Roaming dogs wipe out dozens of Arizona dairy goats, halting cheese output
A pack of dogs entered a pen at Crow’s Dairy in Rainbow Valley, Arizona, and killed roughly 60 goats, about 30 percent of the herd. Owner Wendell Crow said animal control could not take further action without video or an eyewitness identifying the dogs. The loss forced the dairy to pause goat cheese production, though it will sell remaining inventory to restaurants.
Wendell Crow owns Crow’s Dairy in Rainbow Valley, Arizona. A pack of dogs dug under a fence and entered a goat pen, killing about 60 animals—roughly 30 percent of the herd. Crow first found 35 dead and eight injured, later estimating the toll near 60. Officials reportedly said they could not act further unless footage or a witness identified the dogs.
The dairy had been making about 100 to 200 pounds of goat cheese daily for Phoenix-area restaurants, resorts, and hotels. With production suspended, Crow plans to sell remaining inventory to restaurants while stopping retail sales. He hopes production can resume in early 2027, while rebuilding the herd and financial recovery could take more time.
The shutdown could reduce availability of specialty goat cheese for Phoenix-area restaurants and resorts, affecting chefs, diners, and the dairy’s retail customers. Crow and his operation may face lost income and uncertainty while rebuilding the herd. The incident may also heighten local awareness of livestock risks from free-roaming dogs, though further enforcement could depend on video or eyewitness identification.