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CONCORD - Pike County is truly an amazing place to live. It is normal to see people taking care of each other and sometimes even people that they don’t know. And people post pictures of lost pets and help search for lost pets on social media on a regular basis.

Here is the story of a little feral goat who found his happy ending after living large for many months down at the bridge at the end of Concord Road. Many tried to capture him but were unsuccessful.

A plea on social media to save a little goat brought together two people with big hearts who wanted to give this little goat a better life. During the course of the capture, this little goat was given a name that he rightfully earned: Dodger.

Here is his story.

It Began at an Auction

About six months ago, Dodger was purchased at the Barnesville Auction House along with his twin brother and Mama. His twin brother passed away shortly after arriving at their new home leaving Dodger and his Mama on the farm.

A few days after this passing of the twin brother, Mama and Dodger pulled a fast one and escaped from their pen. They wandered for a time and passed through Concord before settling down in an area about 15 minutes away from their farm at the bridge at the end of Concord Road.

Dodger was still nursing and spent his days running with his Mama. All previous efforts to catch them were unsuccessful. But then his Mama was killed, and Dodger was left alone at his new home by the bridge.

A few weeks ago, Anna Reeves saw a plea on social media to catch the little goat that had been seen next to his Mama’s dead body by the bridge. It looked like he had panicked and been side swiped by a vehicle so he was hurt.

What happened next was painstaking but miraculous as the story took place on social media with the community watching in.

The Plea to Catch a Little Goat

Anna Reeves from Paws On Pine, LLC told Pike County Times about Dodger’s story as Pike County was watching the attempts to capture this little goat were ongoing on social media.

On October 14, Jose Negron, the owner of Painter 1 of South Atlanta, made a desperate plea on the Pike County Discussion page for someone to save Dodger.

“I just so happened to have some down time and was scrolling through and saw the post,” Anna said. “Knowing I have really good knowledge of goats and their behaviors/patterns, I figured I could attempt it.”

Anna said that she and Jose messaged daily and sometimes hourly about Dodger. Anna spent hours of her time under that bridge and following Dodger’s paths deep into the woods and swamp areas. “Knowing winter was coming and the predators were getting hungry, time was of the essence,” she said.

She made a plea to the county and Pike County Animal Control to obtain permission to put up signs and catch the little goat.

“I was able to get him stopped and safe under the bridge. He was letting me get 15 feet from him, which no one had been able to before.” Anna works 365 days a year at BrueBerry Hills Farm so she smelled like goats and wouldn’t be a threat to him.

Capture Date Arrived Sooner Than Expected

On the morning of October 19, Anna and Jose met at the bridge. “We had no serious plans on catching him,” she said. But they were hoping that he was in the right spot… AND HE WAS!!

Dodger saw Anna on one side of the bridge and focused on her while Jose dropped down on the other side of the bridge. Dodger got a whiff of Jose’s smell and bolted across traffic to the other side of the bridge.

“We thought we just missed our opportunity,” Anna said. But they decided to give it one more try without running Dodge too hard because he was already limping and trying to maneuver around massive sharp boulders around the bridge.

“I dropped down to the other side of the bridge while Jose made the track to wide flank him back out,” Anna said. “Dodger then bolted to my side of the bridge, and I cornered him underneath it.”

Anna said that Dodger knew what they were doing. He was smart to outlive predators around there for this long so he knew. She also said that he was tired.

He slowed down to a jogging pace and ran from Anna straight where Jose was. Anna said that Jose took a leap of faith and belly flopped on top of him.

They quickly secured the little goat and immediately began hollering, “WE GOT HIM! WE GOT HIM!”

“The feeling of relief was instant,” Anna said.

“I was relieved when we caught him,” Jose said, “knowing that he wasn’t danger to anybody on the road, and knowing he wouldn’t be a victim of the road himself. And knowing that he was going to be going to a safe home to live out the rest of his happy little goat life. Long live Dodger - The legend!”

A New Life and a New Home

Dodger is going to live with Jordan Cain on her homestead for the rest of his goat days.

When Anna spoke to Jordan seconds after capturing and securing Dodger, Jordan said, “I just can’t believe it I thought it was gonna be awhile before you got him. That’s amazing y’all got him that fast. I’m in shock to be honest, and I wasn’t even there. He’s safe now and he doesn’t have to worry anymore.”

Dodger has made friends with some ducks while he has been in quarantine and has been known to cuddle with them. He’s not by himself anymore.

“I am honorary goat mom, and Jose is honorary goat dad,” said Anna. “Dodger will always have a place to go! He will never be homeless again.”

Anna has thanked the community for sending her messages about sightings of Dodger. She also thanked everyone in that area who slowed down for them around the Concord Road Bridge as they were trying to catch Dodger.

She said that the number of people who have offered to help this little goat with cages, food, shots, and any way possible has been heart-warming! She is very thankful.

Dodger was a local legend around the bridge, but he has a new home now where he is safe and will never be alone again.