This spring may be the "G.O.A.T" at this farm
Shannon Lawrence snuggles with the baby goats. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The goats at Forever Here Farm Sanctuary.
Baby goats look at the camera.
One of the silly goats posing.
One of the baby goats investigates the camera.
One of the goats enjoyed chewing on the phone in the reporter's pocket.
Shannon Lawrence warms up one of the goats.
One of the goats sticks his head through the fence to investigate.
One of the rescue cows hanging out in a field.
One of the baby goats go "bleh!"
One of the rescue cows rests up.
The rescue goose and her boyfriend visiting for the spring.
The goats enjoyed begging for pets.
The baby goats give each other a soft head butt.
Shannon Lawrence pets one of the goats.
A goat poses for the camera.
The goats enjoy resting in the field. 
A goat poses for the camera while enjoying the nice weather.
One of the males, who has to be separated for the spring, shedding his winter coat.
Shannon Lawrence snuggles with the baby goats. Photos by Kat Sheridan
The goats at Forever Here Farm Sanctuary.
Baby goats look at the camera.
One of the silly goats posing.
One of the baby goats investigates the camera.
One of the goats enjoyed chewing on the phone in the reporter's pocket.
Shannon Lawrence warms up one of the goats.
One of the goats sticks his head through the fence to investigate.
One of the rescue cows hanging out in a field.
One of the baby goats go "bleh!"
One of the rescue cows rests up.
The rescue goose and her boyfriend visiting for the spring.
The goats enjoyed begging for pets.
The baby goats give each other a soft head butt.
Shannon Lawrence pets one of the goats.
A goat poses for the camera.
The goats enjoy resting in the field.
A goat poses for the camera while enjoying the nice weather.
One of the males, who has to be separated for the spring, shedding his winter coat.
No one can be in a “baaaad” mood when spring brings new life, like the two-week-old baby goats at Here Forever Farm Sanctuary.
“It’s definitely a sanctuary, not just for them but for me,” said Shannon Lawrence, the main farmer at the sanctuary.
The sanctuary started about 20 years ago when David Vincent received a call to pick up some goats, geese and cows from Acushnet that had been found in “deplorable conditions.”
It was in the middle of a blizzard in February, and they had to transport the goats in the back of a pickup truck. Lawrence stayed in the back of the truck to make sure the goats were okay, and calm during the ride.
The farm has continued to grow, and now has a total of 25 goats, three cows, two dogs and some geese visitors. They build new farm buildings as needed, to make sure there’s room for all the animals that need care.
“I hope to make it possible for her to do what she does,” said Vincent.
Vincent, who had a 400-acre family farm and served as a Select Board member, would be called on by the town and state for help.
Lawrence remembers one goat, Miss Daisy Mae, that made her “fall in love” with helping goats find a forever home to recover in.
“I realized early on, when we brought the goats in the emergency situation, that it filled my heart to watch them get better,” said Lawrence, “To watch them flourish and get better, and that’s where I get all of my enjoyment. And they appreciate it.”
The farm became a 5013C organization about a year ago, with the hopes of being able to expand and help more animals.
“It’s very important because there are less and less places for livestock to go,” said Lawrence.
Before this, the farm was privately funded by Vincent and Lawrence. They save money by doing the care themselves, such as doing hoof trims.
While most farms use chemical treatments to help the animals, the sanctuary uses homeopathic methods like preventative herbs and highly-diluted natural substances, which she says triggers their natural healing.
“In all these years of trial and error, a lot of mistakes, but mainly just driven by my heart and making them want to feel better,” said Lawrence.
When the goats arrive at the farm, either from neglect or cases where their owners couldn’t keep them, they are put in quarantine before being introduced to the herd.
There are a few separate areas where the goats are kept, depending on their personalities.
Lawrence said each goat has a very unique personality.
“Their personalities remind me of … a cross between toddlers and puppies,” said Lawrence. “They’re very loving.”
Koda, for example, is the “queen of the herd,” while Emmy is sweet and doesn’t like causing trouble, Lawrence said.
Lawrence is now considering ways to involve the public, after years of being a private farm. She’s considering ways to interact with the goats such as open farm days and goat cams.
“We can create our own community and get people involved because with other’s help, we can do more,” said Laurnece.
