A week-old baby goat named Bella was reported stolen from a family fair in Palm Bay, and her owner says the animal may not survive without urgent care. Angela Kerns, founder of Angela's Petting Zoo, told FOX 35 the goat was last seen Sunday night near a Harley-Davidson store off Interstate 95. Bella is one of a set of twins; her brother, Benji, has been acting distressed since she disappeared.
Kerns said her team had to close early Monday due to storms. When they returned, they found Bella's pen empty. 'I wasn't expecting to wake up and not find her anywhere,' Kerns said. Stable hand Mikayla Bass, who discovered the goat missing, believes Bella was intentionally taken. 'There's no coyotes out here in the middle of the fair, and we would have heard it cry,' Bass said.
Kerns and Bass both live on-site at the fairgrounds and heard no commotion overnight. No other animals were taken or injured, leading them to think Bella was targeted. 'She's a cute goat and anyone would love to have a cute little goat as a pet,' Kerns said.
The Palm Bay Police Department confirmed an investigation is underway. Kerns said Bella needs her mother's milk to survive and is 'not going to survive' without it. The petting zoo is pleading for the goat's safe return. 'I'm kind of shocked actually, because nothing like this has happened around here before,' Kerns said.
The fairgrounds are located near the intersection of State Road 520 and Interstate 95 in Palm Bay. Authorities have not released any leads in the case, and Kerns is urging anyone with information to contact police.