by Margaret Mair

Created on: August 15, 2008

It is amazing what a goat can do. You may think the only place you're likely to see them is down on the farm. But lately more and more of them are appearing in other places - perched on overgrown hillsides, nibbling away in weedy urban areas, and enjoying life in neigborhood backyards. Even visiting in houses. And they are doing amazing work - gobbling up weeds, providing milk to backyard farmers, giving love and inspiration. Be careful if someone offers to introduce you to a goat - many sceptics find themselves succumbing to the appeal of these lively, intelligent animals when a goat pops into their lives.

Like Poppy, the Portland, Oregon pygmy goat who appeared on a transit bus. Since she has offered no explanation for her surprising trip, no-one knows how she found her way to the bus or where she was planning to go. Nor could she explain. In the end she was escorted off the bus and her expedition ended with a stop at an animal shelter before a happy reunion with her owner. But along the way she did something that little goats seem to be very good at - she made people smile. Even the police who were called to help get her off the bus.

Making people smile is no mean gift. Particularly when those people are facing difficult times in their lives. Precious, a pygmy goat, helped brighten Elizabeth Cooper's life after Elizabeth was diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager more than nine years ago. Precious brought her own brand of love, playfulness and devotion into Elizabeth's life. And will continue to love and be loved now that efforts by a New Jersey neighbor to have her moved away were averted, after the zoning board allowed a variance so she could stay.

The love of another special goat coaxed a special talent into the open. Sunny, a pygmy goat in Newfoundland, loves his owner very much. He loves to be near her, listen to her voice, pose for her. And his owner, Allison, loves him right back - enough to take hundreds of photos of him. In the process she began to hone the skills she now uses to take beautiful, award-winning photos. And it all began with the love of a perfect little goat...

On the other hand, there is nothing small about Albie, the energetic goat with the prosthetic leg. After being found in a Brooklyn Park he found a home on the Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary, but lost a leg as a result of the injuries he sustained before he got there. Happily for Albie, Jennifer Brown, the owner of the sanctuary, understood the challenge that Albie faced. She had lost a part of her leg to bone cancer at ten years old. So she asked her prosthetist if he could develop a leg for Albie - and he was happy to try. Many others have contributed the money to help cover Albie's costs, and still more have learned about the lives of Albie and other animals like him. Now Albie, happy and well-loved, has his prosthesis and a chance at a better life. And his simple prosthesis may become a model for an inexpensive prosthesis for people.

Smiles and love and new accomplishments - and in these cases, all because of a goat.

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