BOER GOAT MOM oil painting

BOER GOAT MOM  

original oil painting on board ~ 30 x 40 cm

by © Karrel Christopher 

ART website: http://karrelchristopher.com/
Art on Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Karrel-Christopher-ART-Photography/379579508720158
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~~ Dearest BOER MOM is a lady of such sweetness, strength and dignity. When I look into her eyes and enjoy her embrace, I feel the presence of a very special soul. She lives among many breeds of female goats at a Kid’s Farm. The early part of her life seems to be mystery…sadly, workers and volunteers don’t know where she came from, how old she is and she has no name. In her youth, her horn buds were brutally burned out and her ears punched with hard plastic numbered tags. Perhaps she was a reject from a commercial farm (Boers are typically raised for meat) or came from a petting zoo that irresponsibly bred too many kids (and did not have enough room for them all)? Boer goats, with their long lovely ears can have some of the worst accidents with ear tags. It seems both of her ears got caught on things and tags torn out at least a couple of times – slicing her tender ears open and raw. Sometimes these very painful injuries are ignored…sometimes they get sutured. For now, she is free of her “property” markings but bears the scars.

Last fall she was bred with a handsome Boer buck that lives in a separate field nearby. As the months went by, she grew larger and larger – increasingly experiencing great fatigue and breathing problems. I sat with her many times, massaging her weary back… thinking she would just burst at any moment. Pregnancy and birth are certainly natural –but are not easy task. Does that are enslaved and exploited in the dairy industry give birth every year, have their kids stolen away (kids enter into their slavery or are killed). These mourning mothers are milked twice a day, tied in a stall – all so their milk can be sold for human use. When they are depleted and non-productive, they are retired, sold and often butchered for meat and skin.

Finally, this lovely Boer delivered three beautiful kids – two boys and one girl. This was her first time as a mother, but despite her exhaustion – she was a wonderful caretaker of her new precious lives. Sadly, a couple of weeks later one of the boys suddenly died. The reason was never known. Those of us who love her felt so terribly sad. But she was so brave, courageous, and attentive and caring -- not only her two remaining kids but also was helpful with kids from other does.

The months have gone by and she has slowly regained her health and energy. Extra nutritious snacks and grooming have helped. Her beautiful daughter still dances at her side and still enjoys her mother’s milk all these months later. Her handsome son has joined the other intact bucks in the nearby herd and is experiencing his first season of rut. He is the true favorite of the alpha buck (a majestic Wallische) – who is a tender and caring mentor. At this particular Kid’s Farm, the bucks are fortunate to have permanent homes or be adopted out to hobby farms. Most surplus males are butchered for meat – since few farmers want to offer the special care they need or pay for a humane neutering. They have nowhere to be free anymore.

My desire is that people meet and really get to know other animals...and be kind to them. It opens up a whole other world of beauty, respect, understanding and compassion. These wonderful beings have much to teach us, if will change our attitudes and listen with open hearts. Let us be loving to our Earth Family.
ALL BEINGS CHERISH SAFETY, FAMILY, FREEDOM and LIFE.
Live, rejoice and prosper VEGAN