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Beloved goat vanishes from Berkeley park
SFGate ^ | January 16, 2010 | Peter Fimrite

Posted on 01/17/2010 7:08:55 AM PST by csvset

The mysterious disappearance of a beloved goat at a popular farm and children's petting zoo in the Berkeley hills is worrying naturalists who suspect a prankster but fear something more fiendish. The 16-year-old goat, affectionately named Honey, vanished overnight on Jan. 7 from the Tilden Little Farm on the north end of Tilden Park and no trace of her has been found since. The friendly, engaging goat, known among breeders as an Oberhasli or "Swiss Alpine," could not have jumped over the 5-foot-high fence herself, so she must have been carried out, said David Zuckerman, the supervising naturalist for Tilden Park. "Somebody had to work pretty hard, first to get in here, then to lift her over the fence and then get out of the park without making any noise," Zuckerman said. "She weighs about 150 pounds, so you'd probably need two people." The case is particularly troubling because Honey is both the oldest and longest tenured animal on the farm, which was established in 1955 and also contains heritage sheep, cows, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, pigs and chickens. Honey is one of nine goats, but she's a favorite among children because she is so affectionate. "She's highly friendly and gentle," Zuckerman said. "She's been here for years. Even if she could get out, she would stay nearby because she wants to be with the other goats." Zuckerman and East Bay Regional Park District investigators think the goat-napping was probably a prank. It has happened before. Some Berkeley High School pranksters stole some chickens once and set up a farm in their classroom. A group of UC Berkeley fraternity pledges were caught several years ago trying to steal a goat. Livestock theft is a felony, so whoever took the goat could be facing some jail time.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: berkeley; goat; honeyimissyou; missing; tilden
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Be on the look out.

With the Bay Area's "diverse" population, I suspect Honey was consumed.

1 posted on 01/17/2010 7:08:56 AM PST by csvset
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To: csvset

Maybe he eloped with a local muslim.


2 posted on 01/17/2010 7:10:25 AM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: csvset

Celebrate diversity.

3 posted on 01/17/2010 7:14:33 AM PST by DogBarkTree
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To: csvset

“...could not have jumped over the 5-foot-high fence herself...”

If there’s one thing I have heard from every farmer I’ve ever spoken with, it’s that you can’t build a goat-proof fence.

Hold a good thought for Honey; maybe she’s just taken a walk-about.


4 posted on 01/17/2010 7:17:32 AM PST by mrs. a (It's a short life but a merry one...)
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To: DogBarkTree

I’ve had goat when my ship stopped in Kenya during the Somalia thing in ‘94. VERY tasty!


5 posted on 01/17/2010 7:19:22 AM PST by RandallFlagg (30-year smoker, E-Cigs helped me quit, and O wants me back smoking again?)
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To: csvset

Name has now been changed to Cabrito.


6 posted on 01/17/2010 7:19:51 AM PST by Moonmad27
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To: Elsie

You been hanging around Oakland lately?


7 posted on 01/17/2010 7:19:58 AM PST by Utah Binger (Southern Utah, where the World comes to see America)
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To: csvset

Check the Beehehehehehhhta House!


8 posted on 01/17/2010 7:22:34 AM PST by Haiku Guy ("I don't give them Hell / I tell the truth about them / And they think it's Hell" -- Harry Truman)
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To: csvset

The poor thing has probably already been turned into bírria by the illegal aliens who stole it.


9 posted on 01/17/2010 7:28:05 AM PST by La Lydia
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To: csvset

All the authorities need do is pinpoint the closest mosque.


10 posted on 01/17/2010 7:30:07 AM PST by ErnBatavia (It's not the Obama Administration....it's the "Obama Regime".)
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To: cripplecreek

exactly what i was thinking. The goats husband came for it.


11 posted on 01/17/2010 7:35:25 AM PST by wiggen (Never in the history of our great country have the people had less representation than they do today)
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To: cripplecreek
Photobucket
12 posted on 01/17/2010 7:35:58 AM PST by Skenderbej (People need to learn that no muhammadan practices his religion peacefully.)
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To: csvset
I suspect Honey was consumed.

In a strange coincidence, one of my Labs dragged up a partial goat hide a couple of days ago. Same color, too. It was obvious from the condition of the hide that this goat had been skinned. I'm in TN, though. I doubt it's related.....

13 posted on 01/17/2010 7:36:28 AM PST by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: Thermalseeker

Be careful. Rabies and other nasties can be contracted via unidentified animal carcasses.


14 posted on 01/17/2010 7:40:13 AM PST by James C. Bennett
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To: James C. Bennett
Be careful. Rabies and other nasties can be contracted via unidentified animal carcasses.

Yeah, I know. Several types of intestinal worms can be transmitted through carcasses. I was burning some brush that day and, much to the displeasure of my Labs, I gave it proper incineration, then washed my hands thoroughly. It was pretty fresh, though. Didn't stink at all and the meaty parts attached to what was left of the hide were still pink.

15 posted on 01/17/2010 7:47:46 AM PST by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: csvset

If any Haitians made it to Berkeley, look for a freshly dug bar-b-cue pit.


16 posted on 01/17/2010 7:55:54 AM PST by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: csvset

http://www.themenwhostareatgoatsmovie.com/#home

I suspect it might have been these guys.


17 posted on 01/17/2010 8:09:05 AM PST by sportutegrl (I was for Sarah Palin before being for Sarah was cool.)
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To: Thermalseeker

Not to scare you or anything, but I do not believe rabies-infected flesh smells any different from other kill.

You might want to check the status of rabies in your area, and take precautions appropriately. There’s a reasonably low-cost inoculation that must be administered within 24 hours of exposure (even to things like saliva).

There is no known cure for the disease, and is almost guaranteed to be fatal.

I’m sure you know what you’re doing, but I am posting this information so that others here who might chance upon it, are kept informed as well.


18 posted on 01/17/2010 8:09:28 AM PST by James C. Bennett
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To: James C. Bennett
Not to scare you or anything, but I do not believe rabies-infected flesh smells any different from other kill.

Yes, I'm aware of that. My point with the smell was more directed at the other "nasties" that might be present.

There’s a reasonably low-cost inoculation that must be administered within 24 hours of exposure (even to things like saliva).

My dogs are vaccinated for rabies and I didn't handle the flesh, only the fur, then disinfected my hands a few minutes later. I doubt this was a rabid animal, anyway. My neighbor raises goats and he sells them to Mexicans and to companies that do medical research. I figure this one was probably sold, killed and cleaned next door and that is where my Lab found it. We do have some incidences of rabies in this area, but mostly it's mostly found in skunks and raccoons. I have seen rabid skunks before a few miles from here, but not lately.

19 posted on 01/17/2010 8:23:33 AM PST by Thermalseeker (Stop the insanity - Flush Congress!)
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To: csvset

An actual case of kid-napping


20 posted on 01/17/2010 8:29:36 AM PST by muir_redwoods (Obama: The Fresh Prince of Bill Ayers)
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