I think the man upstairs thought my life was getting too boring and decided to fix that. Yesterday, I was upstairs getting dressed and heard banging from downstairs. My hb has been moving furniture around, so that was my first thought, but I decided to check it out. When I came downstairs, I saw 3 small goats (a mama and 2 babies) standing on our front porch banging the panes of glass on the front door and large window next to it with their horns(I guess they could not reach the doorbell). What a shock! We live in a suburban area, and there are a few farms, but it's not really the country. I am used to seeing herds of deer daily, foxes, squirrels, rabbits, a myriad of birds, raccoons, chipmunks, once in a while a cat or dog, even had bats in the house. But this is a first!
After a while they trotted around the property, nibbling on various plants. We have a deer fence, so the only way they could leave is the way they came in, through the driveway (gate had been open, that's how they got in). However, either they don't want to leave or aren't smart enough to remember how. They stayed huddled in a corner on the porch overnight and this a.m. I was awakened by a cry like a human baby. It is still cold here at night, so I'm sure they were looking for some sort of shelter and settled for our porch. I think they made a mess of the new outdoor furniture cushions that I had only put out on Tuesday! But, they are small goats and sure are cute. Mom is black, one baby charcoal-colored and one cream-colored. A friend came over yesterday and tried to lure them off the porch with carrots, they weren't going to budge.
I called the fire dept. yesterday--they called Animal Control, but they don't do goats. A police officer came over and said he can't do anything either. I wish I knew who their owner is. I guess I may have to pay someone who works with animals to get them off the property--I want to save my landscaping! I love animals but I'm a city girl.
Wow...I'd love for some goats to show up on my porch. I've been thinking about getting goats to keep the grass down on three acres I dread mowing. Think maybe God sent them your house instead of mine by mistake. I take that back, don't think God makes mistakes, or does he? Anyway, maybe the police or someone knows a farmer with a fenced in area they can stay until I come and get them, because as I said before, I think they're the goats I prayed for. LOL
Just noticed they have made "deposits" all over the porch and on the new doormat and cushions I bought on Tuesday. I think I qualify for the Poop Queen crown now.
I love goats, but I see the problem. I would look up some Baltimore area animal rescue sites, but I have to figure these little guys belong to someone.
Update--I called everyone I know who does outdoor work in the area to see if they had a clue to the owner--no go. There is a woman who raises llamas near here, but no one is answering her phone. One person suggested I call a horse rescue farm; I did and they said I should demand Animal Control come out. So I called them myself and laid on the drama, said they are scaring DH, etc., and the woman was hesitant at first but said ok, an officer will be out this morning.
Emily--yes, they do belong to someone (no visible ID) and I want that someone to clean up my porch and buy me a new doormat and cushions!
gosh, i know you were very surprised by the new family. hah. sorry they are creating a mess. i hope you find the owners. aww. but being an animal lover i hope they will be ok.. too bad you cant get them to cricket!
I can't imagine they are from too far away. Does your community have a newspaper or tv station you could contact? Likely the owners are looking for the nanny and her babies.
Well, here's the goat resolution: I heard a truck in my driveway--by the time I got to the window, I saw a white van with an American flag emblem on it PULLING OUT. Goats were still on porch. Called Animal Rescue back--yep, it was them. Just as the officer got to my house, an emergency call came in re a pit bull attack and they had to leave. Couldn't tell me when they'd be back.
However, my friend gave me the contact info for someone who does animal rescue. I called her, she came right over and put the 3 goats in her Mercedes sedan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the meantime, llama lady called back and referred me to a man who sells feed and hay. He referred me to a customer who has goats; she said they belong to her next-door neighbor (a few minutes from me) who bought 5 goats yesterday and then lost all 5 (sounds dopey, huh?). Two were found quickly, the other 3 were with me. They all came over and rescue lady drove to the owners' house and unloaded the goats. The owners came back and scrubbed down my porch, furniture, windows, doors, siding, etc. DH has already forgotten the whole incident, I am exhausted! But the goats were darling, I admit. Must go to Trader Joe's tomorrow and buy goat cheese.
Mine too, sheila! I usually have to put up with cats on my outside pillows and porches - not my cats - just neighbors'. They have ruined so many I'm sick of it.
aww i am so happy all turned out well. for the hoomans AND the goat family. nope no goats for me please, i have a new batch of baby squirrels running around my place! divvi
All's well that end's well I suppose. I did enjoy the posts. Lightness in an otherwise dreary day. That's one (among many) thing about this site--there's always fun along with the other. (I'd like some goats to "mow" our woodsy area, too, but I don't want to buy some and be responsible for yet other lives.)
I just bought the porch cushions Tues. The goat people took them home to try to clean them, but I'm not sitting on a cushion where a goat pooped, no matter how good it looks. I just remembered, I may have put them on Amex--just bought them 2 days ago. Can you imagine the conversation if I call Amex "Does your reimbursement policy cover a purchase being ruined by goats pooping?".
We used to have dwarf goats and had a terrible time keeping them penned in. The higher my dh built the fence, the higher they learned to jump. Then he dug a moat around the inside of the fence but when they got a little bigger thay jumped over it again. We eventually gave them to the town deer park, after one escaped for the umpteenth time and ate some of the neighbor's yew, which is poisonous, and died. Decided it was too hard to keep goats in a fairly small suburban yard. Being able to keep animals like that was one of the reasons we moved out here where we have lots more land, but after moving here we never got any goats again. Don't know why, they were fun, and a neighborhood attraction.
Yesterday a.m. when I looked on my porch, there was a bag with the cleaned cushions on it. Animal Control called on Fri. and left a message that they want the goat owners' address. I am going to respond tomorrow and find out if they are just going to send a citation or whether they will actually go to the house and make sure the animals are safe now. I'm not sure the zoning laws allow 5 goats on the property that they have, and it's on a busy street so it's lucky the animals weren't hit by a car. No wonder they liked it at our house--very calm and quiet here (when dh's meds are working haha)!