What began as a very prickly sort of predicament for one unlucky little goat later turned into the happiest of endings - thanks to officers who went above and beyond to make sure that he too was protected and served.
It all started a few weeks ago when Deputy Matt Ford, from the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona, was dispatched to help an animal in distress. Thats when he found the very young goat - just a kid, really.
Not only had he gotten lost, his misadventure nearly proved fatal after he fell into a cactus. Fortunately, Ford was there to help.
"Deputy Ford pulled the baby goat from the cactus, and slowly began removing the cactus spines one by one," the sheriff's office wrote online. "The baby goat appeared to be very thin, and was not in good condition."
Afterward, Ford set about trying to track down the goat's owners, but to no avail. Days passed without anyone coming to claim him - that is, until he found a new family.
Ford's colleague, Deputy Courtney Rodriguez, was so touched by the goat's ordeal that she decided to adopt him.
"She named the baby goat Leroy Brown, and today he is happy, healthy, and enjoying his new home with his new family!" the sheriff's office reports.
Here he is now, apparently having been deputized to add some extra cuteness to the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Leroy's life may have gotten off to a rough start, but now things couldn't be brighter. It just goes to show what a difference kindness and compassion can make in the life of an animal.
