Small town goat rescued on Kansas City bridge reunited with family

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The famed 63rd Street bridge goat rescued by the Kansas City Fire Department from a ledge has been reunited with his owners – his original owners from Bethany, Missouri.

The distinction is important because Chug the goat has lived two lives since he arrived in Kansas City a couple of months ago.

He was first picked up by KC Pet Project, while roaming around Independence Avenue back in March and was then given the name Jeffrey according to Project Chief Communications Officer Tori Fugate.

“He wasn’t reclaimed so he got adopted about nine days after he arrived,” Fugate said. “Shortly after his arrival to his new home; he hopped the fence and continued on with his adventure, and that’s whenever we heard about him on the side of this bridge.”

Chug was again rescued, this time by the Kansas City Fire Department and again he was taken back to KC Pet Project.

“He is no stranger to us,” Fugate said. “His original family – like they have his mom and dad, all of his brothers and sisters – they live up near Bethany, Missouri. They saw him on the news, on this bridge and reached out.”

Brittany Slaughter picked up Chug Wednesday morning. They have 12 goats, sheep, cattle, horses and chickens on a 90-acre farm.

“February 16th is the last time that he was seen, and we saw him two days ago on the news, and I was like – ‘there’s no way’,” Slaughter said. “We’re just small town people and it’s a small farm, and we go out and he comes up and eats corn and does his thing…. Definitely never expected anything like this.”

Slaughter reunited Chug with his goat family and let him run around the farm Wednesday afternoon.

She thinks the wild adventure makes a pretty good story.

“Maybe he’ll make his way to the big screen, be a big famous guy,” Slaughter said. “We certainly hope so.”