Owner Surrenders Goats that Needed Medical Attention

WEST CAPE MAY – A case of suspected goat neglect was “probably a case of good intentions that became an overwhelming responsibility” according to Shore Animal Control which was called to a Sixth Avenue address.
Cape May Police Department, Cape May Animal Control Officer and Shore Animal Control, which has responsibility for West Cape May, received a call about several goats after a follower of an Instagram account @goatsofanarchy was walking nearby and “heard a goat screaming.
“One of my followers found a goat had her eyelid pierced with a chain link fence and was caught,” said Leanne Lauricella, who runs the Instagram account. “The goat was trying to free herself. The woman ran to get wire cutters and cut the fence to free the animal.”
In addition, a kid appeared to have mangled back feet and couldn’t walk, according to Lauricella. They called Cape May Animal Control and police, who called in Shore Animal Control.
“We know two of the 11 goats got taken by a rescue group,” said Officer Chelsea Lippincott, of Shore Animal Control. “Most of the goats looked healthy; there were only a few that needed medical attention. The one baby that looked like it was born with a birth defect and the mother, whose eyes were swollen, needed medical attention.”
Both were bought by the rescue group and received medical attention, according to Lauricella.
“One goat was really big, like she needed to be milked,” Lippincott noted, “but other than that, the goats looked healthy. The only other problem that I saw was the enclosure was not a strong enough fence to hold in the goats.”
The owner of the property met them on scene, according to Lippincott. “Because he had agreed to relinquish the goats and work with the rescue, the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was not called in. Charles Coleman is the owner of the property. This was probably a case of good intentions that became an overwhelming responsibility.”
Efforts to reach the owner for comment were unsuccessful.
Lauricella said one of her Instagram followers was bringing clean food and water every day and they bought two more goats April 4.
“We are thankful to the Goats of Anarchy, Cape May ACO Jeff McClark and Officer Chelsea Lippincott from Shore Animal Control for their help in this rescue operation and for the cooperation of the owner to do the right thing and relinquish the goats so they could receive proper medical care and treatment,” said Linda Gentille, Shore Animal Control manager.
“Sometimes people have the best of intentions in rescuing animals, but often become overwhelmed with the expense and responsibility that comes with it,” she added.
According to a February article on countryliving.com, Lauricella raises animals on her backyard farm in Mansfield Township, Warren County. She first adopted two goats in 2014, and then three more before giving up a job in New York City that she claimed came with too much stress and an awful commute.
She created @goatsofanarchy to document her new loves and, according to the article, acquired over 30,000 followers in one night. “I took this as a sign that I was on the right track,” she said. She claims to have 208,000 followers.
Since caring for animals full-time, Lauricella has welcomed a mini horse, a mini donkey, two rabbits and a pig, all rescued from The Barnyard Sanctuary, Blairstown, where she volunteers, according to the article.
To cover vet bills and food, she started a side business designing animal-themed silk screen T-shirts she prints herself.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.