For years I have driven past this goat, perched atop his little house on the side of State Highway 3 south of Piopio. It seems to be a New Zealand thing, to keep goats on long leads to eat scrub on the side of the road. In one respect, it's a sustainable approach, feeding an animal while keeping weeds down and not using chemicals for this purpose. But I've also been told it's a practice now considered a bit controversial from an animal rights perspective. I guess I can see both sides of the argument, if there is one.
I must say this goat seemed quite contented.
I know because I stopped to see him this past weekend. He posed for me, even turned his head so that I might photograph his good side. I think his name might be "Billy Goat Gruff," but he's really a softie, not gruff at all. John sat in the car laughing at me while I did this. I suspect I'm not the only one to have stopped to take his picture, for all I know he's a well-known personality in the District.
John remembers that his family had (at least) two goats growing up: Millie, whom he looked after for several years, and Billy, who met his demise after getting into a tin of leaded paint. He thinks that they captured wild goats that roamed the King Country hills. They still do so.
Comments