An escaped mountain goat that was stuck under a Kansas City bridge has been rescued in a rocky operation and may be reunited with its owners, who believe he was stolen from their farm two months earlier. The animal, suspected to be a missing goat named Chug, was spotted hopping around on the bridge pillars after the recent solar eclipse. Efforts to guide the goat to safety initially went awry when a rope was put around its neck, causing it to panic and slip. Firefighters eventually managed to rescue the goat, who miraculously escaped the incident without any broken bones.
Tori Fugate from the KC Pet Project, a nonprofit that handles animal control for Kansas City, described the goat’s rescue as an event that captured the attention of the entire city. Despite the danger the goat faced while hanging from the bridge, firefighters were able to create slack in the rope, allowing the animal to fall safely onto padding below. The goat was then sedated by a veterinarian and given oxygen before being taken for X-rays. The veterinarian confirmed that the goat had not suffered any broken bones, which was a miraculous outcome considering the height from which he fell.
The rescued goat, initially named Jeffrey after he was adopted in March and subsequently escaped, is now suspected to be the missing goat Chug. A family living two hours away from Kansas City has reached out to the shelter, claiming that the goat resembles their missing pet. They plan to come to the shelter to confirm his identity and are prepared to take him back home if he is indeed their stolen goat. The goat’s adoptive owners have expressed willingness to let him go back to his original family, acknowledging his particular preferences regarding his living situation.
Despite the rocky rescue and previous escapes, the goat has managed to capture the hearts of many with his adventurous escapades. Fugate pointed out that he was fortunate to survive the fall from the bridge supports, which were as high as 80 feet above the ground. The goat’s resilience and ability to evade capture before being reunited with his original owners have added to the charm of his story, making him a local celebrity in Kansas City. The successful rescue operation and potential reunion with his owners have brought a happy ending to the saga of the escaped mountain goat stuck under the bridge.
