A new born lamb who was abandoned by his mum on Sunday was adopted in minutes by a kind old goat at a rescue centre in scenes which melted the hearts of volunteers.
The lamb, just hours old, was brought in a bucket to Coolronan Dog Rescue in Ballivor, Co. Meath by a local farmer, desperate to try and find help for the animal.
Although usually dealing solely with dogs, Chris Kelly and Ramona Cunningham immediately set about getting colostrum for the lamb before bringing him to the My Lovely Horse Rescue in Kildare where an unexpected new mother was found in the form of an old goat.
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"I was leaving the yard on Sunday morning when a farmer arrived with a lamb in a bucket and asked for help," said Chris.
"The ewe seemingly had three lambs and brought two of them off, leaving the newborn in a field. He was only just born and still wet from the birth.
"A bit of panic set in because we knew we had to get him help as soon as possible. I rang another neighbouring sheep farmer who was able to give me colostrum and Ramona fed it to the lamb before we brought it to My Lovely Horse in Kildare.
"I've never seen anything like the way this old goat immediately sensed the lamb needed attention. The lamb was bawling and the goat was calling back to him and then started licking and cleaning him.
"I bought a calf for a cow who had lost her own calf a few years ago and it took me four weeks to get the cow to accept this calf, so for the goat to instantly accept the lamb was heartwarming to see."
Martina Kenny of the My Lovely Horse Rescue said the lamb, who they named Christopher after Chris Kelly was doing well.
"We were in a bit of a panic as the lamb was just born and it can be hard to find another animal to accept him. But Mama goat who lives with the sheep on the My Lovely Pig side of the rescue just took to him straight away and we knew mama goat would be gentle and kind with him as she has been with us a long time.
"Mama goat hasn't had babies in years so she doesn't have her own milk but we don't mind feeding the lamb ourselves around the clock. Mama goat was in with the goats at first but didn't seem to be making friends so we transferred her to the sheep and she has flourished. She lost a baby herself a few years ago so this was all a bit magical to watch.
"It's nice when rescues work together to get results like this and of course, we felt we had to name him Christopher after Chris who brought him here."
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