Animals

Off-leash dog kills two knotweed-eating goats

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Knotweed-eating goats in Waitsfield – Community News Service photo by Lyidsey Papasian

By VDC staff

Town officials say two goats being used to control invasive knotweed were killed and others escaped after an off-leash dog jumped into their enclosure at the Waitsfield fairgrounds Thursday evening, August 6, according to a Facebook post by the Valley Reporter, the weekly newspaper for the Mad River Valley.

The surviving goats bolted from their enclosure following the attack, prompting local volunteers to search for the animals. A trio of hikers joined volunteers led by Carole Parker and helped herd the goats down Wu Ledges and safely back to their pen.

The goats are part of an effort to control knotweed, an invasive plant, through grazing.

The incident is expected to prompt further discussion about dogs running off leash in town. This is the second incident of death caused by an unleashed dog in Waitsfield since July 27, when a pit bull killed a miniature poodle. The Waitsfield Select Board is scheduled to discuss the issue at its meeting Monday.

The Valley Reporter said it plans to publish additional details online and on social media.

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Categories: Animals

12 replies »

  1. Must be the dog wasn’t a pit bull, since the headline didn’t lead with that. I wonder if whatever breed it was will spark calls for it to banned, as previous commenters have advocated for. 🤔

    • Pitbulls rank number one in attacks on humans, especially children, and other animals. They have been bred to kill. The breed must be exterminated. Other countries have already outlawed them.

  2. Its not the dog’s fault it the stupid owner of the dog. Keep your dogs on a leash because most town’s have a leash law and the owner should be charged for the replacement of the dead goats. Believe me not everyone loves your dog!

    • Oh yes Bonnie, I hear you hear and agree. I was referring to the pit bull haters club. My dogs are off leash at home, but when we go out…they are leashed.

  3. Easy fix. Shoot the dog and fine the owner $1,000 for every death their dog caused. Then make sure that person never owns another animal again.

    • You don’t know much about dogs do you Kathleen? Dogs are groomed by the owners. Period.
      You probably blame the machete or the gun when some gets killed, and support the AGs catch and release program too, eh?

      People are being mercifully kind to you here Kathleen. Sharia law hasn’t hit Vermont yet.

  4. If the dog was not on its own property then the owner should be held responsible and pay for damages and loss of income. Please keep your dogs leashed so we don’t have t shoot them. Plain and simple!

    • Not too long ago, the dogs owners were held legally responsible for all damages monetarily and lost wages, the Selectmen can order the dogs put down