THUNDER BAY — They are social, playful and intelligent – characteristics that can make goats great companions for humans.
It's likely why an area resident has been able to find new homes for nine goats that belonged to a close friend who passed away last month.
"They're comical. They're sympathetic. You get looking through their eyes, and it's like they look into your soul. A lot of them are very dog-like when you make pets out of them. They can just make you laugh," said Margaret Foster-Hyde.
The Conmee Township woman had promised her late friend she would ensure the animals were looked after, and initially thought she'd found someone who could take them.
Facing a Jan. 27th deadline, she started to worry when the arrangement fell through with virtually no notice.
"When you're dealing with people and animals, you've got to make sure you're doing the right fit. It was scary...When you're expecting things to go as planned, and somebody throws a curveball, you kind of go 'Oh no.' "
Foster-Hyde was intent on preventing the goats from being butchered, and she and her husband were starting to think they might have to get a temporary enclosure built on her own property until they could be rehomed.
That's when she turned to a person in Manitoba who promotes animal rescue, posted about the goats online, and created an overwhelming response.
"She posted on Jan. 8th...All these messages started coming through. 'Where are you?' or ''How many goats?' There's at least 300 inquiries, and I'm still getting them. I had to ask her to take it off social media. I never thought we'd get that kind of a response."
But Foster-Hyde's work was hardly done.
"You have to wean the people out, you know. I had been warned there's a lot of guys that try to get goats so they can turn around and butcher them. A goat apparently goes for about $175. We sat down and started looking at their profiles, and I started asking them questions such as who would take care of the goats' hooves."
The animals' hooves must be inspected and trimmed on a regular basis to prevent lameness, infection and other problems.
Foster-Hyde also wanted to ensure no goat would without the companionship of another, because "they're not a solitary animal."
As it turned out, she's been able to find good homes in the Thunder Bay area and as far away as Dryden for Darla, Mabel, Cream, Sugar, and the other five goats, all of whom became attentive and lined up to greet her when she entered her late friend's yard.
Two of the animals will be leaving Tuesday morning.
Although her promise to her friend has been fulfilled, Foster-Hyde said "When I see them go, I'm probably going to sit down and cry," explaining that the departure of the goats symbolizes the end of her friend's time there as well.
