Chief Animal Control Officer John DeCando tells The Record newspaper that a woman called Paterson police after nearly hitting the herd with her car at 2:30 a.m. Thursday.
Police took the goats to the animal shelter. They'll stay there until they are sent to a farm to live out their days.
DeCando says he believes someone was keeping them for an Easter meal or a sacrifice.
It's illegal to keep farm animals in Paterson.