AUGUSTA, Ga. — Despite a setback by dogs that killed eight of them, a herd of grass-eating goats in Augusta could soon expand.

Augusta traffic engineer Steve Cassell says city staffers this week will seek to purchase 10 to 12 more goats. He said animal-services workers are also attempting to breed two males and two females to create a more self-sustaining flock.

The city has been using the goats to control vegetation near drainage areas.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that the program was intended to help Augusta keep up with maintenance of about 875 detention ponds.

In early March, dogs massacred eight of the goats, but the Augusta newspaper reports that the herd is now back up to 10.