Animal sanctuaries can play an important role in
rehabilitating goats and other animals that have suffered from neglect,
according to scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.
In this first scientific study of rescued animals, the
researchers examined moods in 18 goats, nine of which had endured poor welfare,
such as inappropriate diet, and lack of space or shelter before arriving at a
sanctuary. They created a spatial awareness test, which involved giving the
animals an opportunity to look for food, to understand the link between poor
welfare and the goats’ mental health, by comparing the behaviour of the
mistreated goats with that of the goats that had been generally well treated.