Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A stray goat that spent the month running around Henderson County now has a new home and a record price tag.
The goat was auctioned Tuesday morning at the Henderson County Animal Services Center, where bidding started at just $1. It quickly climbed. The bids eventually reached $200 before settling at $205.
"This is a record for us; we've never sold a goat for 205 dollars," said Henderson County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Brad Reece.
How the goat ended up at an auction
The story started earlier this month when Henderson County Animal Enforcement responded to a property after three stray goats were spotted. Reece says deputies were unable to find an owner.
"They weren't able to find the owner, so we responded out there [and] found the three billy goats on this gentleman's property," he said.
Deputies were only able to catch one of the goats. The other two escaped. A few days later, deputies found another goat, a brown goat with large horns. Reece says the sheriff's office made several attempts to locate an owner, including reaching out through social media, but no one came forward.
"We don't know who the owner of it is. We've reached out several times through social media and have been unable to find an owner," he said.
Under state law, stray livestock must be auctioned 10 days after it is found if an owner cannot be located. Reece says the sheriff's office has held several goat auctions in the past, but typically the animals sell for just a few dollars. This time, the goat brought in a record $205.
Henderson County resident Dickie King was one of the bidders Tuesday. King says he saw the sheriff's office post about the goat on social media, and his wife wanted to add it to their seventh-generation family farm.
He was ultimately outbid, but says he isn't giving up.
"If they get another stray goat, I’ll be back," King said.
Reece says stray livestock does occasionally become a call for the sheriff’s office, with goats among the most common.
"Every now and then we run into stray livestock. We've had a stray bull. Stray goats are the most common," he said.
For Reece, chasing goats is just another unexpected part of the job.
"I never thought I’d be chasing goats to the rural countryside. It's a great job to have. Every day's different," he said.
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#goat #straygoat #wnc
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WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
A stray goat that spent the month running around Henderson County now has a new home and a record price tag.
The goat was auctioned Tuesday morning at the Henderson County Animal Services Center, where bidding started at just $1. It quickly climbed. The bids eventually reached $200 before settling at $205.
"This is a record for us; we've never sold a goat for 205 dollars," said Henderson County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Brad Reece.
How the goat ended up at an auction
The story started earlier this month when Henderson County Animal Enforcement responded to a property after three stray goats were spotted. Reece says deputies were unable to find an owner.
"They weren't able to find the owner, so we responded out there [and] found the three billy goats on this gentleman's property," he said.
Deputies were only able to catch one of the goats. The other two escaped. A few days later, deputies found another goat, a brown goat with large horns. Reece says the sheriff's office made several attempts to locate an owner, including reaching out through social media, but no one came forward.
"We don't know who the owner of it is. We've reached out several times through social media and have been unable to find an owner," he said.
Under state law, stray livestock must be auctioned 10 days after it is found if an owner cannot be located. Reece says the sheriff's office has held several goat auctions in the past, but typically the animals sell for just a few dollars. This time, the goat brought in a record $205.
Henderson County resident Dickie King was one of the bidders Tuesday. King says he saw the sheriff's office post about the goat on social media, and his wife wanted to add it to their seventh-generation family farm.
He was ultimately outbid, but says he isn't giving up.
"If they get another stray goat, I’ll be back," King said.
Reece says stray livestock does occasionally become a call for the sheriff’s office, with goats among the most common.
"Every now and then we run into stray livestock. We've had a stray bull. Stray goats are the most common," he said.
For Reece, chasing goats is just another unexpected part of the job.
"I never thought I’d be chasing goats to the rural countryside. It's a great job to have. Every day's different," he said.
wlos.com/news/local/stray-goat-sells-record-205-dollars-henderson-county-auction-home-price-bidding-animal-western-north-carolina
#goat #straygoat #wnc
_______________
Follow WLOS on social media:
WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: facebook.com/News13
WLOS ABC 13 News on X: https://x.com/WLOS_13
WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: instagram.com/wlos_13
Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1
For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit wlos.com
Stream our newscasts LIVE: wlos.com/watch
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@wlos.com
Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340
--
WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
This video and all Sinclair Broadcast Group content archives of local news and sports coverage are available for your use. For more information contact us at contentsales@sbgtv.com
