Great Pyrenees Herding Goats Stops Car, Then Driver Hears an Animal Crying

Dramatic footage of a couple attempting to save a goat "dangling in the air" while stuck in a tree has gone viral on TikTok.

The video was posted by @vanswerthecall and has received more than 2.6 million views since it was posted on March 14. The footage shows a car being stopped by a Great Pyrenees, a guard-dog breed, herding just over a dozen goats along a road. The clip was captured in New Mexico, according to the location shared in the post.

Before driving away, the couple hear a goat "crying out for help" and later discover it is "dangling in the air" while stuck to a tree. They then get out of the car to help save the goat.

A caption shared with the post reads: "Only a few scratches and bruises but who knows how long he would be dangling there if I didn't see/hear him up on that hill."

The goat's distressing cries while being stuck in the tree are not surprising as he was separated from the rest of the herd.

A June 2021 study in the Journal of Animal Science found that "social isolation can increase distress in goats, particularly when they cannot maintain visual contact with conspecifics."

'Dangling in the Air'

A message overlaid on the latest viral video reads: "On our drive, we noticed a Great Pyrenees herding about 15 goats, so we slowed down."

The clip later shows the dog standing in front of the car, while some goats are shown along the side of the road. "He was making sure we were stopped so the babies behind could cross safely," according to a subsequent note across the clip.

"We began driving away when I heard a goat crying for help... I jumped out to help and noticed his leg was stuck, and his whole body was dangling in the air," another note across the video reads.

A voice in the clip asks, "Are you stuck?" as the camera approaches a goat that appears to be lodged between branches in a tree. The voice says, "I'm coming," as the goat is heard frantically crying out in the background.

"Jon was trying to get over to me but the Pyrenees was being a little protective & giving him little nips," another message across the screen reads, as the goat is shown with his back to the camera and leg up on the tree.

"I don't know how to lift him," the voice says, as a man appears in the video frame near the goat.

A message across the screen reads: "He's so heavy, his leg was really stuck & we were up on a hill." A woman is shown trying to lift the goat as he continues to cry out in distress.

The man is later seen next to the woman, and the couple attempt to lift the goat together. The man later manages to get the animal off the tree and says, "Watch out," as the goat runs off.

"He almost bucked me in the face but he's free," another note across the screen reads before the clip ends.

'Another Level of Smart'

TikTok users praised the dog and the couple in the latest clip.

Mommashar13 wrote: "Helping them when you didn't have to." The original poster replied: "I knew something was wrong the way the dog looked at us."

Heather weather posted: "Great Pyrenees are another level of smart. dog knew you were helping (good thing too)! Great job all around!! And thx for sharing it!"

User @glamoire commented, "Great Pyrenees are SUPER protective so he probably knew you were trying to help," and child of the living god agreed, writing "that dog alerted you for help."

Crystal Malone wrote: "thank you for helping the goat. that dog is great at his job for staying with him too."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.

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