He steals food from the dog’s bowls, tries to sneak in the house
to watch TV and loves cuddles from his owner, Anna Burton.
The 19-year-old Harrogate College student adopted Keith as a
little lamb when he was born on the family’s Nidderdale farm
earlier this year.
She said: “We thought the mother was having twins and saw the
other two lambs, then a few hours later we found him hidden amongst
the hay.
“He was very, very small, he was so little couldn’t stand up so
I made him a sling in a cardboard box to keep him on his feet.”
Anna said it was not the first time the family had brought a
lamb into the house to take care of it, though none made themselves
at home quite as much as Keith.
Anna said: “We’ve got six dogs, but he fit right in with them.
They are actually still very protective of him even though he is
much bigger than them now.
“We’ve got collies and it must be confusing for them because
Keith just thinks he is one of them. The other sheep don’t like him
very much though.”
After a few months Keith grew too big to live in the family home
and he moved into a barn where he lives with his girlfriend Ruby
and best pal, Stevie the blind sheep.
Anna grew up at Knoll Top Farm and is now considering working
with animals in the future.
She said: “I didn’t really think about it, but I have always
looked after any of the poorly animals on the farm.”
The family have decided it is now time to look for a new home
for Keith.
Anna said: “He would love to live on a petting farm, he loves
people and he would love to get all the attention.”
