In 2016, Josie and her baby boy Gus were dumped at a beach . Mandurah Wildlife Rescue were notified about the abandoned goats and they were taken in one of the organisation’s volunteers. Both mother and kid were very underweight, and Gus who was only 4-6 weeks old at the time had to be hand fed while his mother was treated for mastitis. Gus was so week he couldn’t stand on his own, and his carer was concerned that he wouldn’t survive. Thankfully he made it through this hard time, and is now a healthy young goat.

Josie and Gus are very affectionate. Gussy loves his head scratched between his horns and Josie loves a shoulder massage. They both love to go on walks with their carer and the resident dogs.

“Every morning Gus waits for me to have my coffee so he can put his head on my lap for a scratch – they are not normal farm yard goats. They roam free and graze the property all day and then wait for their rice cracker, nuts and/or fav veggies and fruit snack to go up to their pen for the night. Josie then comes and nudges me affectionately every morning when I let them out – I know this means thanks and then gallops off to enjoy her day.”

Josie was clearly mistreated by her original owners as she is scared or brooms and wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her head. But with time and lots of TLC she has learnt to trust again, coming to her carer for head and shoulder rubs.

Gus also has his own Facebook page Gus in the Wild West!