A baby goat that was saved from slaughter by Critteraid Animal Sanctuary in Summerland after getting injured has sadly succumbed to the illnesses accrued before his time at the rescue.
The animal rescue spent countless hours beside little Timbit when he came to them, giving him round-the-clock care. He was having sleepovers in the medical building every night with a different volunteer.
"Our commitment to giving the best life to all our animals is an amazing opportunity. Sometimes the life line is so much less than our hopes. But for 17 days, this sweet, beautiful baby knew nothing but love," Lori Huot-Stewart, president of Critteraid, posted in a public statement on Facebook.
"His story and most stories of our rescues we normally don’t share as we feel we need to live from the day we get them. Timbit will be my exception. His story should be told."
Timbit was born seven weeks ago at an industrial farm and immediately was removed from his mother.
The young goat was put in a Rubbermaid tub for 48 hours, which Huot-Stewart said is a standard practice.
"From there, he graduated to a crate that is no bigger because the automatic feeder that is what they intend to make him learn how to use. He has no other goats, no contact or medical care of any kind."
Timbit was moved to a box stall that was just two times the size of a Rubbermaid tub and ended up injuring his leg.
According to Huot-Stewart, he spent the next four weeks alone in that pen, with no medical help.
With a leg that he couldn’t use, "he was then deemed garbage and was going to be sent to slaughter."
"We got a call from a worker who just couldn’t let this little one end up on that truck. He was so sweet. We took him to the vet the same day."
"The days in his crate left him starved and sick. We could see how thin he was but he gained seven pounds with us and was on the right road. We were privileged to spend 17 days with 24-hour care for him. Everyone that was part of his care fell in love with how incredibly sweet he was."
Timbit jumped, spun, ate, felt the sunshine, was cared for and was very loved by Critteraid's team.
"He passed away so suddenly Wednesday night and it broke our hearts. He was so, so special, extra special with how sweet he was."
The necropsy showed that Timbit had damage to his lungs from severe pneumonia, likely from being in the crate.
The tiny goat had no fat reserve from being so malnourished that it left him immunocompromised and unable to be vaccinated.
"He deserved better," Huot-Stewart said.
"Our beautiful dedicated team that does this are simply heart broken over his passing but we reflect and gain strength to do it all again by remembering that without us, those 17 days didn’t exist for Timbit. Our dedication mattered to him. He was luckier than most that come from that industry, for the majority don’t get 17 days.
"For those of you who met him, I’m so thankful for all we did for him and so unbelievable proud of our community and army of people who selflessly help. This was not the outcome we had hoped for, but in the end he was loved. It’s all we could have hoped for."
Critteraid continues to work on building their goat house for the many rescues they care for.
For more information on the goats or the overall work Critteraid does, reach out by emailing [email protected] or check out Critteraid’s website to donate.
