SEEKONK - "Got your goat" took a literal turn when a Pawtucket man allegedly tried collecting on a bad debt by grabbing a family's baby goat.

The suspect, Antonio L. Pereira, was seen riding away on a bicycle with the goat slung over his shoulders, police Detective Donald Bricault said Wednesday.

The animal belongs to Elm Street resident Alberto DaSilva.

DaSilva's daughter Daniel said her sister, Tania, saw Pereira come to the doorstep at 60 Elm St. around 8 a.m. Sunday and ring the doorbell.

Pereira had done work on the property, but wasn't paid because DaSilva was unhappy with the work, Daniel said. Tania kept an eye on Pereira because the family previously had contacted police about a debt-related dispute with Pereira, she said.

Police at that time had told the DaSilvas to call them, and not engage Pereira if they saw him again, she said.

Tania told police she saw Pereira grab the 3-month-old brown goat from the family's barn, "put it on his shoulders," and then ride away on his bicycle, Daniel said.

Pereira had eyed the goat, a farm animal, while working at the DaSilvas' home, she said.

"He liked that goat so much. I guess he always wanted it," she said. "He just decided to take the goat instead of taking the money."

Tania called police, who stopped Pereira at the corner of Elm Street and Taunton Avenue a short time later.

"It was pretty tough to miss him. He wasn't very far at all," Bricault said.

Police walked Pereira back to DaSilva's home, where he returned the goat.

Police arrested Pereira and charged him with breaking and entering for a misdemeanor and larceny over $250.

"It's been a while since we've had a goat case. It's not a daily thing," Bricault said. Pereira was held on $100 cash bail after being arraigned in Taunton District Court on Monday, a court official said. His case was continued to Oct. 14.