Pint-sized pet goats put smiles on pensioners’ faces

A couple of young goats have been helping pensioners at a north-east care home feel like kids again.

Bill and Ed, two sevenmonth-old pygmy goats, have been visiting homes around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with their owner Elaine Robb.

Mrs Robb, who works with the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership when she’s not caring for her four-legged friends, bought them after seeing the benefits other therapy animals can have for people living with conditions like dementia.

In recent months she has taken Bill and Ed to care homes and similar facilities throughout the north-east.

Yesterday Mrs Robb and her goats were at the Meadows care home in Huntly, to residents’ delight.

Mrs Robb, who works as a co-ordinator for older adult day care, said: “I work in care homes a lot, and I’ve experienced the ponies coming into the centres and places I worked in and seen the difference they make.

“So I really wanted to do something along the same

“Therapy animals bring a phenomenal amount of joy”

lines and, after a year of planning, it’s really taking off and there’s been heaps of bookings.”

When Bill and Ed are not out and about they spend their time in their own custom-built home at Mrs Robb’s property in Ellon, complete with plenty of rocks and wood to jump around and climb on.

Mrs Robb, 48, added: “Therapy animals bring a phenomenal amount of joy.

“One of the best things is hearing how they can bring up these amazing memories for people.

“For example, they really help older folk who used to work on farms to remember their younger days.”