Runaway Sheep Rescued On Garden State Parkway

by Patricia A. Miller

What everyone thought were two runaway goats who had romped up and down the Garden State Parkway for two months actually turned out to be sheep, according to app.com.

On Wednesday, animal rescue officials managed to corner them and bring them to the Associated Humane Societies in Tinton Falls.

“Caught the Parkway goats,” the Associated Humane Societies Facebook page states. ”They’re really sheep, this morning. Safe and sound at our Tinton Falls branch.”

Rescuers had even resorted to using a decoy goat in previous attempts to capture the animals over the past weeks. But unfortunately the decoy didn’t work, because it turned out they were sheep, not goats, said Popcorn Park Zoo Director John Bergmann.

Calls about the sheep first starting coming in around Labor Day. They were spotted on the northbound section of the parkway, near milemarker 99.

Wednesday morning, animal control officers spotted a hole in a chain link fence that led to a farm. They enlarged the hole and the animals ducked through the hole. Taylor Fencing donated a large dog kennel. Rescuers put food in the enclosure and the sheep took the bait.

The unnamed goats will be quarantined at the Tinton Falls facility for 60 days. Then they may be moved down to Popcorn Park where they will have other sheep friends for company, Bergmann said.

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Photos courtesy of Associated Humane Societies.