It was a horrible discovery: As Gini Nichols was leaving her Bunn Road home to head to work on the morning of Sept. 27, she came across several of the family's goats dead.
Six goats, grouped close together, were found dead on Andy and Gini Nichols' property.
"Six of the eight goats we had were killed," said Andy Nichols.
According to the report from the Klickitat County Sheriff's Office, the udders of six of the goats had been removed "with a sharp instrument."
"They were OK at 7:30-7:45 the night before," Nichols said. "The next morning, six are dead and three had their udders cut off. It definitely wasn't an animal that took the udders off. The same people who cut the udders off had to have killed them."
The goats, a Boar and Nubian cross, were inside a fence that is four and a half feet tall and topped with barbed wire.
"We're still waiting to see what we might turn up as a cause," said Sheriff Chris Mace. "We're not real sure how they died. It's kind of an odd deal."
The KCSO report stated: "There were no obvious injuries to four of the goats. Two goats had some minor cuts, but these were not considered to be life-threatening. Two of the goats appeared to have suffered an injury to the neck similar to an animal bite, but experts did not believe that would have been the cause of death. Two other goats were still being examined."
KCSO officials called in Dr. Mike Foss of Alpine Veterinary Hospital to help with the investigation.
Mace said the veterinarian will be checking for poison or other possible causes of death.
"It's nice of him to go out there and start doing the autopsies on those goats," Mace said. "How did they die? That's baffling right now."
Mace said toxicology results are pending.
"It takes about a week to get lab results," Mace explained.
Mace added that he couldn't recall anything of this nature happening previously in Klickitat County.
"We've had some suspicious animal deaths, but it could usually be attributed to a gunshot or a bow and arrow. This time there are no tell-tale signs," he explained.
Nichols said he wasn't aware of any other animal mutilations in the region.
"I know three or four goat raisers in the area and this hasn't happened to them," Nichols said. "I called them to let them know about this."
Arlene Allen, a friend of the Nichols family, said it was important to catch those responsible for this crime.
"This needs to get out to the public. People need to be aware of what's happened so they'll pay attention," Allen said.
Allen said the goats that were killed have been shown around the community over the years.
"They have taken these goats to schools for kids to see and to the Cub Scouts," Allen said. "They've done everything with these goats and their offspring for the community."
Allen said she couldn't fathom why anyone would do something so terrible.
"To have this happen is just ... it has to be something pretty sick," she said. "They knew what they were doing. Anyone who can go in and give the animal something that kills it, then skins the udders and take them. This isn't something that just happens. This was very well planned. These animals never got out and they were gentle, very affectionate animals. It's a horrible thing."
The Nichols have set up a reward fund to help apprehend whoever is responsible for the crimes, and citizens can contribute to the fund. As of Oct. 2, the reward fund, set up at First Independent Bank, was at $450.
As people donate to the fund, called the "Gini Nichols Reward Fund," the reward will be increased correspondingly. Contributions can also be sent to Gini Nichols c/o General Delivery, White Salmon, Wash., 98672-9999.
"If no one comes forward within a year, we'll donate the proceeds to PROD (People for the Responsible Ownership of Dogs)," Nichols said.
Andy Nichols offered some sobering advice for others in the area who have animals:
"Watch out for your herds," he said.
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