The Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary

The Sanctuary Goats

If you visit the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary you are likely to be greeted by Zip and Merge, two inquisitive young goats who are eager for cuddles and possible treats. 
Ivy, a handsome female with curving horns, may arrive to scrutinize you with her bright wise eyes. In the wild, goats are matriarchal – at the sanctuary Ivy has taken on this role and supervises a herd of fifteen goats.
Some of the goats at the sanctuary were rescued from dairy goat ​farms, while others were neglected, abandoned or orphaned. They are spirited creatures, full of character and mischief. Their bleats merge with the cackling of the hens, baaing of sheep, grunts from the pigs and an occasional neigh -  a gentle harmony of animal voices.
Dairy goats

Zip and Merge are lucky survivors – they were rescued from a dairy goat farm in spring 2016. Few people realise that the dairy goat industry is a smaller version of the dairy cow industry, and that every year thousands of tiny goat kids are killed. Does are impregnated regularly so that they will continue lactating, and their male kids are killed just after birth.

Around twenty percent of female kids are spared to replace their mothers, but the other eighty percent are killed. Adult females are sent to the slaughterhouse if their milk production declines, or if they fail to become pregnant. According to figures from Statistics New Zealand, 124,648 goats were slaughtered in 2015.
Goats as pets

Pet goats are not necessarily more fortunate - they often endure miserable and lonely lives. In rural areas, people frequently tether goats at the roadside to keep the verge tidy. Goats are sociable animals, who have very specific food requirements and a small area of dusty, oily grass does not represent adequate food.

Tethered goats frequently lack shelter, and they are vulnerable to attacks by dogs or to being hit by vehicles. We’re glad that the Black Sheep goats can live out their natural lives in the company of their friends, with even a purpose-built adventure playground to enjoy!

If you have a pet goat, check out the SPCA guidelines for goat care here.

How to help goats



Make a general donation towards care for our goat herd. Just $10 buys a bale of hay!

Subscribe to our mailing list to find out about working bees where you can meet the Sanctuary goats.
If you don't live in the lower North Island, please get in touch so we can let you know about other sanctuaries who rescue goats
Download a poster about goat well-being and put it up in your community
Don't consume dairy goat products!

Sponsor a goat or herd of goats at the sanctuary
Sponsor an individual goat at the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary
Sponsor a herd of goats at the Black Sheep Animal Sanctuary

Goat Profiles


Introducing Rosco

Roscoe was born on a dairy goat farm in 2014. Male kids are routinely slaughtered, but luckily  Tony and Jesse, two of our kind supporters, rescued the tiny kid from death row. The Black Sheep was able to take him, and he quickly settled in, charming us all with his affectionate nature, and his curiosity about the world. Although Roscoe is now a strong young goat, he’s still playful and interactive. He loves climbing on the goat adventure playground that we built for him and his friends. It’s a delight to watch him, and also a sobering reminder of the thousands of kids who are killed by the dairy goat industry every year.


Introducing Ivy

Ivy used to live at a holiday park, where she was tied up most of the time. The holiday park visitors teased and prodded her, and children threw lemons at her. Not too surprisingly, the park owners complained that she was becoming aggressive, and they decided that they needed to find another home for her. We managed to get in touch with them and arranged to adopt Ivy. She settled into her new home at the Black Sheep, and she slowly learned to trust humans. Initially she was rather pushy, especially with children and smaller adults, but she has gradually mellowed over the years. Ivy is a very strong character, who has earned both our admiration and our respect!