Stocky's Story

Stocky was found with another goat locked in a shed. Both had been starved to such an extent that Stocky's friend could not stand. They were riddled with lice, so much so that their backs were bald, and they stood and slept in their own urine. Unfortunately, when the RSPCA came to their rescue, Stocky's friend could not be saved.

Stocky on arrival

Stocky now

Shelly a.k.a. Diesel

Shelly (or Diesel as he is now known) is a pigmy goat found abandoned by the RSPCA and brought to Buttercups in 2008. At the time of his rescue, he was in a very poor state. He was covered in engine oil and had an infected ear as the result of a poorly fitting ear tag. He was also suffering from foot rot, an agonizing bacterial infection of the foot’s horned area which causes the whole foot literally to rot away if untreated.

He needed ongoing treatment over several months, and a creative approach was required to treat his unusual injuries. On arrival at the sanctuary, he received repeated warm baths using detergent and bacterial shampoo to remove the oil. This revealed that we actually had a brown and white goat, rather than the grey one we initially thought we had! Our vets checked him over and provided him with medication to help the severe breathing problems he was experiencing. And it was the veterinary nurses who decided he should be re-named Diesel.

Soon after this, all his hair fell out, leaving him pink skinned and almost bald. Worse, the engine oil left his skin dry, shrivelled and cracked, with numerous ulcer type sores. This was difficult to treat; initially, we used a combination of twice-daily gentle massages with baby oil, followed by weekly shampoos with a special product for dry skin. After three weeks, some hair started to reappear and Diesel’s skin lost that pink look. His treatment was then changed to concentrate on the ulcers that kept re - occurring over his body; we experimented with a cream designed for burns on horses, followed by a shampoo with a steroid treatment every three days.

Today, Diesel appears to be fully recovered from his problems. He no longer has breathing problems and has a full coat of hair. He has always been friendly with people, despite having to put up with endless treatments and fussing from us. However, initially, he was very wary of the other goats, but, as his health has improved, he has overcome these nerves with resounding success and can now be seen in the thick of any activity going on, be it challenging other goats to a play-fight, or getting to the front of the queue for titbits.

Left - Diesel when he first came in - dark, dirty, grey

Above - Diesel several baths later, showing how his fur dropped out and his sore, pink skin

Diesel as he is today - fully recovered, with a complete coat of fur.

MOD Goats

In 2008, we were asked by the Ministry of Defence to take 32 goats into care. For many years the MOD had been using goats in experiments concerned with finding out how survival chances could be improved for people escaping from disabled submarines. This involved putting goats into pressure chambers and giving them the bends. During the course of these experiments, more than 200 goats suffered and died. However, thanks to public pressure, in 2008 these experiments were halted.

As the only charity in the UK dealing specifically with the rescue of goats, Buttercups was asked to provide the MOD goats with a new home. The animals we received were healthy and had obviously been well cared for. They either had never taken part in the experiments or, if they had, weren’t showing any adverse symptoms.

Initially, the goats were welcomed into the sanctuary, checked over and given any care and attention required. After an initial period of adjustment in an area quarantined away from the main herd, we were fortunate enough to find wonderful homes for them all, and they were gradually fostered out in small family groups. Foster goats remain under the ownership of Buttercups Sanctuary, and we visit homes at least twice a year to ensure the welfare of our goats.

The goats arrive at Buttercups after a long journey from Gosport & are met by volunteers

The new arrivals head up the lane away from the horse box

The new arrivals head across the field to the quarantine area away from the main herd

At long last, peace and tranquility

Currie's Story

Currie joined us in 2008. He was about twelve months old at the time, long legged and a typical teenager. As a young kid, he had been taken to the local market and was purchased for a wedding feast!! (hence the name). Fortunately for him, the necessary paperwork was not completed, the sale fell through, and he was left behind in his pen in a deserted market. A farmer took him home and for some months kept him on a farm. A neighbour then made contact with Buttercups, explained the situation and we made arrangements to collect him straightaway.

Currie, by now a mature white Saanan, was at first, quite a challenge. For the first two weeks, volunteers were told not to go near him, as he was quite free with the use of his large horns. Time and patience has now transformed him into a beautiful and loving animal. We suspect that his time on the farm was probably spent living in a very confined area. His rear leg muscles have not properly developed, and he is very unstable in that area. Nature has a way of sorting out the weak and when Currie was brought into the main herd it was soon evident that many of the fitter and stronger males took advantage of his situation and set upon him, often knocking him to the floor. For this reason he has been relocated to the small herd that lives separately a field away. This small group of eight acts as a welcoming group for entire males. Here, Currie is the largest of the group and is the dominant male.

Sadly, after a brief illness, we lost our beloved Currie in May 2010. He is missed by us all, particularly by his sponsor, Ralph.