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| The Athens Messenger, January 12, 1992 Used with permission |
Abbott "Pete" Smith, D.V.M.
June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Pete Smith, D.V.M., and Milliron: Abbott “Pete” Smith, D.V.M. The Biography (Monday Creek Publishing 2017). A graduate of Colorado State University and a well-known veterinarian in southeast Ohio, Dr. Smith continues to motivate and inspire.
An article from The Athens Messenger, January 12, 1992, features Dr. Smith and his take on two wild goats living in the Strouds Run area of Athens County. The goats, which were described as having heavy black coats and large horns, were at first thought to be bears. The article, written by Roy Cross, explains that the goats may have been the offspring from abandoned farms from long ago...
Wild goats roam hillsides near Athens
You probably heard the term "tough old goat" in reference to a person who survives in spite of obstacles or misfortune. Well, two four-legged examples of the truth of that saying are roaming the hills around Strouds Run State Park and even go to lunch on the cliff overlooking University Mall. They are wild goats, living off the land.
There have been reports of wild goats in the Strouds Run area since the park opened in the late 1950s, but the recent appearance of two goats on the cliff at the mall off East State Street sparked the interest of many people.
The goats apparently either escaped from a farm or were abandoned by the owners, or could be descended from goats that were once domestic animals on Strouds Run farms.
Tom Monroe of the Ohio Division of Wildlife district office in Athens said his department has received many calls about the animals.
"The first calls were that they were bears," Monroe said. "That's probably because of their thick, black coats."
Dr. J.K. Bratton of Athens Veterinary Hospital said it would be possible for the goats to live off the land.
"Goats will survive quite well," he said.
Dr. Abbott Pete Smith of Milliron Clinic on Route 550 said the goats cover a wide range in their travels. He said there have been reports of the animals as far east as Route 690 and north to Route 550. Smith said when farms were abandoned to build Dow Lake and Strouds Run State Park, a number of goats were left behind. He said they became destructive, especially in orchards, outside the park so in the 1960s state rangers undertook a campaign to rid the woodlands of the goats.
"They probably missed some," Smith said, in explaining the presence of the two goats that now call the state park home.
Both animals have large horns and heavy fur coats. They have attracted attention of shoppers and workers at University Mall, and have been seen by hikers in the park.
Smith added that reports of bears could also be accurate. State wildlife officials have said bears are moving from western Pennsylvania and West Virginia into Ohio. Smith said there are some physical signs that bears have been in the area.
Have a great week ahead.
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Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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