Help Save Buddy, the Baby Goat Who Was Thrown Away For Being Disabled (PHOTOS)

There is a serious problem with the way that we, as a society, view anyone who is not able-bodied. In addition to various forms of institutionalized ableism, which treats able-bodied individuals as normal and disabled individuals as “the other,” this misguided way of thinking carries over to how we treat animals.

Animals with disabilities are less likely to be adopted and shelter pets who fall under this demographic may wait to be adopted up to four times longer than other shelter animals. It comes as no surprise, then, that breeders who bring animals into this world solely for profit see no value in the life of a baby animal who is born physically disabled. That is what happened to Buddy, the baby goat in the photo below.

Buddy the goat was born with severe deformities in his legs that make it very hard for him to walk. Because of this, Buddy was thrown away by his breeder.

Buddy was passed around from human to human until one family who took him in realized that he needed special care. That is how this sweet baby goat ended up at Signal Hill Sanctuary in Australia. 

Although Buddy the goat can walk and run, it may be more painful for him to do so as he grows. 

Signal Hill Sanctuary wants to give this baby goat the chance at a pain-free life that he deserves. So far, they have been told by vets that his knees can be fixed by surgery. They are also aware that there are deformities in his shoulder blades and possibly his spine. The sanctuary is currently waiting on a full prognosis of how vets can help Buddy live a full life.

Buddy’s caretaker explains, “I want Buddy to live. I want him to be pain-free and happy and die of old age after a full life of destroying things. (He is a goat, after all.)”

In order to give Buddy the best life, the sanctuary is asking for donations to help pay for his surgeries. If you want to help the sanctuary raise money for Buddy’s surgery, click here.

All image source: Signal Hill Sanctuary/Facebook