Hard-luck goat will be evicted from city due to farm animal law

First assaulted with spray paint. Then kidnapped and returned. Now evicted.

The last week has not been kind to Sharon, the Sigma Chi goat.

It's a felony to steal an animal. But it's also against Cape Girardeau's ordinance to keep barnyard animals within the city limits. As a result, Sharon is no longer welcome.

The city council passed revisions in July that prohibit barnyard animals, said Cape Girardeau police officer Ty Metzger. Officers will issue a verbal warning to the fraternity and allow a standard seven days for a new home to be found for the 7-month-old goat.

Sharon lives at the Sigma Chi house at 1146 N. Frederick St. where she is allowed to roam freely on a 2-acre plot surrounded by a security fence. A fraternity member said the goat is also allowed indoors.

The fraternity referred all other questions to its attorney, Ken McManaman. Calls from the Southeast Missourian to McManaman and the fraternity were not immediately returned Tuesday.