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Farmer finds a new way of income, starts goat Zoom calls

The farmer named Dot McCarthy started the whole thing as a joke but it soon turned into a profitable business.

Published on: Feb 4, 2021, 08:21:43 IST
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In the past few months, Zoom has become a part of the new “normal” for many who are working from home. From attending regular meetings to staying in touch with colleagues, people are using this platform for different purposes. Among them is a farmer named Dot McCarthy hailing from Rossendale in Lancashire, England. However, instead of meetings, she started using the platform to offer an unusual, and rather amusing, service - online video calls with goats.

People from different parts of the world have opted for the goat on Zoom call service. (Twitter/@DotMcCarthy)
People from different parts of the world have opted for the goat on Zoom call service. (Twitter/@DotMcCarthy)

McCarthy started the whole thing as a joke but it soon turned into a people’s favourite, reports the BBC. She revealed that during the lockdown she ended up making £50,000 as people started hiring goats to appear on Zoom calls, especially during office meetings.

What is even more surprising is that her goats have now made global appearances as people from all over the world, including Australia, Russia, China and the US, opted for the service.

She also has a website where people can hire goats. Also, they have services where one can book a virtual farm tour or have a goat with an edible message appear on a call.

One of the goats on the farm. (Twitter/@DotMcCarthy)
One of the goats on the farm. (Twitter/@DotMcCarthy)

“I’m on the phone all day and people are just in hysterics because they’ve sneaked a goat into the business meeting and the boss hasn’t noticed,” McCarthy told Guardian. “It’s so ridiculous, it’s complete escapism. At the moment people just want something completely surreal so they can forget about everything else,” she added.

Would you hire a goat to make an appearance during an online call?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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