'There are goats outside.' How did this small herd of goats end up on the back patio of Antimony Brewing in Lenox?
By Clarence Fanto, Berkshire Eagle
LENOX — It was just past closing time at Antimony Brewing on Pittsfield Road when some late “customers” showed up on the back patio around 10:30 Monday night. Police were called for assistance to help with the adorable, yet unexpected guests.
The unanticipated arrivals were — wait for it — a mini-herd of goats.
Turns out the animals were out for an evening romp, having jumped the fence from their home with Jodi Bloom on East Dugway Road on the other side of Route 7/20.
“They were on our property and decided to go for a little jog,” Bloom said, matter-of-factly. “They’re very adventurous, they like to be loose, climb the fence and get out.”
Photo credit: Ben Garver, The Berkshire Eagle
In the past, however, they had stayed on her property. This time, they crossed the highway, fortunately with light traffic.
It could have ended badly, of course, for goats Oreo, Steve, CC and Carl, who may or may not have been seeking an after-hours brew or burger at Rob Trask’s popular brewpub at the entrance to Lenox Commons. After navigating across the highway under cover of darkness, they made it safely.
Antimony server Magdalen Pestana was working the late shift, staying to help the crew clean up and close for the night.
“Someone said, ‘There are goats outside,’” she said.
Photo credit: Ben Garver, The Berkshire Eagle
Photo caption: Four young goats rescued from Antimony Brewing in Lenox after a treacherous highway crossing late Monday evening spent the night at HomeFarm at Undermountain.
“We didn’t believe it at first, we thought we were mishearing her or she was making a bad joke or something. But just behind our little back patio in the employee parking lot, there are these four goats standing there. Since there are no surrounding farms or woodlands; it was just like they came out of nowhere.”
What to do next?
“We went over to them, petting them; they started following us onto the back patio and we closed them in. Animal control wasn’t picking up, so we called the police.”
There were no obvious solutions, so Pestana, concerned about the goats’ safety, called Wesley Sliver, her brother-in-law, waking him up, asking for help.
“He likes goats,” she noted.
Sliver came to the rescue, driving over in his van to take them for a 5-minute ride to nearby HomeFarm at Undermountain, where Pestana's mom, Lori Pestana, is executive director and was ready to welcome them for an overnight stay.
The goats, evidently frazzled by their misadventure, meekly trotted into the barn, Magdalen said.
“They were given hay and water, they obviously had the most confusing evening, no idea what was going on," she said. "They were just tired, settled right in and went to bed.”
By Tuesday morning, the goats' owner Jodi Bloom was conferring with Lori Pestana about whether to donate any of the goats to HomeFarm. The scenic farm already hosts 20 horses, two goats, two sheep and five donkeys.
Bloom pointed out that the 2-year-old goats’ mom did not join the romp.
“We have their mom, Cherry, at home, and she can’t be alone,” she said. “I had always wanted goats; I thought they were really lovely. They’re so cute.”
Previously, she had adopted two pregnant females, so the goat population soared to six at Bloom’s spread. The late-night adventure ended up offering Bloom a chance to find a more spacious home for her growing herd.
"It was meant to be, it was too bizarre of a circumstance," Lori Pestana said of the end result.