The Hialeah Police, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, opened an investigation for possible animal cruelty after a video of a goat running through a parking lot with numerous dollar bills stuck to its body went viral.
The images were shared on Friday by the popular social media account Only In Dade, according to local broadcaster WSVN 7News reporting this Monday.
The video shows the small animal moving alone across a paved area and a patch of grass while carrying what appear to be bills secured to its fur.
The unusual scene caught attention due to the amount of money stuck to the body of the goat, which was seen running back and forth.
In response to the dissemination of the video, the Hialeah Police Department issued an official statement, in English and Spanish, confirming that their detectives are working on the case.
"The Hialeah Police Department is aware of the video circulating on social media related to a goat and has initiated an investigation into the incident," stated the institution.
The Police emphasized that any situation that may involve animal abuse warrants an investigation to establish what happened and determine possible responsibilities.
“We take any situation involving animal abuse very seriously and are committed to clarifying the facts,” he added.
Authorities reiterated that they are actively investigating the images of the loose goat, which appears to have U.S. currency attached to its body, and they have requested the cooperation of anyone with information about the incident.
"Our detectives are working to clarify the circumstances of this incident," stated the Police Department, which requested anyone with additional information or recordings that could help identify those involved to come forward.
Citizens who can provide information should contact the Hialeah Police at 305-687-2525.
So far, authorities have not publicly identified the owner of the animal or the individuals who may have attached the bills to it. They have also not explained the reason for the incident or announced any related arrests.
The video does not clarify whether the goat sustained any physical injuries. The investigation aims to determine the circumstances under which it ended up covered in money and running unsupervised in an area used by vehicles.
Florida law provides penalties for animal cruelty. The Section 828.12 of the Florida Statutes establishes that mistreating, tormenting, or unnecessarily subjecting an animal to cruel treatment may constitute a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and other penalties as provided by law.
When there is aggravated cruelty, such as intentional acts that cause the cruel death of an animal or excessive or repeated suffering, the behavior may constitute a third-degree felony, with fines of up to $10,000, in addition to other applicable penalties.
The police have recently had to intervene in other incidents related to the treatment of animals.
In October, two men were arrested in Miami-Dade following the discovery of hundreds of fighting roosters on a property in Redland, where authorities found training rings and a venue with numbered seating for spectators.
Previously, the discovery of a dead dog, submerged in water and tied to concrete blocks at a marina in Coconut Grove, Miami, sparked outrage and led to a police investigation. Until the release of that information, no arrests directly related to the animal's death had been announced.
In mid-October, a person was arrested for their alleged connection to a cockfighting ring uncovered on a farm in Miami-Dade. During the operation, authorities found thousands of birds and subsequently sacrificed more than 3,100 roosters that, according to investigators, were being used for fighting.
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