Goat Abandoned At Secaucus Walmart

SECAUCUS, NJ — The goat abandoned this morning at the Secaucus Walmart super center has been nicknamed Wally and new revelations have been learned about the critter, such as his breed and that he is sick. A photo of the animal is above.

The goat was found Thursday morning outside the Walmart super center, which is one of the nation's largest Walmarts and serves all of densely-populated Hudson County. It was found by Walmart employees running wild in the parking lot, and they called Secaucus Animal Control, Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli said.

Apparently some people shopping at the Walmart actually offered to take the animal to eat it, rescuers said on Facebook. It is thought to be a dwarf fainting goat, which is a breed of goat that actually freezes and falls over when it gets scared. Their legs will temporarily stop working.

The goat's ear was tagged, meaning it appeared the animal was marked for slaughter. However, now the goat is safe and sound and has been taken to the Barnyard Sanctuary, an animal rescue group off Interstate 80, he said.

"The goat is safe and sound now," said Mayor Gonnelli.

"Animal Control Officer Kevin Kessler of Secaucus, NJ responded today to a police call for a small goat running loose in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart in Secaucus by a busy highway," the animal rescue group wrote. "There were several individuals on hand who offered to take this baby to eat him! Luckily, Kevin caught him in time. He is an intact (not neutered) male goat, aprox 3-4 months old. In addition to being skinny, having mange and a terribly snotty nose, this poor baby also has a mouth disease called Orf (google Orf in goats for more info). It is highly contagious for goats and sheep, and easily transferred to humans as well."

"We are asking help to pay the vet bill for this little baby. He needs a wellness check, treatment for runny nose, Orf and lice, vaccinations, and when feeling better, castration. We believe him to be a Dwarf Nigerian, maybe a fainting goat, as he gets stiff in the hind legs sometimes, if startled."

He has been nicknamed Wally, because of where he was found. The group is asking for donations to help bring Wally back to health. Donate here: https://www.facebook.com/TheBa...

"It is unknown how the animal got there," said Secaucus police public information officer Capt. Dennis Miller. It is unknown if anyone was caught on security camera dropping off the goat.

Secaucus appears to be somewhat of a repository for New Jersey's unwanted animals: Someone deposited a caiman (a type of small alligator) in the town's duck pond last year, where many children and adults love to fish. While the small alligator, estimated at roughly 2-and-a-half feet, was never found, town officials doubt it survived the winter. The town still put the below sign up by the duck pond.

Photo of Wally provided by Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli