Rohnert Park Starbucks gets surprise goat visitor

A wayward goat named Milly gave two Rohnert Park Starbucks employees a jolt of excitement Sunday morning when it strolled into the coffee shop just before sunrise.

“It’s not every day a goat walks into a Starbucks,” said Rohnert Park police Sgt. Rick Bates. “The two girls were opening for business. ... They tried to give the goat a banana, but it walked right past them.”

The goat was apparently more interested in a stack of cardboard boxes. Bates said he found Milly chewing the boxes when he responded to a call at the Starbucks on East Cotati Avenue near Sonoma State University around 5 a.m.

“I was a little bit surprised,” Bates said.

Milly didn’t wander far, though. The 11-year-old pet goat lives just two doors down, said Alan Ergenbright, 12, one of Milly’s owners.

Ergenbright said Milly managed to escape by wriggling herself out of her leash and away from her sleeping quarters.

“When we heard, we thought she was a little crazy,” Ergenbright said. “She’s a really happy and sweet goat. She’s also pretty curious.”

Ergenbright said his parents picked Milly up Sunday afternoon from the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter. Now she’s back at home with the family’s dog and six chickens.

“We’re going to build a fence today so she doesn’t get away again, and so she can walk around freely,” Ergenbright said.

You can reach Staff Writer?Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com.