That’s what the Sultan-based animal rescue group, Pasado’s Safe Haven, is offering $5,000 to find out.

The body of the goat, which was found wearing a collar, was discovered late last week with numerous arrow wounds, the group reported on its Web site. It was found by a man looking for a lost dog in a wooded area near 224th Street East and 58th Avenue East in Graham.

“That’s when he saw the rope hanging from a tree,” wrote Amber Chenoweth, a spokeswoman for Pasado’s. “The goat lay nearby with many arrow wounds. His mouth was full of blood and at this time it is unclear exactly how else these cowards had tortured this poor beautiful creature.”

The collar indicated the goat might have been somebody’s pet, she wrote.

The group took the body for a necropsy, gathered evidence including expended arrows, and is passing information along to Pierce County investigators.

Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer wasn’t sure Sunday whether the case was being handled by deputies or animal control officers, who work out of the county auditor’s office.

Some neighbors have come forward with information, wrote Chenoweth, who could not be reached for comment Sunday.

A similar animal cruelty case several years ago carried stiff penalties for two men who tied a stray Siberian husky to a tree in Wilkeson and shot it to death with a bow. A witness saw the men, aged 19 and 21, shoot the dog numerous times and even reuse the same arrow at least twice.

They each were sentenced to eight months in jail, fined $1,500 and given 240 hours of community service. In 2005, animal rights groups balked at them working with animals as part of their sentence and convinced a judge they should do more traditional service such as litter pickup.

Ian Demsky: 253-597-8872

blogs.thenewstribune.com/crime

How to help

Anyone with information about the goat slaying may call 206-300-7218.