It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Billy, with the compassionate assistance of the caring professionals at the Atlantic Veterinary College – AVCin PEI, yesterday.

After consulting with the doctor overseeing Billy’s care, we made the difficult decision to free him from his pain. Despite our hopes, Billy showed very little progress since his arrival on Thursday at AVC, and his prognosis was bleak. X-rays revealed that Billy’s spine was misaligned, causing his spinal cord to be pinched. This resulted in partial paralysis in his hind end and significant pain. The swelling and discomfort also made it difficult for Billy to pass manure, raising concerns about how effective pain management would be moving forward. While further testing might have provided more information on the cause of his misalignment, it wouldn’t have changed the prognosis, and surgery was not an option.

Although Billy never set hoof on the ground at Lily’s Place, he still holds a place in our hearts. Several volunteers here had met Billy previously at his other homes. Billy, or Billie as he was once known, lived in at least three other places before coming into our care. His most recent home loved him dearly, but they were not in a position to provide the advanced care he needed after his original field diagnosis.

At just shy of 8 years old, Billy was not a young goat. He was known to be an adventurous guy who could get a little pushy around the hay, but was comfortable around people and will be missed by many. However, the ones who will miss him the most are his mom, Mamma, and his brother, Speckles. Billy’s trip to PEI was his first time away from his goat family, and we know this loss will be hard on them. We’ve witnessed goats and sheep grieve the loss of family members firsthand, so we know it’s real. It breaks our hearts to think of Billy passing and his family grieving. We take comfort in knowing that Billy had the chance to live his life with his loved ones—a gift that many farmed animals never get to experience.

Some people may question why we would spend a couple of thousand dollars on an “older” goat we didn’t know well. The answer is simple: we believe all lives matter. Humans brought Billy into this world for their own purposes, and with that comes the responsibility to care for him. While we can’t help every animal brought into this world by humans or even every animal we’re asked about, we do our best to make a difference whenever we can. Many of the animals in our care go on to thrive, living long and happy lives in a safe and loving environment. For others, like Billy, their time with us is shorter but no less meaningful. Our goal is to provide every animal with the care and compassion they deserve while inspiring others to make thoughtful, compassionate choices for the domesticated animals in their care.

Billy’s story is a reminder of the impact thoughtful care and compassion can have. Even when the outcome isn’t what we hoped for, the effort and love we extend matter deeply—not just for the individual animal but for the world we want to build.

Run free, Billy! May all the hay be yours, and the bowls of oats and sunflower seeds be endless.