The act was caught on surveillance tape.
“I would never believe it if I didn't see it myself,” said the club's owner, Hank Piecura. “It must have been mesmerized by its reflection in the door, so it rammed it.”
After staring at its reflection in the doors for hours, Piecura said the goat reared up on its hind legs and smacked the glass. The goat hit the door repeatedly until he smashed it.
“I'm glad he didn't smash the mirrors in the lobby,” Piecura said.
The club at 46-156 Dillon Road hasn't opened for business, yet. Piecura said he hopes to open later in the week after he receives his liquor license.
The goat first visited the club Friday morning and Piecura chased him away. He found blood and the safety glass smashed Saturday morning.
Authorities initially responded to a vandalism call, but found an animal had smashed the door after reviewing the surveillance footage, said Det. Matt Diaz, a spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
No report was taken.
Rachel Ledoux, owner of goat farm Rancho Buena Vista in Whitewater, said goats have two things on their minds:
“Females and eating,” she said.
Because goats are not independent, the animal likely wandered off or was abandoned, she said.
Ramming a door also is unusual behavior. “They're the gentlest little creatures,” Ledoux said.
Ben Guitron, spokesman for the nearby Indio Police Department, said they've had their share of dealing with unusual animal calls, such as when polo horses raced past JFK Memorial Hospital about a year ago.
But they've not had destructive goats, he said, “unless they're eating someone's bills.”
