A friend in need
Community rallies around Poppet the Beach Goat to help with medical emergency
ST. CHRYSOSTOME – After nearly losing one of her beloved Nigerian dwarf goats – Poppet – to anemia, Devon Saila, owner of the Beach Goats in St. Chrysostome is amazed by how much support the community has shown to help cover Poppet’s medical costs.
“I’m just so thankful and blown away … that the community will come together so quickly,” said Saila.
For the past several years, Saila has owned and operated the Beach Goats – a business where people can stop in and hang out with her goats.
Saila jokes that – much like with children – she’s not allowed to have a favourite goat; even still, she admits that Poppet manages to be her favourite. Seeing her beloved pet anemic and close to death, she said, was devastating.
“It was sheer panic,” said Saila. “She’s an incredibly special goat, she’s a therapy goat … She goes to people who are having a hard time … and somehow, she takes away their pain and leaves them with comfort.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 11, Saila had been in the barn checking her goats for parasites; a red or pink eyelid, Saila said, means a healthy goat, while a white eyelid means the goat is likely infected. At that time, Poppet appeared to be fine.
Two days later, though, when she went out to deworm her goats, she noticed Poppet’s health had deteriorated and her eyes had turned white.
Saila took Poppet to the West Prince Veterinary Hospital in O’Leary, where they ran a blood test and discovered that Poppet was anemic and had a low red blood cell count – so low, Saila said, that they were surprising Poppet was still alive.
When she arrived at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown, Poppet in tow, South Shore Soaps owner Molly McGrath was waiting with Charlie, a goat of her own, ready to donate blood to help save Poppet’s life.
“(Word) had travelled, I guess, through the grapevine of the goat community,” said Saila. “I didn’t even really know that Poppet was going to need a blood transfusion.”
After the procedure, Saila said Poppet’s condition had noticeably improved; upon a check-up on Monday,
Jan. 17, her red blood cell count was well above anemia levels. Although Poppet remained physically weak, Saila was thankful that she pulled through.
“The transfusion, and the fast action of the vets and South Shore Soaps getting her goat to the AVC in time,” she said, “everything just came together so quickly and so well that Poppet’s life was able to be saved.”
To help cover the cost of the transfusion, Saila had set up a donation campaign
on Facebook. Within days, close to $1,800 had been donated, and Poppet’s medical costs were covered.
“The response from the community was overwhelming,” said Saila.
When Kris Gaudet heard about Poppet’s condition
and saw the fundraiser, he knew he wanted to do his part to help out – especially since one of his goats is one of Poppet’s offspring.
His first introduction to Saila and her goats was in the summer of 2020, after Saila brought some goats to a neighbours’ birthday party. Months later, in November, he caught himself getting some goats of his own.
With that connection in mind, Gaudet said it felt great to lend a hand and give back to Saila.
“We’re new to this, we’re always asking questions, and Devon’s always answering them,” said Gaudet. “She’s a great lady, she’s got some great goats, and we just wanted to help out.”
While Saila is thankful for the donations, she’s just as appreciative of all the people who have taken to the comments, voicing their love of Poppet and the rest of the Beach Goats.
“I’m still speechless about the whole thing,” said Saila. “I’m just so overwhelmed and happy and thrilled that the community could come together and help me with my little goat without even a question.”