Goats????

Morning
ive just had the neighbour bang my door asking to borrow my dog crate,of course i asked why....she replied she is going to pick up a pygmy goat today
now im sure this isnt allowed around here,its going to be living in the garden of a terraced house (im onthe end) but im not to sure what to expect now Do they smell? Is it likely to get through the fence? 1 goat against 3 rotties is not something i really want to happen
i do like goats...especially the pygmys & they are really cute but surely they cant be suitable for pets in a built up area?

sarah

Don't know haven't any experience of Goats,saw some lovely ones (Pigmy's)
last week at a garden centre come mini zoo,they were cute but lots of them and in nice big pens in the country.Where I would think they would be best suited.Years ago aneighbour of ours had a goat,it got into our garden and I complained to the council,they will eat anything washing on the line etc., and they weren't allowed it.Is the Neighbour buying their house do you know,or renting.Good luck with it.

Yes - if they are male and haven't been 'done'. Females in season make lots of noise.

You can keep goats in the back garden. I guess the bleating they might make is classified no differently to dogs barking, and subject to the same noise rules.

However, there are some legal aspects your neighbour may be unaware of:

awwwwwwwww

i love pygmy goats

they dont smell if kept properly, they are very different from normal goats

they are an african species and thus are adapted to a warm climate and so dont go to toilet as much etc ...

they are generally just like dogs

im jealous

The deeds (I don't think that's the right term but I can't remember the proper one) for most houses don't allow the keepng of livestock such as chickens and goats but I don't know about pygmy goats. Someone on my block used to keep a large goat. It made the occasional loud noise (sounded more like a donkey than a goat) but other than that it didn't seem to cause any trouble. I love goats. I wish I could have one.

I would love a pygmy goat, they are so sweet!!

Not enough garden for one.

It depends on where you live and each individual council - the laws referred to were brought in following the foot and mouth epidemic a few years back.

I had a pygmy goat for many years - he was a neutered male so didn't smell and he made a lovely pet. He used to come for walks and was let off lead with my dog. (I believe you need a licence now to walk them in public - at least I know you do for pot bellied pigs cos someone over the road has one, don't quote me on this as you need to check with your own council).

Billy used to get in a real state when the dog went for a swim cos goats don't like water and he would run up and down the river bank panicking cos he couldn't help his friend - he would then shake himself when the dog came out of the water. They really hate water and will stand with all four feet on a brick rather than walk through a puddle. If I sat on a bench during a walk he would sit on it next to me - and would chase off my children and not let them sit next to me. There was an old boy who lived on a boat down the canal who would always come out and feed Billy with carrots - one day he wasn't there so Billy jumped on the boat and started butting the door!

There are drawbacks - if he was bored he would put his head through the fence panels so he could eat the plants in the neighbours garden. He got through once and gave my neighbours bonsai trees a good pruning! He would prefer roses to brambles.

Sadly my pack got up into the orchard one day while I was out (they had never been allowed into that part of the garden but I forgot to lock the back door and they got out, jumped all the fences and killed him). I was so upset but it was my fault for not locking the door.

Here is a pic of me and Billy the kid.