Dead goat found hogtied with throat slit in Chattahoochee River

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A disturbing story for people who like to canoe and go tubing on the Chattahoochee river. A dead goat was found in the river.

We’ve reported on this on-going problem, but Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston is live in north Fulton County with why this recent incident has people concerned.

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Huddleston has reported on this on-going issued for years, but this is the first time Channel 2 has reported on the problem near the recreation area, where millions of people fish and jump in the river.

Mike Garcia and Juan Salleras were on the Chattahoochee River in Johns Creek when they found this dead goat on the banks of the river.

“First it started with the smell,” Garcia said. “When I realized it has been hog tied and it’s throat was slit that’s when I was like, ‘Ok, that’s wild.’”

“I can’t say I’ve seen anything like this before,” Selleras said.

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Jason Ulseth is the Chattahoochee River Keeper. He said this is not new.

“I’ve found over 2 to 3 hundred goats over the past couple of years,” Ulseth said.

In fact, last summer, Ulseth took Huddleston on the Chattahoochee and showed him dozens of goats floating in the river. He said there are a couple of things that trouble him about this recent find by Garcia and Salleras,

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“What’s really concerning with finding them further upstream here in the Chattahoochee River Recreation Area is that over a million people get on this river every year.”

Ulseth said most of the goats he’s found are south Atlanta below Interstate-20 away from recreation areas.

“That could become a serious health hazard if we keep finding these,” Ulseth said.

Ulseth said if you see anything that concerns you on the lake to reach out to them on the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s website.

Investigation: People practicing Santeria may be dumping headless goats in the Chattahoochee A witness recorded cellphone video of goats being tossed into the river from the I-20 bridge.

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