When Sherbert the 12-week-old goat went missing from the Zmijarevic’s property, the family didn’t know what to do! Sherbert, the beloved pet of 13-year-old Rebecca, was purchased at the Royal Melbourne Show and the two had become constant companions ever since. Having only been the family’s pet for two months and still mostly bottle fed, Rebecca was worried Sherbert would starve or get hit by a car.
Fortunately, Sherbert was discovered by a Lost Dogs’ Home ambulance driver and brought back to the safety of our North Melbourne shelter for some food and a veterinary assessment. Although in good health, staff at the Home had trouble curbing Sherbert’s bleating which in turn unsettled the dogs and cats in the shelter!
Shelter staff discovered a green tattoo in Sherbert’s ear and through the Department of Primary Industry’s livestock identification scheme, the Home was able to contact the cheeky goat’s owners.
Rebecca and her family were overjoyed to be reunited with Sherbert after only one night of her missing in action.
“I love her so much. She is so cute and I’m never letting her out of my sight again. When she saw me she started jumping all over me.” said Rebecca.
The Lost Dogs’ Home fitted Sherbert with a lead and harness so she could be safely transported home in the car. She received a National Pet Register tag for her collar and Maria went off with some advice on how to wean goats from the bottle.
