Maui dairy operator fears stolen goats are no longer alive

Spreckles, one of the top milk producers for her 42-acre goat farm, and six of her cloven-hoofed friends have been stolen from their home on Maui.

"These goats aren’t just production animals; they’re members of our family," said Angela Reichert, office manager for the Surfing Goat Dairy in Kula.

Between July 19 and Thursday, seven milking goats — Alyss, Sadie, Keawe, Latte, Maxine, Dopio and Spreckles — were stolen from the dairy while they were grazing in the pastures in the midafternoon.

Dairy owner Thomas Kafsack said not only is his staff devastated, but customers as well. Customers often came to the farm to check on the goats, and some of the goats were even named after children of the customers.

"It’s happening in broad daylight, between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m., so it’s definitely the stealth type of action going on," Reichert said.

The goats were stolen from one of the pastures along the main road of Kula, Omaopio Road. Since the site is far from where the daily operations staff is, no one was aware the goats were being taken, Reichert said.

In both cases there was no damage to the fence surrounding the pasture.

For this reason Reichert speculated there’s more than one thief coming to the site. With no damage to the fence, she said the goat thieves are lifting the goats — usually weighing 160 pounds — over the fence, handing them off to another person on the other side.

"Our goats are very docile and love people, so if people come up to them, they’re going to be very friendly," she said.

Kafsack said, "This is a big loss for us here not just personally, but financially."

The dairy farm is home to 162 goats, 80 of which are used for milking. With the seven goats missing, the dairy’s milking herd has been reduced by nearly 10 percent.

Milking goats are valued at up to $12,000 each.

Maui police did not respond to a request for information, but Reichert said reports in both incidents have been filed.

Kafsack said he thinks the goats are being stolen and sold for their milking purposes or slaughtered for meat.

"I fear these goats are no longer alive," Kafsack said.

Kafsack is offering a $5,000 reward for either the safe return of the goats or information that will lead to their whereabouts.

Kafsack had surveillance cameras and motion detectors installed Monday in the pastures that border the property.