When Lil was born at Studley Grange Farm Park in Wiltshire, England, she was almost too tiny to survive. A triplet, she weighed just a third of a typical baby goat and stood only five inches tall—barely more than a hand-span. Her two sisters, healthy and robust, quickly stood up and began feeding, leaving Lil behind, struggling to keep warm as her mother tended the others. Born second in the litter, she shivered with cold and weakness, and the farm staff realized immediate intervention was necessary.
Julia Stewart, the farm manager, and her team quickly sprang into action. They used Betsy’s milk to tube-feed Lil, carefully rubbing her body with straw and wrapping her in towels to conserve warmth. Overnight, they left her with her mother, checking every hour to ensure she hadn’t succumbed to the chill. Despite their best efforts, by morning it was clear Lil needed more care than her goat family could provide.
Lil was brought into the farm’s caravan, an office and staff room that would become her temporary sanctuary. It was there that two unlikely heroes stepped in: Luna and Nya, the farm’s border collies. Working sheepdogs by training, they immediately recognized the fragile goat as one who needed protection. From the very first moment, they treated her as one of their own. They snuggled up to her to provide warmth, cleaned her gently, and played with her with the patience only dogs could offer. Lil, once a helpless runt, suddenly found herself embraced by the unconditional love of her canine companions.
The tiny goat had been so frail that Julia’s friend even crafted a miniature suit from an old sock to help keep her warm during the day. At birth, Lil could barely lift her head and could fit entirely in one hand. Yet, after just five weeks under the care of Luna and Nya, Lil was thriving. She had grown stronger, more alert, and even began learning the art of herding—an unusual skill for a goat, but second nature when guided by two seasoned sheepdogs.
“She’s utterly adorable and full of personality,” Julia said. “And she truly thinks she’s a dog. She follows Luna and Nya everywhere and will even protest loudly if she’s left behind with the other goats.” The bond between Lil and her dog family is so strong that the farm plans to continue what they jokingly call “sheepdog training” for the goat, with Nya as her tutor and lifelong friend.
Lil’s sisters are just a few of the 14 kids born at the farm this year, which has 15 adult goats as part of its petting zoo. But it is Lil’s story—the fragile goat, rejected by the limits of her size, yet saved by the loyalty and love of two dogs—that has captured hearts far beyond the farm. She is a living reminder that family is not defined by species, and that sometimes, love comes in the most unexpected forms. From near abandonment to warmth, care, and the guidance of two protective sheepdogs, Lil is now thriving in a world that once seemed too big for her to survive.
