Rescue & Adoptions

2007 Featured Rescues

At New York Shelter, Baby Goats Overcome Malnutrition, Rough Start

Not too long ago, the ethereal monikers "Skye" and "Summer" would've seemed like a cruel irony. Now, the two goats who answer to those names have the opportunity to freely enjoy both.

Skye and Summer were seized from a backyard in New York City, found incarcerated in a box and standing in piles of their own feces. The tiny kids were unable to roam free or enjoy the simple pleasures of life: munching on fresh grass beneath their feet, or exploring their world together.

The siblings were only a few months old, but had endured terrible neglect in their brief lives. And Summer and Skye weren't alone-two chickens, also suffering from malnutrition, roamed the woman's yard. After the New York City ASPCA seized the animals from the property, the owner was charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals.

A staff member at the ASPCA contacted our New York Shelter, and in no time at all, Skye and Summer made the trip upstate.

Only skin and bones when they arrived, shelter staff knew they had their work cut out for them. In addition to having been starved, both babies suffered from heavy parasite loads, not an uncommon condition for animals who had endured the kind of neglect Skye and Summer had. The siblings were immediately given the medical treatment they needed, in addition to proper nutrition. With a little TLC and medical attention, the babies took their first steps down the long road to recovery.

For Skye, that road is a bit rougher. While Summer began thriving after her initial treatments, Skye has suffered setbacks. As a consequence of his early neglect, Skye cannot process food properly, painfully bloating after he eats. He's also anemic, an effect of his bout with parasites.

And, even though Summer is not in need of the same kind of veterinary care as her brother, she still makes the trips to Cornell University Hospital for Animals with him. The babies are so young and share such a tight bond that they cannot be out of each other's sight.

In addition to bringing the goats back to health, our shelter staff also finds satisfaction in watching the two kids' personalities blossom. Summer can be a bit reserved when she first encounters new scenarios, but in no time at all her independence shines through and she eagerly explores her surroundings. Skye is a little love bug, and prefers to spend his time sitting on a warm lap and snuggling.

These days, there's no hint of irony watching Summer and Skye enjoy life to its fullest-their existence is just as dreamy as their names would lead one to believe.