According to Jennifer Federico, director of animal care at the Wake County Animal Center, "It's a strange pair, but it works for them." Who are we to pass judgment? They clearly care for one another.
When a dog named Felix and a goat named Cinnamon turned up at the door of the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, the staff was faced with a difficult decision.
The shelter typically doesn't accept farm animals but annually takes in thousands of dogs and cats.
Yet according to Jennifer Federico, director of animal services, Cinnamon and Felix appeared to be friendly with one another.
Federico, who has been employed by the shelter for 12 years, said, "That was a first." Most of our dogs aren't interacting with goats, she said.
Federico reported that she had witnessed the arrival of some weird creatures at the shelter. Bearded dragons and chickens came to mind. But an American bulldog-goat hybrid as a pet?
On March 13, she made an exception and allowed them inside. Things did not go well when staffers divided them up and placed each in their own enclosure.
Federico reported that Cinnamon was distressed and was bleating and calling to the dog. She was so anxious and stressed out that we understood they needed to remain together.
Federico anticipated that the couple would stay at the shelter for a few days while the goat and dog's owners—who lived with them in a Raleigh neighborhood—were receiving medical attention. An animal control officer who dropped them off to the shelter claimed that the owner did not have someone who could take care of them, Federico added.
That also didn't go as expected.
She claimed, "We gave the owner notice that it was time to come and fetch them after 10 days, but he regrettably never came in." "After that, ownership comes back to us."
The bonded duo had by this time won over the hearts of the shelter workers.
Cinnamon follows Felix around like she was raised with him, according to Federico. The goat doesn't even need to be on a leash; she will follow Felix everywhere he goes. We understood they had to remain in the same holding pen when she became unhappy.
They are now respected by the workers.
Federico remarked, "It's a strange pair, but it works for them. "Were we to pass judgment? They genuinely care for one another.
Federico was aware that the shelter needed to make an effort to place them for adoption together. On Facebook on March 25, one of the employees wrote:
The article stated, "We have an EXTREMELY special circumstance and we need your help to find a RESCUE who can accept this bonded couple and find them the perfect home." They even sleep together and have been kept together all the time, excluding when they eat. They are the best friends and are genuinely linked.
Those who wanted to help the dog and goat find a farm to live on shared the post thousands of times after it was picked up by Friends of Wake County Animal Center.
Small-scale farmers in the Raleigh region started making offers. Also joining in was the general admiration for the unique couple.
One commenter commented, "Ohhh these adorable infants I hope they can stay together."
So, is this an indoor goat or an outdoor dog? Someone else was curious.
The Facebook post received so many comments the following day that the shelter had to halt it. The following day, on March 27, the couple found a new home.
Federico stated that after Felix is neutered, a nearby farm will send someone to pick up the couple this week.
They have other goats, and she hoped that eventually they would incorporate Cinnamon into the goat herd.
She is relieved that they will remain a couple.
She gushed, "They are the cutest best friends," noting that Felix and Cinnamon had fun playing in the shelter's AstroTurf-covered dog yard together.
Federico said, "She noticed some weeds along the perimeter and did some weeding for us. She would be most comfortable grazing on some grass at a farm, possibly with Felix nearby.
She claimed that although Felix is more laid-back than Cinnamon and enjoys socializing with people just as much, he still exhibits fondness for the goat.
Federico remarked, "He's a big block-headed bulldog, and if he wanted to harm her, he could. Yet he appears to like being with her a lot. He licked Cinnamon to let her know he was returning the day we took him out for a short while to check how he got along with other dogs.
Federico claimed that while Felix was away, the goat banged her head against the wall and bleated in alarm, but she swiftly bounced back.
She remarked, "She calms down right away when she's back with the dog." "This is clearly out of the ordinary, but they seem to be at ease with each other."
She stated that although they need to be separated by a divider in their kennel when they eat, they appear pleased to slumber and play together at the shelter while arrangements are being made to transfer the two into their new permanent home.
Federico noted that a staff member had purchased a special kibble mix at a nearby farm supply store for the goat, adding that Cinnamon didn't really appreciate it but that if we didn't do it, Felix would eat all of her food.
Cinnamon enjoys eating, but she prefers to cuddle with Felix, she said. "We wish them many happy years together in the future."
