“FREDERICK” ~ Bagot Goat Buck
~ 57 x 57 cm / 22.4 x 22.4 inches
original oil
painting on canvas by © Karrel Christopher
~ Goat
bucks hold a special fascination for me as an artist, photographer and animal
lover. Each have their own special strength, dignity and charm. At first glance you may think of them as
serious, foreboding and musky fellows. However, they are also gloriously
playful, humorous, tender and caring.
Male goats - that actually get to live - too often lead dreary lives in
isolation and filth. These regal beings
are sadly forgotten and misunderstood.
As I develop
my series of goat portraits, I hope to share with you a glimpse of their
beauty, personality and magnificence.
Perhaps you will get to know them and consider them as the special
individuals that they are - instead of regarding them as a product of the cold
and heartless animal agriculture industry.
Let's
create a world safe and joyous for all beings.
ART website: http://karrelchristopher.com/
For the LOVE of GOATS: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.827374347274003.1073741827.379579508720158&type=3
Art on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karrel-Christopher-ART-Photography/379579508720158
Karrel's Creative Path ~ Blogspot: http://karrelart.blogspot.nl/
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~ In recent years, I have been very fortunate to spend a great deal of time with
goats of all shapes, sizes, breeds and ages. Discovering their unique
personalities and sweet loving nature has been joyous and life changing.
Admittedly, they have become some of my favorite Earthlings! Most people only
meet goats briefly at a petting zoo or local farm fair. On those occasions,
adults and children alike will marvel at the adorable baby Kid goats prancing
about with their mothers Does in the spring and summer. Sadly, these special
beings are soon forgotten. The goat Kids grow up fast and too often there is no
responsible plan for their lifetime needs as happy individuals. Too often
considered disposable things-- irresponsibly bred for mere food, product and
entertainment. Many babies are never registered and are just sold direct to the
butcher for MEAT at a cheap price per head or pound. The females typically end
up ENSLAVED in a DAIRY facility for PROFIT. The young Does get registered with
painful ear tags and at most have their horn buds burned off for human
convenience. They are kept pregnant year after year by natural mating or
artificial insemination. Their babies are taken after birth so humans can
steal, process and profit from their MILK. These females are milked twice a day
(by hand or machine) until they are no long profitable producers. Many suffer
from painful mastitis, deficiencies and other health problems. Some retired
Does might be lucky to go to a hobby farm, petting zoo or rescue…or but often
there are not enough homes for placement – so they are killed. Some of the
fancier long hair breed of goats will be exploited for the WOOL, many others
for fleeces and skin.
**What
happens to the MALE GOATS?? Male kids may become sexually active as early as
six weeks old and soon need to be separated from the female kids to avoid
unplanned pregnancies. The males can be used for STUD purposes in their first
autumn, although late born kids may not be ready until later in the breeding
season. Typically, only registered pedigree Bucks are considered valuable for
breeding. The remaining males are of NO USE to the DAIRY INDUSTRY. If they are
not butchered early for MEAT - they will get registered, receive ear tags and
usually have their horn buds burned off too. If not wanted for stud service
they are likely to be neutered in a brutal fashion by one of agriculture’s
standard industry methods: crude scalpel, rubber banding or Burdizzo (large
clamping pliers) – without anesthesia (often times not done by a veterinarian).
Male goats kept for mature MEAT are neutered to avoid a so-called undesirable
strong musky taste in their flesh due to hormones. Many consider the more
humane veterinary surgical method with anesthesia too inconvenient and too
costly. So this leaves the remaining male goats to the eventual fate of a death
sentence or in EXILE in a remote location. Un-neutered male goats in seasonal
rut can display spunky, challenging behavior and typically have a strong musky
scent that many folks don’t like. But when treated with kindness and respect,
they can be very interesting and enjoyable companions when people have
reasonable expectations. Intact male goats need patient and knowledgeable
caretakers to attend to their needs in captivity. Unfortunately there are too
few dedicated caregivers and these magnificent bucks are set out afar, away
from people and Does. They are the forgotten ones, often suffering great
loneliness, neglect, misery and filthy conditions.
Wild, lost
and abandoned goats also meet survival challenges with increasingly less
available territory to inhabit due to human expansion and domination; lack of
food and water, poisons, pollutants, the threat of human hunters and other
predators. Practically all goats - whether in a hobby farm, petting zoo,
agricultural fair; in dairy, meat and wool industries or feral - are considered
property, livestock or pests with no rights for a free, dignified and happy
life. In one way or another, human and animal lives are unavoidably entwined
and we need to create a responsible coexistence. Animals are forced to rely on
humans in some manner and are at their mercy. Tragically, too often we cruelly
betray them. It is our responsibility to kindly consider their perspective,
their desires and needs – and to care for them with the same respect and
compassion that we desire ourselves. They are sensitive living beings who
cherish safety, family, freedom and LIFE. They are NOT ours to USE as a source
of food or product or amusement. Please see them, get to know them and
appreciate them for their wonderful character, beauty and spirit.
They are
part of our EARTH FAMILY. ~ kc
ALL BEINGS
CHERISH SAFETY, FAMILY, FREEDOM & LIFE
Live,
rejoice and prosper VEGAN
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