A pair of newborn Anglo Nubian goats made a remarkable recovery after being cruelly abandoned in a bin just hours after birth.
The brother and sister, now named Biffa and Veolia, were discovered on January 5 when a member of the public heard faint bleating sounds coming from inside a public bin near a veterinary practice in Ashford, Kent.
Upon investigation, the passerby found two tiny kids huddled together amongst the waste, their umbilical cords still wet, a clear indication they had entered the world only hours before being discarded.
The quick-thinking rescuer noticed the bin stood just metres from a vet’s surgery and immediately rushed the freezing animals into reception, an action that would prove lifesaving.
However, the animals arrived in a desperate state requiring urgent medical attention.
The female, Veolia, who has a pale coat, could not support her own body weight and was completely unable to walk.
Her light-brown brother Biffa faced an even more immediate threat: a serious respiratory problem affecting his lungs.
Veterinary staff administered antibiotics urgently in an attempt to give the young male a fighting chance, but held grave concerns about his survival. Medical professionals at the practice genuinely feared Biffa would not live to see the following morning.
Biffa and Veolia were discovered in the bin
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Ben Ward, Head of Hoofstock at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats, said: “It’s very fortunate that the two survived after being placed in a bin hours after their birth in such cold weather.”
While veterinary staff worked to stabilise the pair, they urgently sought colostrum, the nutrient-rich first milk essential for newborn survival.
A nearby sheep farm with a recently lambed ewe agreed to donate the vital substance.
The kids spent the night at the farm, where the farmer bottle-fed them throughout the evening. To widespread relief, Biffa survived until morning.
The goats are now walking again
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Sanctuary staff member Hayley and Ben Ward then collected the siblings from Ashford, with the pair travelling calmly in Hayley’s lap though Veolia caused some alarm by attempting to launch herself towards Ben while he was driving, despite still being unable to walk properly.
Upon arrival at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Monchelsea, near Maidstone, the team had prepared a specially designed pen with thick straw bedding and a heat lamp.
The exhausted youngsters immediately curled up together and fell asleep.
When they woke, both kids were ravenous and eagerly drank entire bottles of milk with barely a pause for breath.
The rubbish collection companies have come in to sponsor the goats
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Veolia has since taken her first steps and continues to gain confidence, while Biffa’s lung problems persist but he is demonstrating strong determination.
The goats, named after two major UK waste collection companies, are now running happily around their enclosure.
In a touching gesture, both firms have stepped forward to support their namesakes.
Biffa Waste Management will fund the male goat’s veterinary care for the coming year, while Veolia is covering food costs for both animals.
A Veolia spokesman said: “We don’t want there to be any kidding around between Veolia and Biffa so Veolia is delighted to be covering the cost of food for both goats for a year.”