Something I learned from following one of our nation's largest zoos is that animals in captivity are healthier when they have a variety of "enrichment items" in their habitat. These objects, designed to physically and mentally stimulate the animals, include anything the creature can jump on, climb over, or play with on land or in the water. Our favorite zoo even maintains an "Enrichment Committee" to research and provide these useful items for their animals. (I want that job!!)
Hey, what's good enough for polar bears and baby hippos is good enough for my goats!
With a limited budget, my daughters and I have located numerous enrichment items for Em and Ellie, mostly on trash day and from curbside junk piles. Old wooden pallets, aerobic steps, broken patio umbrellas - the benefit of driving a minivan is that almost everything fits in the back. If it looks like something a goat might jump on, rub against or use for shade, we bring it home.
I say Enrichment; my husband groans at yet another haul of Other People's Junk or Something Else to Mow Around. Semantics...
What could be more important, after all, than the mental health of these two adorable critters?
