Police, community help rescue Maine goat who ran into ocean after fleeing from vet

BELFAST (WGME) -- Three police officers went above and beyond the call of duty to help rescue a goat that had run into the chilly ocean after fleeing from the parking lot of a veterinary’s office in Belfast on Tuesday.

According to police, the goat had escaped from its owner in the parking lot of the Belfast Veterinary Hospital and Sgt. Fitzpatrick, Cpl. Spencer and Ofc. McFadden responded to the area to help capture the wayward animal.

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Sgt. Fitzpatrick located the goat on the ocean front but apparently the goat was not done with his walkabout.

“The 4-year-old goat led Sgt. Fitzpatrick, Cpl. Spencer and Ofc. McFadden on a long walk on the ocean front before educating the officers on the fact that goats could swim,” Belfast police said in a Facebook post.

The temperature outside was 28 degrees with a water temperature around 40 degrees, but police say that didn’t stop the goat from wading into the sea despite Sgt. Fitzpatrick and Ofc. McFadden’s best efforts to dissuade the goat.

“Both Sgt. Fitzpatrick and Ofc. McFadden continued their attempts to apprehend the goat and waded waist deep into the ocean after it,” police said.

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However, the goat was not ready to return. After witnessing the officers’ efforts to try and get the goat, some Mainers living on the waterfront between Penobscot Shores and Hazeltine Drive came to help, bringing heads of lettuce, a bucket of grain, and eventually, blankets to attempt to warm up the goat after it finally returned to shore.

“A special thanks goes out to these community members and one of our community members in particular who got in her kayak and prevented the goat from swimming further out,” police said

With everyone’s help the goat was rescued and returned to its owner, who then took it back to the veterinary hospital.