OkcPets Magazine September 2023

28 OKC Pets • September / October 2023 regimens which involve everything from brushings and nail trimmings to baths. As for security, coyotes and other predators leave the Woodall menagerie alone. Phil the donkey lives on the property behind the Woodalls’ acreage, and Phil pro- tects their animals, especially because the Woodalls feed him. The Woodalls chose not to raise chickens because predators gravitate to them. Focusing on Animals and People The Woodalls — including children Kylee, Caden, and Kamden — have their share of zany pet stories. As one example, Big Nose Kate is a Nigerian dwarf nanny goat, and when she bleats, she sounds like she’s yell- ing “Dad!” Once the neighbors ran to the Woodall property because they heard “Dad!” They thought one of the Woodall children was hurt and crying out for help. Zaniness aside, the Woodalls relish their petcentric world and even load up the gang and take them to venues as petting zoos. And although the pets are spayed and neutered, the Woodalls sometimes miss a beat. So the pet numbers have grown, and the Woodalls hope to sell pygmy and Nigerian dwarf goat kids and Kunekune and Vietnamese potbellied piglets as pets to good homes. But they have some words of advice. “If you want to have animals, do your research first, and then go for it,” said Kense Woodall. “Know what you’re getting into. Keep reading, and connect with groups.” Animals aside, the Woodalls own Animal Crackers, a children’s consignment store in Yukon. In the fall of 2022, they started the nonprofit Kommunity Kindness to raise awareness regarding the needs of mentally ill people, assist with improving their lives, and collaborate with like-minded organi- zations. The Woodalls’ many concerns include the lack of temporary housing for mentally ill people and the lack of care for children with mental illness. Their goals include training and education for churches, schools, and other organizations. The Woodalls often host events to raise funds, sometimes using their petting zoo to raise awareness for Kommunity Kindness. Getting To Know Pigs and Goats Circling back to the animals, in the Māori language, the word “kunekune” means fat and round and is pronounced “koo-nee koo-nee.” Originally from New Zealand, the Kunekune is a small domestic pig breed. Kunekunes are intelligent and docile and make great pets, thriving on interaction with humans, including children. They are long-haired, they shed in summer, and they can weigh as much as 200 pounds. If Ku- nekunes don’t have enough social interac- tion, activities, and mental stimulation, they can become bored and destructive. They require plenty of land on which to roam. Juliana mini pigs can be kept in a yard or small field. Bred to be companion pets, they are sociable and enjoy affection. They can be house-trained, and they train to commands like dogs. Fully grown, Julia- nas can be as small as 10 inches tall. But because they are not recognized as a true breed, there is no guarantee that a piglet will retain its small size. Vietnamese potbellied pigs are smart and docile, make good pets, and have great re- sistance to disease and parasites. They weigh about 110 pounds but can be much larger. As dairy goats, Nubians are bright, curi- ous, friendly, and docile. They are easy to handle, but they are really loud. Nigerian dwarf goats are minis developed for small-scale dairy production and com- panionship. They are gentle, are calm when raised around people, and are used primari- ly for home dairies, 4-H, and pets. Pygmy goats are docile, playful, and intelligent and make great pets. They can grow to 23 inches tall and weigh as much as 70 pounds. An albino Lionhead rabbit, Daisy, mugs for the camera. A Nubian billy goat, Morgan Earp, greets Kyle Woodall. Morgan was a rescue and is the only standard-sized goat the Woodalls own.