I need to rent a goat

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

My fiancee, SoulMate, was recently unhappy with me. The reasons for this are entirely my own doing and stupidity, and I have expressed said sentiments to her repeatedly. She has accepted my apology and has gotten over our argument.

However, I still feel like a jackass and I want to do something nice for her. Jewelry, flowers, romantic dinner…so played out. No, no, I think I’d like to do something special.

I want to rent a goat. One goat, smallish, for an evening. I am 110% confident she will love this. Problem is, I’m having a heck of a time figuring out to rent a goat.

So, if anyone knows where I can rent a goat in Atlanta or anywhere in North Georgia, I would really, really like to know.

Alternatively, if nobody knows where I can rent a goat, the option is open for me to purchase a goat. However, I do not want a permanent goat - if I were to purchase a goat, what could I do to transfer said goat into a more permanent home immediately? If I just take him to a goat farm, will they love him? Or are we saddled with an overabundance of goats in Georgia already?

This is so frustrating.

2

OK, I’ll bite, as a goat lover, who’s kept some. Why do you need a goat for an evening, do tell. I’m curious enough to look for some goat farms in your area, through sustainable ag connections… but, do tell yer logic here.

3

One could always troll Craiglist; however you could consider looking on sites that have message boards and cater to homesteaders and small farmers both for rental and/or purchase/rehome.

4

I’m rather afraid to respond, since I am in Very North Georgia and indeed, do have goats.

What do you plan to do with a goat for an evening? Mine are pygmies and pets. Not real interested in warping their curious little minds. I also know where you can buy goats for about $25.

5

20 minutes and Soul has gotten two leads for a goat in North Georgia. Gawd, I love this place.

6

Upon re-reading my initial post - specifically the “smallish” and “for an evening” portions - I have come to regret my wording.

Let me explain my logic here so that all involved are satisfied that I do not with to sacrifice, eat, or molest said goat.

The Lights Of Life Celebration is an annual, massive display of Christmas lights here in Marietta, Georgia. Put on by Life University, the nearby chiropractic college, it is an absolutely beautiful display of lighting, imagination, and holiday spirit. For some reason, there’s also a guy that brings a bunch of goats that you can pet.

SoulMate likes the lights, but LOVES the goats. In September of each year she starts talking about the soon-to-arrive goats and how she’ll pet the goats and nuzzle the goats and love the goats and - possibly - name the goats Edward (every goat she has ever seen, she has named Edward). This goes on until she is nearly bursting in December, when she can finally pet the goats.

We go, with her family, and pet the goats. She is absolutely enraptured by this.

About a month ago, we had a bit of extra cash (unusual for us in this economy, since we’re both in sales) and thought we’d treat ourselves to something. She jokingly said she wanted a goat - she, of course, knows that we can’t keep one long-term because our home and yard aren’t set up well for pets, but she would like to have a pair someday.

Anyway, her family has gone to the Lights of Life ever since she was a wee child, and the whole thing is extra-special magical for her. Edward the Goats are her favorite part and have been for ages. Since it was shortly after the Lights of Life last year that I proposed to her, I thought she’d not only like to have a goat to play with for an evening in light of her love of the festival, but also because the timing would bring up happy memories of our becoming engaged.

The short version: I really, really, really do not want to have sex with, on, or around a goat. Sorry for the confusion.

7

Do you know exactly how she is going to feel when you take away “her goat” after just one evening?

Are you absolutely sure she will not fall in love with it and want to keep the poor goat “forever”.

8

Aren’t there laws against these kinds of kinky shenanigans?

Will the goat respect you in the morning?

Oh, never mind. It’s probably OK.

It’s Georgia. :wink:

9

Chronolicht? Is that you?

10

I have never heard of a goat rental service but baby goats are cheap. Your only hope is to find someone that has one and borrow it. I posted in another goat thread (why are there so many?) that goats are like brain-damaged, drunken, and stoned frat brothers that are still great fun to hang out with. We had a few when I was growing up and there was this one goat, William, that loved to come in the house with us when my mother wasn’t home, sit on the couch, watch TV, and eat popcorn. You could get her a pygmy goat. They are adorable and don’t require much space but they do require some money.

11

Mangosteen: She would be devastated if we kept Mr. Goat - we can’t financially support another mouth. As it is, she has a great head on her shoulders, and I think I know her well enough to predict that her reaction will be a delighted shriek, a glance for reassurance that “We…we’re not keeping Mr. Goat, right?” and then quickly to the work of nuzzling a new bald spot.

Sailor: The goat will not be used for sex OR munitions.

12

A well-known producer of goat cheese here in TN offers tours of their farm by appt: Bonnie Blue Farm. Rather than rent a single goat, why not surprise her with a trip to a goat farm? I’m sure there has to be a few within a couple of hours of Marietta.

13

Heh…first thing I thought of too. I can’t believe that thread is that old! (Maybe time for a reunion tour of the band?) :smiley:

14

I’m glad I’m working alone in this office – the wild cackling could have made the co-workers look at me funny… errr… funnier. :smiley:

15

Ok, she can’t pet them but you should take her to Goats On The Roof. http://www.tigergoats.com/

Also, The Dillard House has a petting zoo that has a billion goats. (which they will sell for $25).

And if you go as far as either of those, I’m not much further away and have two pygmy goats. And 11 chickens, 1 turkey, 2 box turtles, 10 trout, 6 snails, 1 bullfrog tadpole, 2 dogs and a possibly pregnant cat. Oh, and an adorable 3 year old. I don’t charge admission. :slight_smile:

FYI: Goats don’t really need much room. Mine share a dog house and are doing a damned poor job of weed eating my acre. They are however, excellent grape vine fertilizers. Never get one goat. They are not loners. They are however, an excellent source of amusement. I understand her love of goats. When asked why I was moving, I would tell folks it was because I wanted goats.

16

Seems to me if she loves goats that a visit to a goat farm would make more sense than renting a goat. Better yet, you might be able to take her back to said goat farm more than once so she can get a frequent goat fix.

If she REALLY loves goats she might be able to volunteer at an animal shelter that has goats, or at one when it gets goats. I’ve known a number of people who couldn’t have a particular pet of their own who nonetheless get their critter fix this way.

17

So there’s no kinky shenanigans. Just goat see.

18

Look for one of those “Children’s Petting Zoo Party” places. They usually provide a variety of animals for an afternoon.

19

Too bad you don’t live in the Seattle area:

http://www.rent-a-ruminant.com/

20

Might these guys be of service?