Nothing calms Polly the goat's anxiety like her duck costume
This adorable baby goat and her duck costume are totally the G.O.A.T.
Polly was rescued by Goats of Anarchy, an Annandale, New Jersey-based sanctuary that rescues special needs baby goats. She suffers from several neurological issues which can sometimes cause anxiety.
Luckily, Goats of Anarchy's founder Leanne Lauricella discovered the best (and cutest) way to quell her anxiety: by putting Polly in a fuzzy duck costume.
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"Polly is very used to being clothed, it's all she knows, so a costume is no different to her... or so I thought," Lauricella wrote to Mashable. "While out shopping one day, I spotted the cute little duck costume and had to have it. The first time I put Polly in the costume, she just closed her eyes and fell asleep. She seemed very peaceful."
Lauricella quickly discovered the outfit's healing powers.
"A day or two later, I put the duck costume on her again and she fell right asleep again. It was then that I realized the effect it had on her," she told Mashable. "Polly loves to be swaddled in a big blanket which I do often, so I suppose this was the same feeling. There are times that Polly is running around the house calling for me and I'll put her duck costume on and it instantly soothes her."
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In addition to her neurological issues and anxiety, Polly was born blind and extremely underweight. She's six months old and still has to be hand fed, because her blindness prevented her from being able to nurse from her mother. Polly has an upcoming appointment with a neurologist, which will hopefully aid her road to recovery even more.
Although the duck outfit is clearly a positive factor in Polly's life, Lauricella has received some criticism online, from people who feel she is abusing the goat by putting her in clothes.
"I don't make it a habit to dress up my goats in costumes, but it was Halloween so I figured I would have a little fun," she told Mashable. "At Goats of Anarchy, we save special needs baby goats but we also try to bring a little joy to our followers and supporters with cute photos and videos."
"I do not drag her around town in her duck costume as some of the media have reported. I dedicate my life to these babies and their well-being and would never dress up a goat if it will stress them out," she said. "I have rescued abused goats and wouldn't dream of putting costumes on them. Polly is different. This is not abuse, this is love."
Polly totally rocks other costumes too – though Lauricella says the duck suit is Polly's favorite.
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Lauricella said Polly us thriving at her new home – she's even made a BFF.
"Polly now has a new best friend, Pocket. Pocket was born missing the bottom half of both back legs and has no hooves. Pocket has been a huge comfort to Polly," Lauricella said. "The first time they met, I placed Pocket on her back and it had the same effect as the duck costume. She fell right asleep."
Goats of Anarchy is expanding so they can save more baby goats, and they welcome donations on their GoFundMe page.
Topics Animals
Sophie was a Viral Content Intern for the Watercooler channel. More writing and other stuff by Sophie can be found at www.sophiehirsh.com.
