Alpacas from Haute Goat bring joy to Cobourg nursing home residents

Port Hope farm has been visiting seniors' residences with their two Huacaya alpacas

By Bruce Head -
Published
A resident of Extendicare Cobourg greets Obi-Wan Kenobi, an alpaca from Haute Goat in Port Hope. Haute Goat owner Debbie Nightingale brought Obi and his mom Bella to the 69-bed long-term care home to entertain residents and workers. (Photo: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)
A resident of Extendicare Cobourg greets Obi-Wan Kenobi, an alpaca from Haute Goat in Port Hope. Haute Goat owner Debbie Nightingale brought Obi and his mom Bella to the 69-bed long-term care home to entertain residents and workers. (Photo: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)

Last Tuesday (April 28), residents and workers at Extendicare Cobourg had a special experience when Haute Goat arrived with two alpacas for “window visits”.

The 200-acre specialty farm located just outside Port Hope specializes in raising Nigerian dwarf goats, but also has Huacaya alpacas, Icelandic horses, and more.

Haute Goat is usually open to the public to offer goat yoga, alpaca walks, team-building experiences, farm-life workshops, a farm gate store, a cafe, and the ever-popular “goat shmurgle”, where you can cuddle with a goat. However, the farm has been closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Haute Goat co-founder Debbie Nightingale (right) and her team brought the farm's two Huacaya alpacas to Extendicare Cobourg on April 28, 2020 for window visits with residents. (Photos: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)
Haute Goat co-founder Debbie Nightingale (right) and her team brought the farm’s two Huacaya alpacas to Extendicare Cobourg on April 28, 2020 for window visits with residents. (Photos: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)

That didn’t stop co-owner Debbie Nightingale from bringing her two alpacas — Bella and her son Obi-Wan Kenobi (appropriately named for this May the 4th story) — to Extendicare Cobourg, a 69-bed long-term care home at 130 Densmore Road.

“It was wonderful to bring some smiles to residents and staff,” Haute Goat writes on its Facebook page.

This isn’t the first time the Haute Goat alpacas have visited a seniors’ residence. Back on March 31st, Haute Goat made an offer to visit seniors’ homes within 50 kilometres of Port Hope.

Bella (left) and her son Obi-Wan Kenobi (right) visiting with residents of Extendicare Cobourg on April 28, 2020. (Photos: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)
Bella (left) and her son Obi-Wan Kenobi (right) visiting with residents of Extendicare Cobourg on April 28, 2020. (Photos: Extendicare Cobourg / Facebook)

Some of the other homes Bella and Obi-Wan have visited so far include Roseglen Village for Seniors and Empire Crossing Retirement Community in Port Hope.

Debbie Nightingale founded Haute Goat in 2013 with her husband Shain Jaffe when the Toronto couple decided to buy a farm in Campbellford and move there.

Two years later, they sold the Campbellford farm and moved to the current location at 1166 5th Line outside Port Hope to be closer to family in Toronto.

Debbie Nightingale and Shain Jaffe, owners and operators of Haute Goat in Port Hope. (Photo: Haute Goat / Facebook)
Debbie Nightingale and Shain Jaffe, owners and operators of Haute Goat in Port Hope. (Photo: Haute Goat / Facebook)

While the farm is closed due to COVID-19, Nightingale and Jaffe and the Haute Goat team are offering regular Facebook Live events, and you can still shop online for goat and alpaca-related products at hautegoat.com for delivery or contactless pickup at the farm.

They are also offering “Goats Go Zoom”, a virtual experience with the farm’s animals.

And you can always watch the goats at Haute Goat for free 24/7 via one of three live webcams at hautegoat.com/live-goat-cam/.

VIDEO: Live Goat Cam – Haute Goat

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