We all get by with a little help from our friends – or strangers, and strangers that then become friends. Doing everything on your own is hard. Humans and animals aren’t designed to make it through life all by ourselves. We aren’t robots after all, and thank goodness for that!
Helena found Janice the baby goat alone at a campsite, and she didn’t know the first thing about caring for one either! She had zero experience, but as the founder of a non-profit animal rescue named Magical Creatures of Hamakua in Hawaii, she knew what had to be done and had faith in her ability to understand what it takes to do it!
Janice was only four lbs when she was discovered and still had her umbilical cord attached. With her mother nowhere in sight, Helena took her in. Janice appeared to be in good health, but in the following days, it was clear the kid was having trouble walking. Helena made the educated guess that Janice was disoriented and cold and jumped into the campfire to keep warm, thus burning her legs.
“All legs got burned. It was a miracle her whole body didn’t catch on fire. I brought her to the vet, he couldn’t really do much, but she’s gonna lose at least one hoof.” Helena said. And she did – she lost a couple of hooves and was fitted with prosthetics.
Although Janice’s recovery was difficult, she had some very loving friends in her life! Helena’s two cats, Joey and Chandler Bing, wholeheartedly accepted the injured baby goat into the family, but it was Joey, the black panther kitty, that developed an extra close bond with Janice. He never left her side and would stay with her when Helena had to leave the house. The cuddles and bonding proved to be an effective medicine for the goat, helping her to heal and feel loved. Walking became running and now Helena lovingly calls Janice “princess” after she made a full recovery – with flying colors!
Click below to watch the two animals bond!