Man Charged With Abandoning Injured Goats In Cherokee County

CANTON, GA — A Dawsonville man has been charged with abandoning two goats after they suffered injuries so severe that they had to be euthanized. The investigation began Dec. 16 when the Cherokee Marshal's Office were notified of two injured goats that were roaming along Cumming Highway/S.R. 20 near Water Tank Road.

Both goats suffered severe injuries to their mouth and jaw areas, the agency said. Upon examination by two veterinarians, it was determined they were the victims of "some type of blunt force trauma." However, it could not be determined if that trauma was intentional or inflicted by accident.

As the investigation continued, the Marshal's Office tracked down the person in possession of the goats at the time of their injuries, who was identified as Michael Cuevas of Dawsonville. Cherokee Marshal's Office spokesperson Matthew McCullen said Cuevas told officers he found the goats on Cumming Highway "several months ago" and took them to his home in Dawsonville.

Cuevas said the animals were attacked by a dog at his home, so he took them to a veterinarian to be examined. While traveling on Cumming Highway following the visit, Cuevas told officers the goats "started acting in a wild manner" in the back of the trailer. He pulled over on the side of the road — the same area where the Marshal's Office said Cuevas found the goats months before — to try to calm them down.

"Mr. Cuevas stated he opened the gate to the trailer and the two goats escaped," the Marshal's Office said. "Mr. Cuevas searched for the goats and could not locate them and left the area without notifying authorities or filing a report."

The original owner of the animals were located, but the goats had to be euthanized due to their injuries. Cuevas was charged with two count of abandoning an animal, which McMullen said is a county ordinance violation.

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