Goat Skips Town for Greener Pastures

It's a story that starts off like a bad joke: Why did the goat cross the road -- or should we say, the Hutchinson River Parkway?

In the case of an emaciated baby Nubian goat found wandering in New York City on September 1st, he was most likely saving his hide from being sold at a live meat market. The east Bronx area isn't new to goats on the lam (sorry!) as two others, Isabella and Duncan, were also found in bad shape walking through the borough in July, reports the New York Daily News. The lucky refugees were rescued by animal control and are now living at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY. Paw Nation spoke with Farm Sanctuary national shelter director Susie Coston about how this latest goat is doing and his chances for rehabilitation.

Does the goat have a name?
Not yet -- we usually wait to see their personalities come out. He's been so out of it we haven't really gotten to know him yet. Just today he started talking and making some normal little goat sounds. We'll name him when we know him a little better.

How is he doing?
The mobile vet is checking on him, because he's still dehydrated. He doesn't have a good appetite, and he's on antibiotics for pneumonia. He's definitely loaded with parasites. He's emaciated and very weak and tired. We've had much worse pull through so we're hoping he will too -- he just needs a week of really good care.

He's only about a month old. He's a Nubian, so he'll eventually be about 200 lbs. Baby goats usually aren't mortified by the presence of humans, but these city ones are mistreated -- we always find them diseased and full of parasites. It's mind-boggling to me that they are sold for meat.

Why do you think he was wandering in the Bronx?

We get a lot of escapees from the live meat markets. Baby goats are very spry and they get so scared and wired up that they jump high fences or squeeze out of gates to escape. Once out though, they can't find food in the city, so by the time they get to us they're in horrendous condition. This one must have been loose for days, because he's in such bad shape.

Ruminants like goats don't function well without a group – mother goats are very maternal and so for a baby to be taken away and put in a situation so far removed from their natural state, well, I just think it's very cruel. We get lots of baby goats and sheep that escape live markets, hundreds of chickens, and a ridiculous number of beef cattle from the city. It's lucky no one's gotten hurt. The good news is that goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens get over the trauma and regain their sweetness and get used to people. They can have a good life in a natural setting at the sanctuary, so these escapees are the lucky ones.

What should people do if they encounter a goat or other farm animal in the city?
Call animal control. They know what to do for the safety of the animal and public -- blocking streets, keeping them away from traffic or people.

Do you see a difference between your NYC escapees and others?
Animals who have escaped from slaughter houses and live markets, whether it's from New York City or anywhere, are high strung. They have often done things they normally wouldn't be able to do – jumping incredibly high fences, for example -- because they are so full of adrenaline and fear. But most calm down after a year at the sanctuary and are just the sweetest animals.

Can people visit the goat and other rescued animals at the Farm Sanctuary?
Members can come all the time, and we have guided tours all summer until October. We have 650 animals on 175 acres -- all abuse cases, escapees, or refugees from natural disasters. It's an amazing place. It's life-changing when people visit. It changes their way of thinking when they see the bonds between animals. We hope to educate people about where their food comes from so they can make informed decisions. Plus, this goat is just really cute and sweet!

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Tags: escape, farm animals, FarmAnimals, goat, new york city, NewYorkCity, rescue, sanctuary