Surfing goats make a splash on California coast

A California surfer spends the day with his pet goats catching waves along the Pacific coast. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.

Goatee and Pismo, two goats, are riding a wave of popularity showing off their surfing skills to California beachgoers.

The goats' owner, Dana McGregor of Pismo Beach, says he taught his goats to surf because he loves to ride the waves and thought they would like it, too.

The goats stood on surfboards and cruised along waves this week at San Onofre State Beach, about 60 miles north of San Diego, as bystanders watched in amazement. They were in town as McGregor was visiting his brother in San Diego.


Goatee, a nanny goat, and her billy goat, Pismo, even rode waves together with surfing duo Mark and Debbie Gale, the Orange County Register reported. But after a few rides, Goatee swam to shore.

McGregor, 33, says he originally got Goatee to eat weeds and poison oak on his property, NBC station KSBY of San Luis Obispo reported.

"I used to live in Africa, and we ate goats in Africa and they're pretty good and tasty. So my friends from Africa were coming in ... and we were just going to eat Goatee," McGregor said.

The Orange County Register via AP

Dana McGregor, from Pismo Beach, far left, surfs with his pet goat Pismo and pals Mark and Debbie Gale, of San Clemente.

But McGregor had a change of heart.

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"I got super close, I fell in love with Goatee," he told KSBY.

He began taking the goat to the beach with him, eventually putting her on a surfboard.

McGregor says he started putting Pismo on a board after he was born in March.

McGregor is finding ways to use Goatee and Pismo's popularity for a good cause.

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The Orange County Register via AP

Dana McGregor's pet goats Pismo, left, and Goatee surf at San Onofre State Beach, Calif., on Wednesday.

"We've done a couple photo shoots, my buddy is doing a film, we're trying to raise money for a project in Haiti now. It's a goat farm for goat's milk and stuff, so that's our next project," McGregor said.

Goatee took to the waves in November, KSBY reported. Pismo was born in March while McGregor, his mother and Goatee visited McGregor's brother in Carlsbad.

They weren't planning on coming home with a new kid.

Msnbc.com's Jim Gold contributed to this article. Follow him on Facebook here.

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Discuss this post

no dogs on the beach absoulty no goats

    Reply#1 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:22 PM EDT

    Like it or not, some beaches allow about anything that can walk, crawl or swim to visit.

      Reply#2 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 7:42 PM EDT

      Goats hate getting wet. This is weird.

        Reply#3 - Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:44 PM EDT

        "We were just going to eat Goatee"?? Now I get that in some parts of the country people hunt and prepare what they kill, but in So Cal, not so much. Was he just going to take him up to the bathroom and cut his throat? Hang him from the washing line on his balcony and..? Can you get a single animal slaughtered for you - seriously, I'm interested to know!

          Reply#4 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:41 AM EDT

          The goats look very contented surfing, and probably prefer it to being eaten.

            Reply#5 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:34 PM EDT

            Good thing there are no sharks off California that may mistake a flailing goat in the surf as an inviting appetizer.

              Reply#6 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 1:14 PM EDT

              OMG! Where's PETA!

              Where's Betty White!

              They were pickling the Goats in Brine. Before firing up the BBQ!

              Stephane. Yes you can still got to a slaughter house either bring your own or pick one out.

              They'll Butcher it any way you want.

              Vegans and PETA are not thrilled about it.

              But many People use it especially around Holiday's and Large Family Celebrations.

                Reply#7 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:09 PM EDT

                Seems like a HARD UP FOR NEWS day !

                  Reply#8 - Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:38 PM EDT
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