FoxDog Stampede: In MemoriamWe do all we can to take good care of our goats. Sometimes though, nature has other things in mind. Here resides a few paragraphs in honor of those companions of ours who have passed on, and wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge.
Ravencrest Patty O Day
Patty was one of the first goats we got. She was sister to Ravencrest MacKenzie, and Randy's special little goat. She was ranked number two doe in the little herd, and fought hard to keep her position. She was inquisitive, if not too bright, and very pretty. Patty passed away due to an accident when she strangled in a hay net. We were crushed, and mourn Patty to this day. The night Patty died, Rikke dreamed that Patty came to her, helped her lead hundreds of goats across the Rainbow Bridge and then entrusted her with a baby doeling. Patty told Rikke the doeling was to be named Kelly. And so, Kelly was named before she was born.
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Patty at 4 months old
Patty shortly before her death
FoxDog Stampede Holly
Holly was only with us a few days, but she made such an impression. She was a beautiful little doe, full of promise. One of Milk Chocolate's litter of 5, born the day before New Year's Eve, 2005, she was absoutely adorable. Unfortunately, she got stepped on admist the scrum of kids always surrounding her mother. Randy found her when she was about 4 days old, quite cold and unresponsive. It was 2 am. For the next 7 hours, we fought for her life. We did everything we could, and phoned friends far across the continent in Maine and Texas for help and support. But, alas, it was not to be. We knew something was dreadfully wrong inside her, something we simply couldn't fix. She passed away in Rikke's arms.
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Holding Holly was heaven. We'll be looking for her at the Rainbow Bridge.
FoxDog Stampede Maximus Primus
Max was one of our bucks. A blond, blue-eyed surfer boy, he had a very laid back attitude, or so it seemed. He was the first kid born on our farm, and for a long time he was Randy's pride and joy. Max passed away one April afternoon in 2006. As we went about our chores he was fine, but suddenly he began to scream. We ran to him. He suffered little, and died in Rikke's arms in under 5 minutes. We believe he had a heart attack or stroke.
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Max at Birth, his Mother in Back
Max at 2 Months
Max at 3 Months
Over a year old in all his stinky glory
FoxDog Stampede JT Fudge
JT passed away on 8 Sept 2006 from a freak infection. We fought long and hard for him, and he tried so very hard to continue living. But in the end, we put him down. The infection beat us. His death sits particularly hard, because perhaps, if things had been slightly different, we could have prevented it. JT went into that never ending sleep being petted, whispered to, and loved by Rikke and Randy. Bless his little soul, we are sure he'll be there at the Rainbow Bridge when we finally join him.
JT had the greatest beard and fur. It was thick and luxurious and turned orange red at the ends. He was a tough goat, always ready for a fight with the other boys, and yet he could be a sweet little baby with us too. JT fathered quite a few other young bucks in his short lifetime, and a few does too. His cruel death has taught us to be more vigilant, more observant. And personally, it's taught me something I already knew but didn't act on much, that buck stink comes off with soap. I need to get down there and be with them every day, to make sure they are ok. There is no excuse not to.
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JT at Birth
JT at two months
JT on at cold winter's day, about 6 months old
A year old, and grown out of his gawkiness
