LONGMONT, Colo. -- A man who put a baby goat in the backyard with a pit bull puppy so the two animals could play together faces a charge of animal cruelty after the goat suffered exhaustion, bruises and minor cuts.

The month old, 10-pound La Mancha kid was recovering Monday at the Longmont Humane Society.

Animal control officer Diane Milford said the owner, whose name was not released, apparently didn't mean for the goat to get hurt.

"The owner thought that they were playing and that they were friends," Milford said.

In addition to animal cruelty, Milford issued the pit bull's owner a citation for keeping a prohibited animal. Goats are not allowed within city limits.

Milford discovered the unlikely paring last week after a noise complaint on the 1300 block of Dogwood, the Longmont Daily Times Call reported. She said when animal control officers arrived, they saw the puppy pulling and biting at the kid.

Police reports indicate that the pair were together for about a week.

If the brownish-red goat is not confiscated through the courts, the owner will have to find it a place to live outside of the city. If the owner surrenders, the Longmont Humane Society will arrange to provide a new home.