An Edgerton couple is finding a way to help rescue an animal not generally thought of as in need – goats.
The Phans — Debbie and Quoc — started The Phan Pharm in 2015 and this year they started a project to rescue goats.
Prior to their marriage, Quoc raised goats as a hobby on a 40-acre farm in Edgerton and the couple continued to do that. They operate a mobile petting zoo and take the goats to local schools for events.
This summer, during a multitude of festivals a contest was held from all the towns to see who would raise the most money. People paid $6 for different color sunglasses in a ‘rescue sunglass drive’ and Edgerton’s Pioneer Days festival raised the most money and was given a plaque and a meet and greet with two rescue goats to honor the accomplishments.
The mobile petting zoo hit the road after Thanksgiving for Valley Falls, Kan., traveling between 8 and 12 goats at a time.
The idea turned into using the money raised to adopt rescue goats and this summer they adopted Frankie Von Pebbles and Victor from the Iowa Rescue League in September.
Frankie was abandoned at a farm, while Victor was neglected and abused in their previous locations. Neither are part of the mobile petting zoo for various reasons — head butting and shyness — so will live the rest of their days on the farm.
The two are part of nearly 70 goats on the farm and that number could grow with births of babies in the winter. There are a large variety of goats in the mix — boar, Spanish boar, kiko, Norwegian and dwarf.
To help rescue more goats, a special fund has been set up at the family’s bank – Citizen Bank & Trust – and all money raised will be put toward fees for donations and veterinarian bills. More information on the goat rescue can be found on their Facebook page, The Phan Pharm.