Ellie jumps up on the stall door when she hears us coming. She’s only been here a short time and is still in quarantine, yet she’s eager to be close to us. When I enter her stall, she leans her head into my hand like we’ve known each other far longer than we have. She stays there, getting little scratches, looking at me with sleepy, relaxed eyes.

Most goats that arrive here take much longer to decide whether we’re safe people. They watch from a distance, decide slowly whether we’re worth the risk. I always wait for them to come to me because far too many of them have developed learned helplessness that draws them inward and makes them believe they have no control over what happens to them.

We see this most often with animals who come from petting zoos, breeding operations or places where they were handled roughly and without care for what they needed. Merlin took a long time to come around and believe that his choices mattered—that he could say no, or yes, and we’d listen.

But Ellie only needed two nights to trust us. Considering how understandably nervous she was when she got here after a long trip, she meets us halfway every time. This much trust feels like a gift I’m not sure we’ve earned yet, but it shows just how sweet Ellie is.

Winter’s settling in, and Ellie may have come to us pregnant. She’s been a mother before, and sometimes I wonder if the old, weary, yet sweet soul she embodies (despite only being 4 years old) has something to do with her missing her daughters. I suspect she’s missing her previous caregiver as well.

We’ll know for sure if Ellie is pregnant in a few months. If she is, we’ll make sure she’s in one of the stalls that has heat, as she’s thin, babies come out wet, and we’re moving into the coldest months of the year. We’ll watch her closely to do what we can to ensure a safe pregnancy and labour for her and her young, who will get to live in peace with Ellie for as long as the fates allow.

You may already know that today is International Animal Rights Day & Human Rights Day.

Animal rights and human rights are connected in ways we don’t talk about enough. That might be because animal rights gets painted as extreme or impractical, although it’s based on the same core values as human rights. It’s just the idea that animals shouldn’t suffer needlessly and that we should consider their well-being in our decisions. It’s not radical to think Ellie deserves a warm place to sleep or raise her babies without them being taken from her. It’s just basic decency; the same kind we extend to each other when we’re at our best.