In The Beginning - There was Gretel.
It was fate that brought the two of us together. In 1989 I had a small mobile animal farm that took baby animals around to shopping centres, day care centres, nursing homes and the such. I was based for a long time at the local weekend markets. In the course of searching for suitable young animals, I went to this suspect 'farm' over run with the most mottley looking crossbred animals I had ever seen. Turning to walk away, I saw a Goat in the paddock - she stood there like a beacon. The most exotic creature I had ever seen. I paid handsomely for her, the best money I ever spent. I don't remember buying her in milk, and yet for years I milked her on and off. She was so kind hearted that she would let any baby suckle off her or let any child have a go at milking her. I was typically ignorant and thought that goats ate 'everything' and therefore let her eat 'anything'. Her favourite was ice cream and fairy floss. Lollies, biscuits, burgers - she saw it - she begged for it and then she would eat it. I look back and wonder how she ever survived!
I had her for many years before she died in her sleep - I never imagined how heart broken I could be. I have had many other goats since, but none have ever touched me like Gretel.