Some goats are looking for new homes.
The Susquehanna SPCA took in 16 goats from a farm rescue Thursday, Dec. 11. Most of them are up for adoption.
With recent adoptions, the number is down to 14, SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes said Wednesday, Dec. 24 . As part of its network, she said the SQSPCA works closely with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or the ASPCA. The SPCA serving Erie County in Buffalo worked with the ASPCA to rescue 200 farm animals in November, 120 of which were goats, and the Susquehanna SPCA was able to help with its farm facility.
Haynes said with the SPCA’s new farm space, it was able to house 16 of the goats. Most of the goats are doing well now, she said.
Many came in with upper respiratory infections and were being treated at the Susquehanna SPCA. Haynes added that they were all underweight and some of them needed care to their feet because many of their hooves were too long and a couple had abscesses on their feet in need of treatment. Of the 14 goats, 12 were viable for adoption as of Wednesday, Haynes said.
“Generally, with basic care, food, water, access to fresh, clean bedding, they are all doing really well,” Haynes said. “Certainly, anybody who is interested in adopting, we would walk them through what we are monitoring them for.”
A Nov. 26 ASPCA news release, stated it was “proud to be in a position where we have the expertise and resources to move quickly to assist local animal welfare agencies across the country when animals are in crisis.” A SPCA serving Erie County Nov. 21 Facebook post stated that the animals, which included cats, dogs and farm animals, were “found in devastating neglect” in the town of Brant.
Farm animals, like any animal, can be subject to species specific diseases, Haynes said. That is why it is important to counsel individuals interested in adoption, she added. The Susquehanna SPCA has a full-time veterinarian, Dr. Christine Schneider, who works at the farm, Haynes said, so the goats are in “very, very good hands.”
Schneider, Haynes said, has worked with the SPCA for close to 10 years on a consulting basis. Any time the SPCA had a cruelty case, Haynes said Schneider would be the main veterinarian called.
For those looking to adopt, Haynes said they can be counseled and taught to better understand what owning a goat would include. The SPCA has a farm manager, Samantha Ceresna, and part of her duties include intake and adoption counseling.
“We have an issue where there are more pets than there are people who want pets,” Haynes said. “You don’t have to be a goat expert. We can help you learn so that we can have more people that are interested in having pets.
Individuals do not need to have an “incredible amount” of property to own a goat,” Haynes said. She said they would require good, quality fencing because “goats are real squirrely, and they will get out of anything.” One of the counseling elements would be to ensure people are in control of their fencing, Haynes added.
Regarding food, Haynes said the veterinarian is advising on how much grain the goats receive because they came to the farm emaciated and are building back up to a normal weight. They consume grain, hay and water.
There are two barns at the farm, Haynes said, and the back barn, which is an open barn with no stalls, is fenced off for the goats. As of now, Haynes said the SPCA does not have great fencing outside for the goats. The ASPCA is giving the Susquehanna SPCA a grant, Haynes said, so as soon as it can, it can put up goat fencing to allow the animals to move both inside and outside.
Haynes said the SPCA recently received a grant for $35,000 to assist with some general upgrades at the farm, and for helping with this specific rescue case and, indicating that the SPCA would help with other cases, the ASPCA is giving it $10,000 for the goat fencing.
“The (ASPCA) is actually wonderful,” Haynes said. “They’re super helpful. They provide a lot of free resources for animal shelters and rescues and humane societies, but they also have a lot of grants available for folks as well.”