July 18--Of all the sights from the hillside of East Broad Street that faces the downtown Hazleton business district, rarely, if ever, has someone said they saw ... a goat.
That is until Tuesday night, and again early Wednesday morning, when a tan-and-white goat was spotted near the Southside Fire Station.
City police said they responded to the area around 4 a.m. for a report of a goat in the roadway.
"The goat was taken into custody without incident," leashed and transported to the Hazleton Animal Shelter, police said in a news release.
Police said anyone with information on the goat's owner can call 911 or the shelter at 570-454-0640.
Dave Fatula was at the station with other firefighters around 4 a.m. when he said he heard an officer yell, "He's over here!"
Fatula looked outside and saw police trying to corral the goat.
He said he initially thought police were looking for a human, not livestock. Firefighters helped the officers capture the goat, luring him with food and then finally containing him on a leash attached to a long pole police often use for detaining dogs.
"He was ornery," Fatula said of the animal, which was bucking and not too pleased with being corralled.
It was the second time in hours that firefighters saw the goat and tried to capture it. The first time, the goat ran away into stripping pits behind the fire station.
Deputy Fire Chief Brian Mandak said the Pioneer Fire Company was meeting at the station Wednesday night when the goat was first spotted, getting firefighters' attention when it let out a, "Naahh!"
Fatula said he was taking out the garbage around 9 p.m. Tuesday and heard a grunting noise. He spotted what he originally thought was a big dog or a small deer. But as he got closer, he realized it was indeed a goat.
He and other firefighters tried to catch the animal but it moved to the front of the firehouse. Fearing it would get hit by a vehicle on Broad Street, firefighters lured the animal back to the rear of the station, where it ran into the woods.
Representatives of the animal shelter were not available for comment, as the shelter is closed on Wednesdays.
Copyright 2013 - Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
