Theodore and Shivers. Theodore's legs do not worK.
A Glimpse into animals' lives at Forest Voice Sanctuary
Forest Voice is dedicated to providing a safe haven for animals in need. Oftentimes, geriatric or special needs animals are difficult for rescue organizations to place. Forest Voice welcomes these animals. Also, sadly, animals sometimes are dumped in rural areas by owners who no longer want the "bother." Forest Voice provides these animals a loving home in which to live out their lives while experiencing care and joy --- possibly for the first time.
Each of our rescue animals has a unique story. Theodore, for example, was found abandoned, tied to a tree in a park in the Twin Cities area. You can read about his situation in the rescue organization OLD posting: Theodore is available for adoption at Camp Companion, Inc.
Keep in mind, this is an OLD link provided so you can see the story and pictures. Because Theodore is so darn cute, the organization was flooded with requests from all over the country. Fearing that interested adopters did not understand the requirements of Theodore's care, a veterinarian recommended they place him with us. That was four years ago, and Theodore is a happy guy even though the joints in his front legs have disintegrated due to horrific arthritis. He is medicated twice daily for heart disease, pain, and infection prevention. Due to kidney issues, he eats a prescription diet. He receives a monthly injection to relieve arthritic pain. Due to pressure sores on his front legs, he has bandages that need to be changed every day. He manages to "slide" around on a flat surface, but we carry him up and down the steps outside. He is probably in his teens now and, at first glance, looks pretty rough with his bandaged legs and awkward way of going, but his eyes are always smiling and when he gets excited for his food he can still twirl in circles.
Quick Facts
* Forest Voice administers more than 12 medications to their 30 animals each day. In addition to giving pills or liquids disguised in canned food, carrots, or pill pockets, Rosalyn and Gary keep track of the inventory and make sure the critters always have the medications upon which they rely.
* During the cold Minnesota winter, stalls in the barn and the chicken coop are kept warm with 14 various heating devices.
* The cows, horses, goose, and miniature donkey use 7 heated water buckets and an automatic waterer.
* When the temperatures are frigid, Rosalyn and Gary make sure there are water sources for wildlife.
Elsa - shortly after we adopted her
Elsa's Story
Elsa's story embodies human generosity and the immense grit and indomitable spirit of a tiny goat. Elsa, a goat, nearly lost her life in the frigid night air in January of 2018. The temperature was twelve degrees below zero in the field in central Minnesota where she was born and abandoned by an apparently confused doe. The family who owned the goat farm did not think she was alive when they found her the next morning, but they decided to bring her inside and try to save her. Amazingly, she was revived; however, her ears and hind feet were lost to frostbite. Another family offered to bottle feed the little goat for three months. During that time she learned to use a dog wheelchair / cart and also got around using her back leg stumps on soft surfaces. When this family could no longer keep Elsa, a request for a forever home was posted on an electronic veterinary discussion board, which one of our veterinarians saw and, of course, thought of us.
While we had some hesitation about whether a cart would work in our barn, we welcomed the swaddled, diapered tiny goat and soon learned that her personality did not match her size. Initially, Elsa spent time both in our house and barn, but after a few weeks she learned to take off her diaper, which brought an end to time in the house. Perhaps, in part, because of all the humans who helped her and loved her, she is confident, exuberant, affectionate, and fearless. She lives in a heavily bedded stall. Elsa often enjoys running around inside the barn and outdoors in her cart. Although she cannot jump, she engages in the bucking, spinning, and bunting characteristic of goats. She tackles all barriers, usually successfully, and if she falls over, she continues undaunted after the cart is righted. She plays with the other goat and our dogs, who have learned to play carefully with her out of respect and fear of her horns. In any fleeting moment of inattention, mischievous Elsa will untie our shoelaces, undo buttons, and practice the use of her horns on our legs. Her personality has a special sparkle and when she looks up at you with those rectangle-pupil eyes, you see reflected and returned many-fold the love she has received in her extraordinary life. Experiences like the one we are having with Elsa motivate Gary and me to open our home and our hearts to needy animals. (More photos and lots of video of Elsa at https://www.wildflowerimagination.photos/Pictures-from-2018/Elsa-Dolly-the-Goat/n-bZDkg4/)
See additional videos and photos below.
Getting to Know Goats
* Goat horns are not analogous to human fingernails. They have a blood supply and nerves. They help regulate body temperature. Injuries to horns cause pain.
* Goat's feet need to be trimmed, like horses and other animals with hooves. The tools used on goats are very different from the tools used on horses. Oftentimes a farrier will perform this service.
* Goats are ruminants. They have a fundamentally different stomach structure than horses or humans. Goats and other ruminants like cows "chew their cud." The cud is a portion of partially digested food that is returned to the mouth from the rumen (part of the stomach) for further chewing.
* Goats wag their tails when they are happy or excited, like dogs.
* At time goats vocalize in an almost human sounding manner.