Best Friends: Saanen & Toggenburg Goats

Best Friends: Saanen & Toggenburg Goats 
oil on canvas painting ~ by artist © Karrel Christopher 
56.5 x 56.5 cm / 22.25 x 22.25 inches
A few years ago I had the pleasure of getting to know a group of 16 wonderful goats while volunteering at a kids farm.  Each of them beautiful, kind and affectionate. There was little information about their history. Most were probably retired dairy goats. As babies their horn buds had been burnt out and soon after plastic tags were punched into their tender ears. They endured many pregnancies to keep them producing milk, had their children stolen from them (girls to later be enslaved for dairy, boys murdered for meat) and would have been milked two times a day until their productivity dropped. Some does find placement at hobby farms or petting zoos, but sadly most end up at the butcher. These girls and their other herd mates were fortunate to live!  Though existence at a kids farm is far from ideal, their minimum basic needs were met and they enjoyed loving relationships with the other animal residents and the some of caring volunteers who cherished them.  Getting to know them was a pleasure and a life changing experience.  I discovered how truly at home I feel with these smart, fascinating and adoring Caprine members of our Earth Family. These two ladies expressed so much joy - spending most of their time together. In this painting I wish to celebrate their special friendship and portray them respectfully with ear tags removed.
Please recognize that all beings cherish safety, family, freedom and LIFE.  Create a world respectful, just, safe and joyous for all beings.
Live, rejoice and prosper VEGAN ~ Live and PEACE 
ART website: Animals http://karrelchristopher.com/animal-portraits.html 
For the Love of Goats: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.827374347274003.1073741827.379579508720158&type=3