Current Press Releases

Severely Ill Baby Goat Found Wandering Near New York City’s Hutchinson River Parkway Finds Refuge at Farm Sanctuary

Third Goat of the Summer Found Near Congested Bronx Highway

Watkins Glen, NY – September 3, 2009 – Late last night, Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, welcomed to their farm animal shelter in Watkins Glen, NY the third goat found in just a little over a month in the vicinity of New York City’s busy Hutchinson River Parkway. The emaciated white and brown male goat, estimated to be just a month old and suffering from a severe case of pneumonia, was found on Tuesday wandering the grounds of a nursing home located near the junction of I-95 South and the Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx, the same area where Isadora and Duncan, the sweet pair of goats whose rescue recently made City headlines, were picked up in late July. The nursing home director immediately called the Manhattan branch of Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C), and placed the goat in the children’s yard of the nursing home’s daycare, where she and staff enjoyed watching him duck in and out of a playhouse, as he awaited transport to AC&C’s Manhattan shelter, where Farm Sanctuary picked him up later that evening.

“We are so glad we were able to rescue this poor baby goat in time. He arrived at our shelter in terrible need of medical attention, coughing and suffering from severe pneumonia. Because he is weak and emaciated and running a high fever from the pneumonia, he could barely stand by the time he got to the shelter,” said Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary’s National Shelter Director. “It looks like the Hutchinson River Parkway has become something of an ‘underground railroad’ for goats looking to escape New York City’s live markets with their lives. The instinctual desire to live and be free is as deeply ingrained in these animals as it is in humans, and as long as these sensitive, intelligent animals continue to be treated like unfeeling commodities, we’ll be here to give them the respect and care they deserve.”

Last year, a 25-pound pygmy goat named Goodwin, one of Farm Sanctuary’s beloved residents, was discovered by New York City police near 141st Street and St. Ann’s Avenue in the Bronx— just a few blocks from where another Farm Sanctuary resident, Lucky Lady—a seven-month-old lamb who escaped slaughter and made international headlines— was found in June 2007. Both runaways are two of more than 200 farm animals rescued from the New York City area and brought to Farm Sanctuary over the last several years. Other famous New York City escapees who now live at Farm Sanctuary include Maxine, a cow found running through the streets of Queens in 2007; Joey, a goat found wandering through Brooklyn in 2007; and Queenie, a cow who escaped a slaughterhouse in Queens in 2000.

“We’re grateful to the City’s many good Samaritans for alerting us to animals in need, and equally grateful to Farm Sanctuary and all of our rescue partners for providing these animals the peaceful country life they deserve,” said Charlene Pedrolie, Executive Director of AC&C.

If you would like to receive an image of the goat or speak with Susie Coston, Farm Sanctuary’s National Shelter Director, please contact Meredith Turner at mturner@farmsanctuary.org or 646-369-6212.

About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.

About Animal Care & Control of New York City
Animal Care & Control of New York City (AC&C) is the largest pet organization in the North East, with over 43,000 animals rescued each year. As a not-for-profit organization since 1995, Animal Care & Control is responsible for New York City's municipal shelter system, rescuing, caring for, and finding loving homes for homeless, abused, injured and abandoned animals in New York City. AC&C facilities operate in all five boroughs.  For more information, please visit www.nycacc.org or call 212-788-4000.