Saving King Silver

KELLOGG — It might not have been the most daring of rescues, but for the folks working on Silver Mountain, a seeming act of depravity gave them the opportunity to demonstrate their own humanity.

Scared, lonely, and wandering about the snowy peaks of Silver Mountain. Last week, a young Nigerian Dwarf goat was found with a collar and two ropes tied to him. Discovered on the ski run Lower Steep and Deep by lift maintenance employees, attempts were first made to have the goat jump on a snowmobile. However, he decided he wanted to tour the mountain a bit more before eventually making his way to the Mountain House.

Called Jack by the mountain employees, he eventually became comfortable with the ski patrollers and lift mechanics, who would sneak him bites of their breakfast burritos. Motivated by food, workers were finally able to coax him into a gondola cabin, where he snacked on lettuce and sliced apples.

Silver Mountain then reached out to Heidi Klein, who raises goats, asking for her help to either get the goat down, keep him or rehome him.

Klein is currently fostering and providing aftercare for the newly named King Silver.

“We have no clue who did this,” Klein said. “He was so far from anything. He had a collar and two ropes tied to him. I strongly feel someone tied him up there and he ate through the rope.”

Overall, the goat is in good health, only slightly underweight, and has a horn deformity.

“His horn deformity is from someone trying to do an at home horn removal, but they didn’t do it correctly. If they aren’t removed correctly they will grow back funky. Right now it’s poking his head,” Klein explained, “The vet will give him a local anesthetic and use a special tool to remove the horn. He will be fine after that.”

King Silver has a vet appointment on May 24. Those wishing to make donations to his recovery can do so at the Silver Valley Veterinary Clinic in Pinehurst — specifically by donating to King Silver or the Silver Mountain goat.

Under Idaho code, abandoning an animal falls under the purview of animal cruelty — a misdemeanor.

Even with the large amounts of evidence to suggest cruelty, no reports have been filed and there is no current investigation being conducted for animal cruelty by the Kellogg Police Department or the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office as a report has not been made.

A Silver Mountain employee has officially adopted him, along with two other goats for friends.