Someone stole 60 pregnant goats in elaborate Morgan Hill heist
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The owners of a herd of pregnant goats stolen from a field in Morgan Hill over the Thanksgiving holiday expressed fear Thursday that their beloved brush-clearing nannies could be heading for someone’s dinner plate.
The daring heist of 60 female goats was shocking to Daniel Allen, the co-owner of Green Goat Landscapers , who left the goats and their guardian dog behind an electric fence on Nov. 21 so that they could feed on a 26-acre abandoned driving range at Santa Teresa Blvd. and Bailey Ave.
He said nothing like this had ever happened to him in the four years since he and his father started the business.
“I’m extremely worried because we have a really strong bond with these goats,” Allen said. “I’m with them probably more than my wife and daughter.”
It was, by all accounts, an elaborate caper.
The thieves first punctured two barrels and dumped out 550 gallons of water that Allen left in the back of his trailer for use in an automatic goat watering system. They then shut off the power to the electric fence, cut a hole through it and herded as many of the 200 goats in the field that they could find into the trailer before driving off.
The trailer was later found four or five miles away on East Main Street, near Highway 101, but the goats haven’t been seen or heard from since.
Allen said the culprits somehow distracted his 120-pound Anatolian shepherd guard dog, probably with food. The fearsome-looking canine was waiting happily by the gate on Nov. 23 when Allen discovered the dastardly deed, as if nothing had happened to the flock.
He puts tags on the ears of his animals, but a goat rustler could easily cut off the marking.
Allen said the goats are worth about $175 a piece, but they are worth more when they are pregnant. It is rutting season, so the animals, 90 percent of whom are female, are all expected to give birth in about two months.
His biggest worry, though, is that his beloved goats, many of which he has named, will somehow find their way into a slaughterhouse.
“One of the biggest things people want them for is meat, and that’s my concern,” he said. “Don’t take them to the butcher, please.”
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Joke all you want, but apparently these goats are working goats and a source of income for someone.
Be a damned shame if someone did steal them to eat them.
I wanted to joke about this yet, kind of sad. Poor goats.
If I lived in a country space, I would want to get one of those fainting goats. Freak people out.
I wanted goats to help keep the brush down around the property and Mr Giggles pointed at my Gardenia and Forthysia and said, "Do you like those shrubs? Well, then take a good look at them because if we get goats they're going away"
Some friends of mine, their brother, had a goat that would wander around between their houses. Called it Billy, not very original. It followed him around everywhere, always by his side. Even made weird noises and got upset when he left/went somewhere. Odd relationship. We use to joke and wonder how far the relationship went. Fucker would always come up to me then start headbutting me.
Anyway, it would eat anything. Caught it chewing on a beer can one day.
A friend of mine had like 20 fainting goats. After a few beers we would sneak up on them and yell BOO!!!!!!! Good times.
Haha. Hilarious. I have only seen them on video. Supposedly it doesn't hurt them.
It doesn't hurt them. The reason they faint when startled is that if a predator is after their babies, they sacrifice themselves to give the babies a chance to run and hide.
Yay! You got it to work!
I really got to get me some of these goats
Wow! Who's the stud knocking up 60 goats? That's putting in work!
It was me, it was me!!
Now you know the old saying....randy as a billy goat.