Kidnapped Navy goat found safe and sound: Soldiers suspected in goat rustling

A Maryland kidnapping had a happy ending despite a crime that was more than enough to get anyone’s goat.

Bill the Goat, the Navy Academy mascot, was taken over the weekend from Maryland Sunrise Farms. The farm, which provided milk for more than 80 years to midshipmen as the Naval Academy Dairy Farm, is home to the two Navy Goats Bill XXXIII and XXXIV. The farm manager told Navy Times that it was not known which of the two mascots were kidnapped but he suspected soldiers stole the goat. The Angora was found safe and sound tied up on a median near the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.

Let’s see a military goat was kidnapped and taken across state lines. That sounds serious. But strict punishment for any perpetrator who might be caught is doubtful. Stealing the Navy goat is a tradition leading up to the annual Army-Navy game. That contest will take place 3 p.m., December 8 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The Navy Department said they didn’t know who took one of the Bills but suspect it could have something to do with the upcoming game.

Although the goat was unharmed the farm manager was none too pleased it was left tied up on a busy highway median and suggests that it might be time the goat-rustling tradition ends. West Point official said they had no knowledge of the Bill heist and said that both academies have pledged not to steal each others’ mascots.Then again, who would want to steal the U.S. Military Academy’s mascot, a mule, unless they were planning to go plow the back 40?