Loose Sheep Captured By Police, Animal Control In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — After a 12-hour ordeal, the loose sheep has been caught. The little sheep had a bit of an adventure after getting loose in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater on Wednesday.

The black-and-white spotted Jacob sheep was first reported around 8:30 a.m. running on Mallard Drive off Washington Valley Road.

Two Somerset Regional Animal Shelter(SRAS) officers went out to the area and found the sheep. However, it got away, said Hailey Waldron, a vet tech with the shelter.

"It took off and they lost sight of it," said Waldron. "[The sheep] was quick."

Bridgewater police also went out to the area to try to corral the sheep but also had no luck, said Captain John Mitzak.

Peggy Taylor, who was at her son's home in the Green Acres section off Cricket Lane, later spotted the wanted sheep around 3:30 p.m.

Taylor said she and her boyfriend, Gary Tufaro, heard a loud bang on the fence and thought it was the missing sheep.

"My boyfriend being a goofball made these 'Baa Baa' noises, and next thing you know the sheep is right by the fence!" Taylor said. "We threw baby carrots out and put a bucket of water over the fence thinking maybe he would drink, it but he didn't."

Taylor then called the Bridgewater police; however, the police couldn't get to the sheep and called for SRAS officers to help.

"Animal control was called out since it was deep in a wooded area," said Capt. John Mitzak.

"There was a lot of thorn bushes and while they were trying to get back there, they spooked it and it took off. I am not sure where it went. It looked like it went toward Washington Valley Road," Taylor said.

It wasn't until around 8 p.m. when Animal Control Officer Jessica Ostrowksi and Bridgewater Police Officers Silverman and Weiss were able to chase down the sheep all the way from Mallard Drive through the forest, down a ravine and up to Washington Valley Road, said Rose Tropeano with SRAS.

At that point Silverman and Weiss cornered the sheep and Ostrowksi was able to secure the sheep, said Tropeano.

The sheep was taken back to the shelter at 100 Commons Way in Bridgewater, given hay, water and food and secured for the night, said Tropeano.

Just as with all stray animals the sheep will remain at the shelter for seven days to see if the owner will come forward.

Tropeano has some hope as the sheep is tagged with a green marker. If no one comes forward, a farm sanctuary has already offered to care for the sheep.

Mitzak doesn't recall ever responding to corral a sheep in the past, although the police have helped to catch loose cows and horses.

"We will do it all," Mitzak said. "Call us and we will come to help."

This is also the first sheep for the shelter. Tropeano said they have had chickens, reptiles and birds but never a sheep.

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