FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
St. Chrysostome family members documenting their big love for their dwarf goats
St. Chrysostome family members document their big love for their dwarf goats
Daisy greeted me as I walked into the Saila family’s St. Chrysostome home.
She was wearing a blue dress with a bow clipped in her hair.
I’ve been wanting to write about Daisy and her family for a while now as I’m something of a fan, following their exploits around P.E.I. on social media. They’re goats, you see. But they’re not just any goats – they are Nigerian dwarf goats who live in their owner’s house, are dressed in an array of clothes and regularly make leashed outings around Summerside where they visit with the locals. Compelling stuff.
I began by talking with Daisy’s owner, Devon Saila, to talk about her unconventional roommates.
Devon, her father, Ron, and I settled into their living room to chat. Daisy stood beside me the whole time, occasionally bleating softly and once leaning down to nibble gently on my pant leg.
Devon had a second goat, Poppet, on her lap as we spoke. Like Daisy, Poppet was wearing a dress, a bow and even had a string of pearls around her neck.
At only four months old, Poppet was the size of a small-breed dog, while Daisy at one-anda-half was about the size of a smallish golden retriever.
“As cute as this looks – it’s a lot of work,” remarked Devon.
Originally from Ontario, Devon and her son had been spending their summers on P.E.I. for many years until moving here full-time three years ago. Her retired parents, Ron and Lynne Saila, came with them.
“We were fed up with Ontario,” said Ron.
They bought a home with land overlooking the Northumberland Strait. The main house is on Route 11, but there is a small cottage not far away on their beachfront.
During the summer, Devon, her son, their dogs and the goats live at the cottage. The goats are more free-range there, happily finding interesting things to munch along the shore.
Devon has dubbed her little herd the “Beach Goats,” and has social media pages documenting their antics and travels at www.facebook.com/beachgoatspei and www.instagram. com/beachgoats.
She had always wanted goats and when they moved to P.E.I. she saw her opportunity. She contacted a breeder of Nigerian dwarfs in Nova Scotia.
Her herd has since grown to seven animals of the same breed. Most of them, especially the males, live in their pen and enclosure, but Daisy and Poppet spend much of their time in the house.
Daisy is housebroken and Poppet is small enough that she can use diapers. The clothes, which were made for dogs, help keep the diapers on.
Devon often takes Daisy to see local school classes or into the pet stores which usually allow dogs.
It’s often fun to see people’s reactions, she said.
“A lot of times there’s a big double-take,” she laughed.
“It’s not like walking your dog through town. People are just so amazed and so happy to see them.”
They are surprisingly intelligent animals and each has a big personality. Given their dwarf size, they are manageable as quasi-house pets, though they are still a lot of work and not something that would be for anyone, she said.
I asked her why she goes through the effort.
She reached down and gave Poppet’s tiny head a little scratch. During our conversation, the baby goat had fallen asleep in her owner’s lap.
“It’s cuddles, it’s love – I love animals,” she said with a smile.
My interview with the Beach Goats lasted almost an hour before it was time to head back to the office.
I gave Daisy’s head a scratch before leaving and she gave my leg one last inquisitive sniff.
As I drove away, I thought about something Ron said during our chat.
“I think the biggest thing about the goats is that they cause happiness – bottom line.”
I smiled all the way back to Summerside.
“It’s not like walking your dog through town. People are just so amazed and so happy to see them.” Devon Saila