SOME adorable new arrivals have been cheering up residents at a Swindon care home.
Three pygmy goats - yes, we're not kidding - have been adopted from a farm by staff at Orchid Care Home in Haydon Wick.
They have quickly become used to all the extra attention they are receiving since settling into their new homes a month ago, and were the star attraction at a recent summer fete.
Domino, Bourbon and Thor are now four months old.
They enjoy cavorting around their straw-strewn pen and the residential home's back garden, as well as going for regular walks through the corridors to say hello to their elderly neighbours who may be bedbound or have dementia.
On their way around, they put smiles on the faces of other residents who are sat in the common rooms, exclaim "Oh, how lovely!', and reach over to pet the furry animals.
Visiting relatives are surprised and delighted to see them, asking "is that a goat?!" in disbelief, and are quick to take out phones to snap a photo of their loved one with the goats.
Lisa Stevenson and Katherine Aldridge help look after the energetic trio by feeding them and cleaning them every morning, then the residents give them extra snacks and treats throughout the day.
Rich tea biscuits and dried pasta shells are their favourites, and the home's chef offers up vegetable peelings - the carrots are particularly well-received.
Lisa said: "Some of the residents grew up on farms and had goats when they were younger, so seeing ours helps them remember.
"The goats have settled in really well, they're very well-behaved. It was the manager's idea, then one of the residents, Brenda, mentioned the farm and donated the money for them."
Katherine added: "Everyone loves them, they have a lot of visitors. Domino is the best at going on the walks to see the residents, Bourbon's a bit of a free spirit who likes to run around more."
The goats are kept in an outdoor pen with wooden fencing, straw on the ground and tyres and wooden cylinders to climb and play on.
After going inside a shed, they can be taken out on leads for walks or let loose around the back garden patio.
The three pygmy goats gruff are not the only animals living in Orchid Care Home - there's also a female budgie called Elvis.
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