In Photos: British Farm Offers Goats on Rent to 'Kiddy' up Video Calls

A British farmer has come up with a jokey idea to rent out her goats to liven up video call meetings and found an unexpected source of lockdown income. farmer Dot McCarthy, who owns the Cronkshaw Fold Farm in Lancashire, northwestern England, offers a five-minute appearance by a goat on any video-calling platform for £5 (nearly $7, 6 euros).(Photo Credit: Paul ELLIS/AFP)

Customers have their choice of seven different goats on the farm's website, from highest-ranking nanny" Margaret to cute brown-and-white kid Lulu. McCarthy says the idea came from the fact that often video call at work or with family might turn boring. As such, one can book a goat to join in the meeting and just see if any of the other participants take notice.(Photo Credit: Paul ELLIS/ AFP)

Business has been really thriving, says 32-year-old McCarthy. What started as a joke, of putting goats on video calls to prank people in their work routines has continued so far. Since it started offering the service nearly a year ago, the farm has earned £50,000 pounds. (Photo Credit: Paul ELLIS/AFP)

Before the pandemic hit, McCarthy had diversified with various side businesses such as conducting farm tours and sheepdog demonstrations, providing guest rooms and even goat yoga. But when the first lockdown hit, she had let go two part-time staff she had recently hired. But the popularity of the goats on Zoom has allowed them to keep their jobs and also provide additional work for the local community, which is important in a rural area.(Photo Credit: Paul ELLIS / AFP)

However, McCarthy is also not giddy over the success of what she calls the goat video call wave". Even though reiterating it since the lockdown, she still thinks this is just a phase."But yeah, we'll keep going -- as long as people want goats, we will bring goats to the people."(Photo Credit: Paul ELLIS / AFP)