Jordan was a kind, outgoing, and at times mischievous goat who spent most of his life at our New York Sanctuary. Over the years, Jordan fought several major health conditions, which caused severe damage to his body. (He also had to live apart from other goats to prevent the spread of disease.) Jordan’s surgeons performed multiple life-saving operations—but said that due to this extensive damage, he wouldn’t be a candidate for further surgery should his condition reoccur.

In September 2021, we brought him to our California Sanctuary to boost his health and quality of life. With his move, he could safely join a herd once more. He loved playing and snuggling with his new friends!

Sadly, Jordan had another medical emergency that further surgery could not repair. After much deliberation and consultation with specialists at two major veterinary hospitals, we agreed with his vets’ advice to let him go. It was a heartbreaking decision. We miss his full-body nuzzles and head-on-head rubs. But we’re also grateful he had the chance to know joy, companionship, and love with his newfound goat herd.

Read on to learn about Jordan’s final journey: A tale of love and triumph for one very special goat.

Everyone loves Jordan.

The jolly, plump Boer goat is always happy to see us. He’s kind, playful, affectionate, and often greets his friends with a hearty head nuzzle.

But to be a good friend to Jordan, in return, we had to make the difficult but important decision to relocate him from our Watkins Glen, New York Sanctuary to our other Sanctuary in Acton, California. It’s a move to benefit his health, happiness, and life.

Jordan came to us in 2014, fresh off the streets of New York City. Rescuers found him tied to a tree, with a sliced ear and stab wounds to his leg. Had help not arrived, someone might have killed him for meat.

Despite his ordeal, Jordan was friendly and craved attention. He triumphed through his medical treatments for wound care, infection, and severe pneumonia. For the most part, Jordan made a full recovery. But he continued to have a few lingering conditions—including one that would set him apart from the herd.

Since Jordan’s arrival in 2014, he’s had a chronic, transmissible illness caused by his weakened immune system. As he grew stronger, his body was able to fight it off and his condition stabilized. Once healthy, he was no longer a risk to others, so he joined our main sheep flock, which was also home to a few goats at the time.

Unfortunately, in 2017, Jordan’s illness started to show resistance to medical treatment. And while Jordan was strong and otherwise in good health, other animals might not be as lucky.

While Jordan’s condition could make others sick, we obviously couldn’t keep Jordan alone. Goats are social animals who thrive in herds and Jordan is especially outgoing! His illness is species-specific, though, which meant he still had many options for friends, but it would take some thought.

We first paired him with other goats with similar conditions; first Skye, then Kagen, then Anastasia. (And at one point, he and Anastasia moved to our turkey barn!) After Anastasia passed, we were running out of options. We tried Jordan with a group of smaller, gentle cows. More recently, Jordan moved in with a herd of five miniature donkeys—Collin, Darbster, Gee, Leslie, MJ—who were closer to his size and energy level.

But Jordan didn’t have to tell us: we knew it wasn’t the same as being around other goats.

A major reason why Jordan’s condition flared up is because of the damp climate and grassy pastures at our Watkins Glen, New York Sanctuary. On the other hand, our Acton, California Sanctuary is much drier and due to the mechanics of how we feed the goats there, we knew he wouldn’t be able to transmit his illness to the others. In short: there was a way for Jordan to live with other goats again!

It took some planning, but the solution was clear. Jordan was going to take a cross-country trip. We decided the donkeys would also do better in California conditions as they’re healthier on hay vs. grass diets. So in late September, we hit the road with Jordan, Collin, Darbster, Gee, Leslie, and MJ. We parted with tearful hugs—but it wasn’t a “good-bye!” Just a “see you soon!”—and we set them forward for this healthier, happier chapter.

At Jordan’s recent California checkup, his lab results were better than they have ever been! While his illness is still resistant to medication—and may never completely go away—he’s much healthier and much less at risk of further infection.

We’re happy to report that he has safely—and happily—joined his new herd. And he’s already popular with the California crew! Jordan follows them out for hillside adventures and loves butting and playing with his new friends. His favorites include big-horned Randy and Erika: another Boer goat who is spunky, mischievous, and affectionate.

Collin, Darbster, Gee, Leslie, and MJ donkeys are also settling in well. They’re still mainly keeping to their core group of five instead of mingling with the other larger donkeys, cows, and steers. But they’re growing less timid of the gentle giants and love exploring their new 20-acre space. With more room to roam and new foliage to explore, every day has been an adventure!

Sanctuary is a physical space, but it’s a feeling too. It’s a sense of security in body, heart, and mind. It’s the knowledge that one’s needs are being met and prioritized above all else. Ultimately, each animal’s care decisions are made on their behalf—even when they’re tough to make.