We have 24 goats. Fourteen of them have come to us since moving to Whidbey Island three years ago. In the year before moving to Whidbey we placed 40 goats, but since then we've only been able to place two. We have given up hope of placing a meaningful number of goats, so we're going to have to stop taking in new goats. I know we've said that before, but this time we really mean it! This is why we have added the title "...and Sanctuary" to what we formerly called simply "Goat Rescue".
For a number of reasons, rescuing goats is a local activity. Wherever you are, if you could possibly offer your help by being available over the long term for rescuing some goats in your area, what a difference that could make! We would put your contact information on our web site, or just keep it to ourselves and call you when we had a goat in your area that needed help. Over the years we have found this to be a very enjoyable activity: it brings you in contact with great people (goat lovers) for a great reason (helping goats).
Despite not placing many goats ourselves, we have continued to be instrumental in finding homes for goats in the US and Canada, and offering advice to goat lovers here and in Europe.
We do all this simply because we love goats and they need our help. If you love goats too, isn't that something worth supporting?
Our main expense right now is feed. It is September and the herd has munched down all the available pasture. We are having to feed two bales of store-bought hay per day, costing us $30.00 per day.
There are a couple of acres of good pasture available, but it is only fenced on two sides. To complete the fencing we need to put up another 600 feet, plus a few gates. This is going to cost about $1,000 for the materials and take two people about two days to put up. But once it is up, we'll save on hay, plus the goats will be doing what they love to do most.
Finally, this website could be more interactive. I do all the HTML myself using a simple text editor (TextPad -- a great product, btw). I would love it if people could log in directly with their offerings for homes for goats or their need for a home for their goats. I just added the "Goat Connections" page -- a start in this direction -- but just think what a help it would be for goats if goat lovers could connect with each other directly.
So, those are some of the ways that you could help the goats. This could take the form of a contribution directly to us, or a sponsorship. The sponsorship could involve, for example, placing some money in an account with the feed store (for hay), the farm supply store (for fencing materials), or a web designer.
If you have a goat that needs a home, can offer a home for a goat, or need help with a goat-related situation, send an email or call us up. If you do email, please tell us where you are located and include your phone number.
Thanks!
...Jim.
Jane and Jim Hyde
2693 Xanadu Lane
Langley, WA 98260
Phone:(360) 321-4747
Mail to: goatrescue@gmail.com
Go to: The Goat Rescue Home Page
Last update: 26-Jan-08