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TAKING CARE: Whangarei SPCA manager Francine Shields and Billy.JOHN STONE

Life's no longer gruff for goat Billy

Reprinted with permission from the Northern Advocate
By Andre Hubre

Billy the goat landed on his feet - three of them anyway - when he was taken under the wing of Whangarei SPCA manager and "mad goat lady" Francine Shields.

She is so fond of goats she has set up a refuge for them at her Maungakaramea lifestyle block where about 30 goats with all kinds of injuries have been taken in over the past four years.

Francine - who joked that she was known as "the mad goat lady" - nursed most of the animals back to health then found them homes with people she was certain appreciated goats and knew how to care for them.

Not like Billy's former owner, who she suspected had the goat castrated and kept him as a pet, but didn't look after him properly when he injured his right rear leg.

Billy was picked up on a Bay of Islands road dragging a rope. He was in poor condition and his right rear leg had an old traumatic amputation above the hock, possibly the result of a wire wrap injury.

A hoof had tried to regrow from the dew pads, but Billy could not put weight on the leg because it was too painful.

"It would be like walking on your nose as it is only cartilage and soft tissue," Francine said.

She had discussed Billy's condition with a veterinarian and, because the goat was in constant pain, the leg had to be amputated or the animal euthanased.

Francine said Billy was a friendly goat who should adapt to life on three legs and make a good family pet. So she wanted his injured leg amputated and was seeking donations to help pay for the operation, which would cost up to $1000.

Francine considered goats equal to dogs for personality and intelligence.

"They can be toilet and lead trained," she said.



Humane killing of goats did not concern Francine. She said she had no issues with landowners who shot feral goats because they were pests, eating grass grown to feed livestock.

What worried her were people all around Northland who tethered goats outside, believing they would eat anything, didn't need shelter and didn't need water.
Francine said goats need more care than most sheep. They are fussy eaters, need protection from wind and rain and are susceptible to worm infestations and disease. Her refuge had rehabilitated goats which had been found starving, dehydrated and ill. Some had been beaten.

Billy deserved to live the rest of his days without pain, she said.

Donors wanting to help the injured goat get his operation can call Whangarei SPCA on 09 438 9161.