excitement and hope that we could teach Rocky how to live his life to the fullest. We had no idea how incredibly full our own lives were about to become!

Ferdinand

Posted on by Jarvey

Just down the road from Gratitude Gate there is a place some have been to and others have never heard of.  New Holland, Pennsylvania is home to a livestock sales stable that has been the center of much debate and criticism.  Every week, hundreds of lives have price tag.  A price tag that is determined by a weight– cents to the pound.

On March 2nd, my sister and I traveled to New Holland.  I had personally never been, but have seen and heard the horror stories that have come out of there.  For an animal lover, this was extremely painful.  As a medical professional, it was disgusting.  For anyone that has a heart, it would be extremely difficult to experience. We scoured the pens, watching day old calves full of fear, confusion, and even innocence to the situation.  Many had severe diarrhea, hernias and upper respiratory infections.  The hardest to watch were the babies who could not even walk to their destiny due to malformations at birth.

We were welcomed by a small Jersey calf, no more than 3 days old, eager to make friends and taking it all in stride.  Going about his business, naive to what the future may hold.  He was still running the aisles before being crowded in with others in a standing room only pen.  We continued through the maze of gates, looking into the eyes of so many individuals.  Herds of curly sheep with a couple of young goats for good measure. Big bulls with hardened stares, all innocence gone from their eyes. Even a llama who could see over top all of the gates, but still couldn’t find a way out.

We returned to the calf pens trying to ignore the feeling deep inside to open all of the gates.  We searched for our little friend.  He was smaller than most, hidden by the spotted Holsteins who stood crying for answers.  I always talk to my animals in a silly voice, a voice I used with this little calf over an hour ago, so I started to call for him on my own.  Soon, the larger calves began to part and we saw the soft brown coat of a little boy with big determination. He pushed his way all the way up to the gate. I gave him my hand and he started to suckle, looking for comfort in his world that was so overwhelming.

Right there the decision was made to “buy” hip number 0021.

We watched as calf after calf was pushed and prodded through the auction ring. Finally 0021 was up for auction. Started and sold for 20 cents a pound, at 60 pounds, he represented a $12 dollar life.  No one bid against us and he just as quickly left to go back to the pen.  Just that fast, the fate of an animal’s life is established– the sign above the auctioneer stated all sales are for slaughter purchases only.

We waited patiently as the other sold calves were pushed into large trailers in the same fashion they were pushed out hours earlier.  I picked up our boy and carried him over the dying calves that didn’t even make it to the truck.  We loaded him in the cab of my truck on fluffy blankets and green hay, shutting the door behind him. One saved today.  And now, an opportunity to prove the worth, the heart, that lies behind those big brown eyes.  Many will learn to love this little boy, and in doing so, he will be giving hope to others in a similar plight. Each day, countless similar lives are bought and sold but kindness doesn’t cost anything.

On March 2nd, Ferdinand, formally known as 0021, found his forever home.

Welcome to Gratitude Gate!

On Gratitude

Posted on by Jarvey

If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
—James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small

New Beginnings

Posted on by Jarvey

When I wake each morning, I feel blessed to be able to step outside and smell the crisp morning air of a farm. As I trundle down from my porch to the goat pen, I am always so grateful for the opportunity to live in a place that speaks so well to the beauty of our natural world and the ancient collaboration between human and animal. Our progress has long been driven by a shared work. Continue reading “New Beginnings”