Keal Pontin hopes all 23 of his Boer goats are still alive, particularly his family’s beloved pet Kiwi, a 21⁄2-year-old white female — now that a man suspected of stealing the goats was arrested Tuesday.
"She was actually disowned by her mother and bottle-fed," said the 23-year-old rancher at Kahuku Goats. He worries that Kiwi, who is pregnant, may need help with her first kidding.
Pontin is grateful to the media and many anonymous tips from the public, which led to the arrest of a 25-year-old Waialua man, who he believes is the ringleader of a small band of thieves.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of theft of livestock, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years’ imprisonment.
On Thursday night or early Friday morning, under the light of a full moon, thieves came onto the Pontins’ 250-acre ranch and stole 16 females (most of which were pregnant), two Boer breeding bucks and five male pet goats.
Judging from a section of a 6-foot fence that was bent over, Pontin said, "Looks like they were chucking them over. They have no care for animals whatsoever. The fact that they duct-taped their mouths shut and had ropes tied around their necks shows the kind of character they have."
Two goats were left with ropes around their necks and their mouths taped.
The goats are worth an estimated $10,000 total, conservatively, Pontin said.
The herd is down to 31 breeding nannies and 30 market-ready goats.
Pontin said he’s been receiving reports of goats being kept in people’s yards where there weren’t any before.
Anyone with information is asked to call police or call Pontin at 284-0356 and he will pick up the goats, no questions asked. Kahuku Goats is offering an undisclosed reward for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of any others.
Kamaaina Termite and Pest Control also is offering $5,000.
