Despite her family's pleas to let Gigi, the Nigerian dwarf goat, stay in their South Milwaukee home, the board of health voted unanimously Wednesday night that the goat -- technically a non-permissible farm animal -- has to go."I never thought I would live in a house with snakes, nor did I ever think I would live in a house with a goat," Gigi's owner Gail Krug said, who was distraught after the board's vote. "How can you dictate what a family can love?"
"I understand. I have a pet. And I understand it's very difficult to not be able to keep that pet," Health Department official Jacqueline Ove said. "We certainly will try to work with her to give her adequate time to find a new home for the pet."
The South Milwaukee Police Department said this all started in December.
"A resident at 505 Madison contacted the South Milwaukee Police Department requesting an ambulance because they had smoked too much marijuana, and they were requesting a ride to the hospital," South Milwaukee Police Chief Ann Wellens said.
While responding to the call for help, police discovered the goat and suspected it did not comply with city rules. The health department was called.
"They clearly had stated that they have taken the goat to many different places -- including nursing homes and children's birthday parties, those kinds of things -- and I think that may pose a danger," Ove said.
Goats can carry rabies, and no approved vaccination for goats exists.
The Krugs have contacted a couple of farms near South Milwaukee, but they are not sure yet where Gigi's new home will be.
No felony charges were ever filed against the Krugs. One of the sons in the home received a couple of citations.
http://www.wisn.com/family/18858430/detail.html
More news on the goat w/pic of goat
http://www.wisn.com/family/18837136/detail.html
"I understand. I have a pet. And I understand it's very difficult to not be able to keep that pet," Health Department official Jacqueline Ove said. "We certainly will try to work with her to give her adequate time to find a new home for the pet."
The South Milwaukee Police Department said this all started in December.
"A resident at 505 Madison contacted the South Milwaukee Police Department requesting an ambulance because they had smoked too much marijuana, and they were requesting a ride to the hospital," South Milwaukee Police Chief Ann Wellens said.
While responding to the call for help, police discovered the goat and suspected it did not comply with city rules. The health department was called.
"They clearly had stated that they have taken the goat to many different places -- including nursing homes and children's birthday parties, those kinds of things -- and I think that may pose a danger," Ove said.
Goats can carry rabies, and no approved vaccination for goats exists.
The Krugs have contacted a couple of farms near South Milwaukee, but they are not sure yet where Gigi's new home will be.
No felony charges were ever filed against the Krugs. One of the sons in the home received a couple of citations.
http://www.wisn.com/family/18858430/detail.html
More news on the goat w/pic of goat
http://www.wisn.com/family/18837136/detail.html