A Vancouver ranch owner is burdened with unusual responsibilities after giving birth to a rare hairless goat.
Connie Rohr of Maple Heart Ranch, south of Lake Shonigan, says the hairless child – named “Precious” – was born on Friday (April 29th).
“We thought she wouldn’t survive because her mother didn’t take her,” Rohr said. “But we tried anyway, because she seemed to have a very strong instinct for survival.”
A vet who examined the animal told Rohr that he had never heard of a goat being born without hair. A similar birth was recently reported in Turkey, but Rohr said she had not been able to find other cases.
It remains for Rohr and her family to try to figure out how to care for Precious.
“We took her into the house, fed her a bottle and made sure she was warm. It sounds simple, but not if you have to turn on the generator to have electricity or keep the fire going to keep the house warm, ”she said.
The Rohr family feeds from a bottle of Precious, a rare hairless goat born last week. (TikTok / @mapleheartranch)
Because her mother rejected her, Precious has to eat every two hours and essentially requires round-the-clock care.
“We also need to buy a lot of clothes, diapers, puppy pads and a cage to keep her safe in the house. Probably a baby monitor, too, ”Rohr said.
And due to its unique condition, Precious will not be able to stand outside with other goats and will have to have a special shelter or addition to the house, as well as clothes and special creams to protect it from the elements.
Get ready for something you’ve never seen on @CHEK_News tonight. I had just come from a meeting with this surprisingly small package, born on a farm on Lake Shonigan, and I saw why everyone who met her was delighted. “Hairless, just weird,” she was first described as now called “Precious.” pic.twitter.com/vhuE427tL1
– Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) May 2, 2022
Adding to the burden is the fact that Rohr was injured in a horse accident, so the rest of her family is declining.
“So the work of four people had to be divided into three, and now we have an extra task to support,” she said.
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As a result, the family launched the GoFundMe campaign to help cover the cost of caring for Precious.
“We are trying to be as self-sufficient as possible in our household and to be able to maintain our daily bills to take care of all our animals in the best possible way, but now with the extra costs and limited workforce, we need financial support, “Rohr said.
Meanwhile, the family shares Precious’s trip on their TikTok page.
@mapleheartranch Our fur-free goat was born on April 29th. #furlessgoat #precious #homesteading ♬ Funny Song – Cavendish Music
The GoFundMe page can be found here.
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