Maverick & Molly

A true story that took place in the early winter of 2007.

This photo of Molly is when she was just a few hours of age - early winter of 2007.  

Well it had been a very busy day for sure.   I had given up on my doe kidding.  She had not bagged up yet, never lost her ligaments, and she acted like she was cycling last week.  So, I had decided she was not bred and had put her outside with another doe, and buck.  It is April and this time of year the coyotes are out in abundance, are starving, very bold, and are always looking for livestock to eat.  So, I put Maverick in with the three goats to watch over them.

 

This morning I had gotten up very early as I had to spend most of the morning in KZOO with my accountant.  I wanted to get chores done early.  It was still dark and not yet 7 am. 

 

I came out the front door and took a look over to where Mav, the buck and the does were.  I was immediately concerned.  The two does and the buck were out in the snow with the wind blowing and temps were around 11 without the wind chill.  No Way my mind screamed.  What the heck????

 

First thought was no way would goats be standing outside.  It was too darn cold.  Second thought was what was wrong?  Something is very, very wrong.

 

I went down the hill as fast as I could go.  I was yelling Maverick's name with every step.  No Maverick.  Did he get out?  No, because the goats would be in the hut.  They had been all sleeping with him every night in that hut so WHY was Mav. in the hut and the goats out???

 

So, by deduction I knew he was in that goat hut but could not figure out why he did not peak out at my calling his name.  He always shows up when I call him.  A million more thoughts went through my head and none of them made any sense.  Maverick had been so awesome with livestock since we first brought him to the farm as a very young puppy.  I was bewildered.  What was up???

 

As I neared the gate I heard a goat baaahhhh.  I stopped dead in my tracks.  That sounds like a baby kid.  No way I thought. Impossible.

 

Still no Maverick.  I went through the gate and up to the hut.  None of the 3 adult goats moved an inch.  I looked inside the hut and there was Maverick wrapped around a newborn doe kid.  She was standing on her feet and was all cleaned off and dry.  I cried. 

 

What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful boy.  I threw my arms around Mav's neck and gave him the hug of his life.  If he had not taken over and gotten the adults out of the hut that baby would have been dead.  They would have squashed the little newbors.  There is so little room in that hut. 

 

I checked the newborn doe  over.  The little doe was warm but for her ears which were so cold they were almost frozen shut.

 

Mav wagged his tail and looked very proud indeed and rightfully so.  I was thankful that I had some milk bones in my pocket and gave them to Maverick as a special dog treat.  I then held his head in my hands and looked him in the eyes.  I told him what a very special boy he was.

 

Folks have no idea how very special this is.  Maverick has not been through a kidding yet.  He has never seen a baby goat or baby anything for that matter.  I normally supervise my dogs first kidding and if they do ok then I don't worry after that.

I took Molly to the house and tended to her, feed her, and warmed her up.  Each time Molly came into sight, Mav recognized her and would be all wags.  To this day, Maverick knows Molly and thinks of her as his special lady.  Molly also remembers Maverick and dearly loves him.

 

I am so VERY PROUD of that boy!  He has proved himself yet again to be a most magnificent livestock guardian dog.

 

On this page are several photos of Maverick's baby goat.  Without him, Molly would have died.  Molly has become our farm Mascot and is very dear to us.