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Crofter makes 540-mile trip to be reunited with pet lamb | Crofter makes 540-mile trip to be reunited with pet lamb |
(about 11 hours later) | |
A crofter has made a 540-mile round trip to be reunited with a "special" pet lamb she regretted selling. | A crofter has made a 540-mile round trip to be reunited with a "special" pet lamb she regretted selling. |
Melanie MacLean, from Benbecula in the Western Isles, got attached to Norman after giving him round-the-clock care in his early days. | Melanie MacLean, from Benbecula in the Western Isles, got attached to Norman after giving him round-the-clock care in his early days. |
She sold him at a sale last month, but then started to regret her decision. | She sold him at a sale last month, but then started to regret her decision. |
She tracked him down to a farm in Aberdeenshire with a 700-strong flock - and within seconds of her arrival, Norman had run straight to her. | She tracked him down to a farm in Aberdeenshire with a 700-strong flock - and within seconds of her arrival, Norman had run straight to her. |
The farm's owner was "gobsmacked" that she found Norman so quickly. | The farm's owner was "gobsmacked" that she found Norman so quickly. |
Melanie and her husband Allan have a small croft at Aird in Benbecula with 20 ewes, a handful of cows and chickens. | Melanie and her husband Allan have a small croft at Aird in Benbecula with 20 ewes, a handful of cows and chickens. |
'He was just special' | 'He was just special' |
Tame or "pet" lambs like Norman have usually either been orphaned, rejected by their mothers, or been bottle-fed because they need extra help feeding. | Tame or "pet" lambs like Norman have usually either been orphaned, rejected by their mothers, or been bottle-fed because they need extra help feeding. |
Norman was one of a set of triplets. | Norman was one of a set of triplets. |
Melanie said: "He had a very poor start as a weak lamb, so I was with him round the clock for the first 48 hours. | Melanie said: "He had a very poor start as a weak lamb, so I was with him round the clock for the first 48 hours. |
"Once recovered he proved to be such a happy little lamb who enjoyed affection at every opportunity which I gave to him in abundance, much against my better judgement as I knew in my head we don't keep the boys. | "Once recovered he proved to be such a happy little lamb who enjoyed affection at every opportunity which I gave to him in abundance, much against my better judgement as I knew in my head we don't keep the boys. |
"I can't put my finger on it but he was just special to me. I couldn't help myself and indulged him." | "I can't put my finger on it but he was just special to me. I couldn't help myself and indulged him." |
Melanie said she had reluctantly sold several bottle-fed orphaned lambs in the past, but struggled to let go of Norman. | Melanie said she had reluctantly sold several bottle-fed orphaned lambs in the past, but struggled to let go of Norman. |
She spent a couple of weeks worrying about her decision to sell him, then decided to track him down. | She spent a couple of weeks worrying about her decision to sell him, then decided to track him down. |
She traced Norman to a sheep farm near Strichen, a 542m (872km) round-trip from her home. | |
'Like a bullet' | 'Like a bullet' |
Melanie had expected that she would have to spend "a few hours" looking for Norman among the hundreds of lambs in the 75-acre field. | Melanie had expected that she would have to spend "a few hours" looking for Norman among the hundreds of lambs in the 75-acre field. |
But within 30 seconds she had spotted a Suffolk lamb with the same button ear tags that she uses. | But within 30 seconds she had spotted a Suffolk lamb with the same button ear tags that she uses. |
Melanie put on her "pink croft hat", which she regularly wears while out on her croft, and stepped out of the farmer's pick-up truck. | Melanie put on her "pink croft hat", which she regularly wears while out on her croft, and stepped out of the farmer's pick-up truck. |
"I was about to shout out, but this wee lamb saw me and came running like a bullet. It was Norman." | "I was about to shout out, but this wee lamb saw me and came running like a bullet. It was Norman." |
Norman will now spend the rest of his days on the croft keeping his father, the croft's ram, company. | Norman will now spend the rest of his days on the croft keeping his father, the croft's ram, company. |
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