Kennedy caused trouble up to the very end. Nothing was ever easy with the stubborn old goat. His last few hours were no exception. After several weeks of a decreased appetite, some odd nasal discharge prompted an emergency vet visit for Kennedy last Monday.
I loaded Kennedy into the car and sped off. On such short notice, my husband couldn’t come. I forgot to place a barricade between the front seats and Kennedy.
He apparently thought that he might escape the car through the windshield. On the drive to the vet’s office, I had one hand on the wheel and the other hand on the goat.
He apparently thought that he might escape the car through the windshield. On the drive to the vet’s office, I had one hand on the wheel and the other hand on the goat.
Meanwhile, Kennedy was sneezing his nose juice all over the car and me.
 | Once at the vet, a tube was inserted into his throat to clear any blockages. After this invasion, he decided to take his revenge by trying to eat the paper that his bloodwork results were on. I took this as a good sign that he was interested in eating again. He was severely dehydrated and would spend the night at the vet’s office. Despite the vet’s valiant efforts, Kennedy did not express an increased interest in food. The issue with his nose didn’t clear up and appeared to get worse. This prompted fears of a tumor or some other condition that was not correctable. With hearts already aching from the loss of fur family member Sherman in February, we decided to say goodbye to Kennedy on April 2. |
I knew when Kennedy slowed or stopped eating; there was a big problem. Eating was Kennedy’s favorite pastime.
When I searched for photos of him over the years, several of them were named “Kennedyeats.”
He became rather round as he grew older. A few years ago, a mobile vet making a visit for shots exclaimed in jest, “He’s pregnant.”
His current vet expressed Kennedy’s appearance with a little more tact saying he was “well-dressed.”
He became rather round as he grew older. A few years ago, a mobile vet making a visit for shots exclaimed in jest, “He’s pregnant.”
His current vet expressed Kennedy’s appearance with a little more tact saying he was “well-dressed.”
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Kennedy joined our menagerie in 2015. He met his half-brother Kyle who immediately welcomed him by bullying him.
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The abuse didn’t end there. Photos from 2015 showed that Kennedy was indeed subjected to the horrors of the “Holiday Hats” photo shoot. Over the years he was subjected to hat humiliation from Easter to Halloween.
However, Kennedy would get back at me over the years. He really knew how to annoy me or rather get my goat. When I looked up the meaning of that idiom. I giggled because there were so many times when he or Kyle would make me so agitated. Mostly of the trouble making revolved around me trying to shield my flowers and shrubs from their teeth.
I was taking photos of spring flowers recently.
I did not have to creatively detour around to make sure Kennedy didn’t follow me and eat my photo subjects.
I will be able to take my time to photograph the patch of Lady Slippers this summer. I usually had to wait until Kennedy or Kyle were busy eating somewhere else. Then I would rush over to grab a few shots before they followed me.
I did not have to creatively detour around to make sure Kennedy didn’t follow me and eat my photo subjects.
I will be able to take my time to photograph the patch of Lady Slippers this summer. I usually had to wait until Kennedy or Kyle were busy eating somewhere else. Then I would rush over to grab a few shots before they followed me.
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Kennedy had an additional irritating habit. He had a fixation with the trail cameras along our routes. He constantly and consistently readjusted them by headbutting or chewing on them. If I didn’t catch him, I would end up with a whole week of crooked pictures.
In fact, I had to move one trail camera, because he figured out how to eject all the batteries from it. I will miss all his trail camera selfies and pictures of him waiting to attack the cameras behind my back.
In fact, I had to move one trail camera, because he figured out how to eject all the batteries from it. I will miss all his trail camera selfies and pictures of him waiting to attack the cameras behind my back.
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This past week’s rainy weather also reminded me of how Kennedy disliked getting wet. Often if it was raining hard, he would refrain from walking. When the creeks we had to cross swelled, I would have to try to search upstream for a narrow place that Kennedy could cross. Nonetheless, he was pretty good at jumping across.
It never occurred to me how much his absence or the lack of any goats would affect my daily activities. We have gotten used to having goats for at least a decade. My spouse and I both talked about how we have engrained habits related to their care.
I still look out a window at an empty goat pen searching for him or Kyle. No one is there.
I still look out a window at an empty goat pen searching for him or Kyle. No one is there.
There were just three and me on the trail last week. Sadie, Clem and Gus were the sole members of my walking posse.
The loss of fur family members is always hard. However, I was thankful that I took so many photos.
It was like every day of their life had pretty much been documented.
The loss of fur family members is always hard. However, I was thankful that I took so many photos.
It was like every day of their life had pretty much been documented.
That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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