Welcome to Goat Central

Goats are Family

Goats are family.  Like humans, goats have an emotional attachment for their natural relatives.  SWIVL has seventeen goats:  three goat families. Each family lives and plays together.  Goats are extremely intelligent and deserve the respect and protection of their human companions.  Help SWIVL continue to rescue and provide a safe sanctuary for these wonderful animals.

End Goat Rodeos

Rodeos, like all forms of animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence, should be viewed as evil – pure and simple.  Like all forms of violence, rodeos are based on control and domination.  For those who call rodeos a sport – nothing could be more ridiculous, unless you consider a grown man or women inflicting pain and suffering on an innocent, terrified animal.  Think about it.  Ask any cop about child abuse and domestic violence.  The abuser gets a thrill out of torturing his victim. 

Case in point:  At the National High School Finals Rodeo, terrified baby goats are chased down by contestants on horseback as an appalling excuse for "sport" and "family entertainment".
A goat that is already tethered to a rope is approached by a high school student on a galloping horse. Terror-stricken, the goat frantically tries to escape the oncoming horse and abuser. The roper jumps off the horse, slams the tethered goat down and ties its legs. It's a little like tackling someone who is already in handcuffs.

The video below describes the constant violence that our children are being exposed to in our high schools.  Making matters worse, this violence is being portrayed as a sport. No wonder, our schools are becoming more violent.  No wonder, child abuse and domestic violence are on the increase.   It’s time for our elected officials to end rodeos and recognize that animal cruelty should never be described as sport.

Love, Loyalty & Family

Meet Stone and Onyx: Alpine brothers and the newest permanent residents of SWIVL. Stone and Onyx came to SWIVL after they outgrew their original home.  Raised by two young girls in the local community, these two magnificent nonhuman animals are predisposed to the female persuasion.  They love the female voice and follow SWIVL Executive Director Kathleen Wishnick all around the SWIVL property. 

A few weeks after Stone and Onyx arrived at SWIVL, Stone became very ill.  Goats are extremely sensitive creatures.  They can easily become sick with simple diet changes, stressful conditions, extreme weather, and different environmental factors. 

After medical treatment, tender loving care, and a lot of worry and concern, Stone was up and about and once again following Kathleen around. 

One noteworthy, powerful observation:  All during the time that Stone was sick, Onyx did not leave his side.  You see, Stone and Onyx are family.   Onyx protected his brother and showed us that family begins with love and loyalty.

Eleven Goat Family Joins SWIVL

A family of 11 goats has joined SWIVL: 6 babies and 5 adults.  The new goat family joins a family of four that came to SWIVL in November, 2008.  Both families have adjusted to each other and occasionally share a dinner meal. The new goats were about to be sold off to the highest bidder without any regard for the relationships and bonds established in the 11 goat family.

For SWIVL, family is a universal concept and is not limited to the human community.  Family is indivisible and is an expression of life itself. Without family, life cannot exist. Family is a process for creating and becoming a place for love and compassion – where life begins, develops and thrives.  As humans we have a responsibility to protect the sanctity of the family, regardless of format, structure, or species.  Further, once we begin to distinguish the human family from the families of other sentient beings, we diminish the overall value of families everywhere and should not be surprised if the human family begins to have a corresponding deterioration.   In other words, we cannot hold the idea of family as the centerpiece of the human community if we so carelessly disregard the importance of family within the web of life. 

Humane Education Program

The SWIVL goats will be part of a school-to-community humane education program. As part of this program, students, with their parents and teachers, will (1) Learn about the history of goats; (2) Investigate how goats socialize with other goats and animals; (3) Research goats as a companion animal, the pluses and minuses, and (4) Explore how goats have been portrayed in the world of literature.  A state certified SWIVL teacher will work closely with parents and teachers to insure that state standards are part of the humane education curriculum.   Contact SWIVL if you would like more information about humane education for your school or family. 

Goats, Capra hircus, are extremely social, playful, intelligent sentient beings.  Too often, however, goats are treated as machines – considered to have no sensual or emotional life.  Goats enjoy both the company of their own species as well as humans.  Goats are even tempered and make wonderful companions.  You are encouraged to share your ideas and opinions.   Click here to become a Goat Central Author.

Your support to help these animals is needed at this time.  All contributions go directly to support the animals and the school-to-community program for children.  SWIVL has no paid staff and no contributions go to administrative costs.  Tax deductible donations are needed to build fencing and shelter and provide veterinary care and food.  Click here to make a private and secure donation.

The Social World of Goats

SWIVL is a rescue and sanctuary for goats.  SWIVL acts as a clearinghouse for other goat rescues and educational organizations by promoting a ViolenceFree environment: No animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence.  

Goats, Capra hircus, are extremely social, playful, intelligent sentient beings. 

Too often, however, goats are treated as machines – considered to have no sensual or emotional life.  Goats enjoy both the company of their own species as well as humans.  Goats are even tempered and make wonderful companions.  You are encouraged to share your ideas and opinions.   Click here to become a Goat Central Author.

SWIVL’s Goat Central works with parents, grandparents, teachers, and students to create a ViolenceFree presence in the community by offering the following opportunities:

• Goat Resources & Educational Materials

• Goat School Adoption Program

• Goat Family Adoption Program

• Goat Rescue & Foster Care Program

• Goat Intern & Volunteer Program

Contact SWIVL if you would like to participate in any of these programs or if you require additional information.  

SWIVL promotes the view that goats have the right to exist in a ViolenceFree environment.  Goats deserve an environment which allows them to fulfill their natural behaviors and achieve a state of well-being.  Like all sentient beings, goats should not be manipulated or exploited for human gain.  Goats can provide the human community with joy, companionship, and amusement. Goats, as with other farmed animals, are capable of awareness, feeling, and suffering — humans have a moral responsibility to refrain from actions which inflict suffering upon them. 

SWIVL has no paid staff and all contributions go directly to SWIVL Programs.   Click here to make a tax deductible contribution.