Pasco County Sheriffs Environmental Crimes Unit is searching for the person responsible for shooting 13 goats and killing 12.



“It’s the love, it's the love I had for these little animals,” said the owner of the Dade City farm, Ruel Green as he sobbed.

The 77-year-old discovered Wednesday morning 13 of his goats, that he said were like his children, were shot. When he found them five were still suffering.



“How can someone do this to me, for no reason,” he said.



Sadly four of the five were so severely injured they had to be put down, some were even babies.

“Her body was here, and the little kid was over there trying to nurse from the momma,” said Green.

Ruel has had the farm since 2009. He said he started out with 62 goats but over the years his goats kept getting killed. He only has three survivors left on the farm.



He said he believes the crimes are racially motivated. He said he’s even been threatened verbally in his neighborhood. Green is African American.

“He said to me man, don’t do anything wrong up here, if you do you’ll get hurt or even get killed,” he said.

Still Ruel said he wasn’t scared away and continued with his farm. He’s retired and it’s something meaningful to him.

“When I got lonely, I come up here, I let them out and feed them and sit under the tree,” he said.

He said he will try again, that he won’t let this senseless act keep him from doing what he loves.

“The people that do this they don’t know love, they don’t know God,” he said.



Law enforcement says whoever is responsible could face up to 13 felonies. It has two leads but is still looking for help from the public.

Law enforcement believes the goats were shot with a .22 caliber firearm.



The Pasco County Environmental Crimes Unit is asking anyone who may have information to call their office.



