ARLINGTON — For a month, nasally goat bleats have marked the rhythm of Ellen Felsenthal’s life.
When she wakes up, she feeds goats and gives them medicine. When she gets home from work, she feeds them more. Before she goes to bed, she spends hours on the phone with people who want to adopt them.
“The last three weeks have been 100 percent goat-oriented,” she said. “I haven’t cleaned my house, ridden my horses, or even gone to the grocery store since this all began — some vacation! But it has been totally worthwhile.”
Felsenthal took in more than a hundred orphaned goats in mid-December. The goats — along with a hoard of geese, ducks, chickens, cats and a llama — were found on a Skagit County farm after their elderly owner died, according to Emily Diaz, the county’s animal control officer.
Felsenthal trucked the goats to her farm in rural Arlington and is taking care of them until new homes are found.
Already, she has placed 54 goats with families. An additional 14 “chosen” goats have been selected for adoption, but are staying with Felsenthal until their new homes are ready.
Sixty goats still need homes.
Last weekend, volunteers came to the farm to help Felsenthal catch and medicate each goat. When they arrived on the farm, all had worms and lice. Many had hoof rot, which causes a limp.
Since word of the goats has spread, more than 100 people have called or e-mailed Felsenthal offering to adopt them. However, many of the callers wanted to butcher the goats or didn’t have the needed time or space, so Felsenthal declined their offers.
She has also received donations of money, hay and supplies. Still, she says she has paid half the cost to care for the goats herself.
The goats eat four bales of hay and 10 pounds of grain a day.
During Felsenthal’s first few weeks with the goats, she had time off from her job as a photography professor at Everett Community College. She cared for the goats constantly.
She has since returned to work, and the goats are taxing but rewarding, she said.
“Personalities are coming through,” she said. “Sore hooves are healing quickly. Coats are soft again. This has been a lot of hard work, but worth every bit.”
Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.
Goat adoption
Ellen Felsenthal is looking for families to adopt about 60 goats that were orphaned when their previous owner died in early December.
Goats are social, so people interested in adopting should either already have goats or be willing to adopt a pair, said Felsenthal, who owns New Moon Farm, a goat sanctuary in Arlington.
Prospective owners also need space and time to care for goats properly, she said.
“I want them to be pets,” Felsenthal said. “I don’t want them to be used as food.”
For more information on the goats, go to www.newmoonfarm.org.
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