Miscellaneous

 A Visit to Goat Daddy Farm

Down in central SC is an animal sanctuary / goat dairy that I and some family members visited this month. The farm is occasionally open to the public for events, but most of the time visitors get private tours. The baby goats are just starting to come in. Our tour guide let us meet some of the new nubian goat kids. Completely adorable of course. Plus we got to visit the alpacas, the camel, steer, pigs, parrots and reptiles (and more) that are all rescues from people or places that could no longer keep them. 

I love animals, but I am not a fan of most people keeping exotic pets. They are difficult to keep healthy and happy. Usually they are wild animals and can't stand confinement without developing behavioral and mental health issues. They need more space, more exercise and more nuanced nutrition and environment than we humans, with our busy lives, can give them. 

A few years ago I visited Auldbrass, the Frank Lloyd Wright house in SC (with the same crew who went to Goat Daddy). It belongs to a movie producer now and on the grounds they keep some exotic animals. The pygmy hippo stands out. Why would anyone want to keep a pygmy hippo that they only visit a few times a year? Why make a herd animal live alone in a boring, bare pasture when it should be lounging in tropical waters with its family and friends? 

So I was a bit worried about Goat Daddy. Was it one of those places that collects exotic animals as a petting zoo? A place like the set up in Tiger King? A place where baby and adult exotic animals are exploited for photo ops and are often abused or mutilated to keep them "safe" for the public to handle? 

When people like the Auldbrass owner, or the petting zoo collector get bored with their exotic pet or are raided by a local animal control organization, the animals are often turned over to a rescue or sanctuary. 

A place dedicated to giving the animals a more normal, healthy existence. An existence that doesn't depend upon how cute or well-behaved they are. A place where they aren't constantly handled by strangers, or used as an instagram prop or neglected.

Goat Daddy farm is a place like this. The number of visitors is limited and their interaction with the animals is limited. Some of the residents are happy to be petted and fed treats. Others need their space. The fences are all in good repair, the food bins are clean, fresh water is available freely. Special diets, shelter, heatings or lighting needs are in place. The enclosures reflect the needs of the animals. And tellingly, the animals all respond positively to the staff.

The dairy is bright and clean and their goat cheese is delicious. If you can, please donate, or take the tour.