In a heartwarming tale of rescue and recovery, two newborn goats discovered abandoned in a bin have found safety and been given unusual names inspired by the waste industry.
From Bin to Sanctuary: A Chilling Discovery
The two kids, a female named Veolia and a male named Biffa, were found on January 5 in a bin outside a veterinary clinic in Ashford, Kent. Their umbilical cords were still attached and damp, indicating they were likely only hours old when they were callously discarded.
Thankfully, they were quickly handed over to the experts at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Maidstone. Established in 1989 and gaining charitable status in 2003, Buttercups is recognised as the UK's first and only registered charity dedicated solely to goat welfare.
Road to Recovery at Buttercups
Ben Ward, the sanctuary's head of hoofstock with six years of experience, detailed their precarious start. "Veolia couldn't walk particularly well to begin with but got on her feet fairly quickly," he said. "Biffa, the boy, had some very raspy sounding lungs. We were concerned he might have a lung infection, potentially the beginning of pneumonia, which would make sense as he was out in the cold."
The dedicated care at the sanctuary paid off. "I'm very pleased to say that we're now a week and a half on and they're both jumping around, prancing around, as kids should be," Mr Ward reported. "Very happy, healthy, eating well, and everyone is head over heels besotted with them and how funny and sweet they are."
An Unexpected Gesture from a Waste Giant
In a surprising and generous twist, the waste management company Veolia responded to the story. A company spokesperson announced they would cover the cost of food for both goats for an entire year.
"We don't want there to be any kidding around between Veolia and Biffa – so Veolia is delighted to be covering the cost of food for both goats for a year," the spokesperson stated. "While these two aren't part of our usual collections crew, they have both earned their place as The GOATs (Greatest Of All Time). We'll be sure to check in on them as we complete their recycling and waste collections at the sanctuary."
Mr Ward highlighted the ongoing need for the sanctuary's work. "There are loads of goats across the country that need help," he explained. Situations range from owners underestimating the care required to heartbreaking cases of neglect. "It's always very sad, you lose a bit of faith in humanity each time you see something like that. There is a need for it, otherwise we wouldn't be here."
The story of Biffa and Veolia serves as a poignant reminder of both animal cruelty and the compassion that exists to counteract it, ensuring these two kids now have the playful future they deserve.
