The malnourished goat that was found hog-tied in the trunk of a
meth-user’s Nissan Sentra Christmas morning is back to head-butting
and poking around the hay after he was safely transported to the
Farm Sanctuary in Orland.
The malnourished goat that was found hog-tied in the trunk of a meth-user’s Nissan Sentra Christmas morning is back to head-butting and poking around the hay after he was safely transported to the Farm Sanctuary in Orland.
Noel traveled 200 miles north Thursday to his new home after he was handed over to local animal control and later the Santa Clara County Animal Shelter before the Farm Sanctuary, a national farm animal protection organization, gladly found a place for him on the farm.
California Shelter Director Leanne Cronquist said Noel appeared to be healthy, maintaining a good weight and hair coat. She said he has a good appetite and is very friendly.
“He’s already acting very goat-like,” Cronquist said. “(He) started head-butting the fence, eating leaves, standing on the logs along with chewing on them. He is pretty talkative and seems attached to humans since he cries when we leave,” she said.
A Morgan Hill police officer found the Boer-mix goat in the trunk of a Nissan Sentra about 9 a.m. Dec. 24 following a traffic stop on Monterey Road and Dunne Avenue. After finding methamphetamine and open beer bottles in the vehicle that was occupied by three males, the officer heard a whimpering from the trunk. Noel was found hog-tied in the trunk and looked as if it was without food and water for at least a day, according to the MHPD. Animal control officers took the goat to the animal shelter.
MHPD Sgt. Jerry Neumayer said they believed the men were planning to eat it. Goat meat is popular in other countries.
The driver, Morgan Hill resident Ciro Paredes, 40, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving without a license, driving with an open container, possession of meth and suspicion of animal cruelty.
The passengers – Julio Perez, 27 of San Jose; and Ricardo Malger, 19 of Morgan Hill – were booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of animal cruelty. Perez was also charged with possession of methamphetamine.
