It’s not everyday that you see goats being walked on a leash. It was such a treat for me to see this little girl walking her goat when I was in Tecpan, Guatemala. I love goats, and made quite a few friends during my volunteer trip earlier this month. They are fun, playful, and more curious than dogs. They’ve got such personalities too. Some are loners, some are stubborn, and some are plain goofy.

I almost missed this sight as I was inside a home learning how to make tortillas from a family who generously opened their doors to the group. When I walked out of the kitchen, which faced a road that led the school were working on, I was filled with delight to see the sight of the girl and her furry friend. Soon, I saw women carrying their babies on their backs walking their goats. More followed. As I followed them, I learned that they were all gathering for vaccine shots for their animals. There were goats everywhere tied to trees, hanging out with kids, and munching on grass. For this animal lover, it was definitely a morning full of wonderful surprises.