Care home uses pygmy goats in innovative animal therapy

A Leonard Cheshire Disability care home is pioneering new forms of pet therapy and has opened a pygmy goat centre at the home for people with disabilities.

The Greathouse in Kington Langley, Wiltshire, has opened its centre prior to Mental Health Awareness week, to promote the many health benefits of these animals.

Rebecca Richards, the activities organiser at Greathouse, said: “We did research and found that in America pygmy goats are used a lot in care homes, because they crave human attention.

“Pygmy goats love to interact with people and will sit on laps to be brushed. It’s amazing how much joy two little pygmy goats bring! They have settled in really well it’s like they have always been here. There has been loads of excitement from everyone here.”

The goats moved in at the beginning of May, aged just three months and have already been helping residents.

Ms Richards said: “One of our residents had been feeling low, but the arrival of the goats has really lifted their spirits and they are now going out to see them every day.”

Rebecca, along with volunteer co-ordinator Crystal Burberry and the rest of the activities team, sourced the goats from Roves petting farm in Swindon, visiting with Greathouse residents when new-born goats were just two weeks old.

Resident Nina Hawkins, who has lived at Greathouse for eight years, went to visit and chose a male goat. She named him after her late father Donald, whose legacy has helped pay for the goat sanctuary. Nina also picked a female goat called Daisy.

Ms Hawkins’ mother Doris said: “When Nina’s father passed away, we asked non-family members to give donations rather than flowers to go to Greathouse.

“It was great that Nina went to pick out the goats. I hope they help the other residents living here as well.”

Greathouse has 24 residents and six day centre users, aged between 20 and 65 years old.

Leonard Cheshire Disability is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of services for disabled people.