Four Nigerian Dwarf goats joined the farm animal sanctuary herd a few years ago, bringing the group to six sweet, spirited individuals. Three were more equipped to back their head-bumps with full sets of curved horns.

Horns protect the herd from predators by allowing goats to butt predators and knock them off their game. This isn’t so much an issue here in the sanctuary. More often, it’s the goaty way to establish a pecking order. Horns also have blood vessels within them that help regulate body temperature. Here they have water and shade in summer and quilted waterproof goat coats for winter’s coldest.

Unfortunately for one of the three with their own personal cornucopia, his curving horns grew into the side of his face. On August 8, it was determined that Pluto’s horns should be surgically removed by a veterinarian. This resulted in great pits in his skull, exposing his sinus cavities. A few days afterward, we had to make an emergency run to Ohio State Veterinary Hospital in Marysville to prevent spread of infection. His cranium must be cleaned, disinfected and bandaged twice a week, well into the holiday season. If you would like to help fund his recovery, all donations to The Quarry Farm Nature Preserve & Conservation Farm are tax-deductible.

For more about the other, more joyous things that happened here in this summer, as well as upcoming events, click on and download the Fall 2023 newsletter cover. Buddy will be happy to see you.