An orphaned lamb was dumped on a doorstep in Merseyside with nothing but a note in a cardboard box.
Mum-of-two Roxanne Owings was devastated to find a tearful lamb on her doorstep in Halewood last month with a note that read: "Left suckling from dead mother, sibling dead next to them, thanks for everything you do x". But after taking her to an animal sanctuary, they just could not leave her.
Roxanne and her mum Ann said that three-month-old Hope now thinks she's a dog and loves playing with children in a nearby park where she is walked twice a day on a lead. They first took Hope to a rescue sanctuary but when the final paperwork was completed, the lamb cried and stubbornly refused to leave, the Mirror reported.
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Roxanne, 29, said: "We took her to the sanctuary but it was heart-breaking for us all. We tried to leave her but she refused. As we were walking away, she was crying and crying. Then my mum ended up crying. Hope was crying really loudly, as if she was crying for my mum like she was her mum.
"My mum eventually said 'let's have her, we will have her forever.' She didn't stay in the sanctuary at all but we were shown where she'd stay and we filled out the forms. It was reassuring that the staff at the centre said she was doing well and she was fine."
Hope, who is believed to have separation anxiety, has spent the last three weeks enjoying walks in the park on a lead and in the grounds of National Trust properties having been granted permission. She has even spent time playing with Roxanne's two young children.
Roxanne, who is a self-employed children's face painter, added: "We've been to Speke Hall a lot as it is our most local, having had permission from it, and Tatton Park. Nobody has batted an eyelid. People have just accepted her everywhere she goes. We've actually had a lot of people stop and Hope gives them a lot of attention.
"Some people have actually seen her and paid her attention, and then said that they are actually going to become vegetarians after meeting her. Some people think she's a dog. They've said 'Oh I thought my eyes were deceiving me, I thought that was a dog' when they've realised she's actually a lamb.
"It's certainly not a normal thing to see in your park. People are really happy to see her, especially the kids. She actually likes to play with the kids. She goes off the lead and bounces around with them because she is quite friendly. She's like a dog, and I think she thinks she's a dog to be honest. She's lovely like that."
Ann and her daughter already volunteer a significant amount of her time by rescuing and homing ducks and other birds and believe the mystery stranger must have known this. They were yet, however, to home any other types of animals until they encountered Hope.
The mum and daughter are now determined to give Hope the best life possible in Ann's garden in Halewood, but they need to raise £1,000 to continue to bottle feed the lamb. The money will go towards vet fees, a paddock in the garden, food and other equipment.
Donations can be made by clicking here.
Roxanne said: "Hope has now been raised entirely around humans. She's been very distressed after her trauma. We want her to stay now and would like to build a stable, and create her own little sanctuary with us and be able to pay her vaccines and other associated costs.
"She's going to need things at each stage of her life, just like any human or animal does. These things aren't cheap. The majority of the money will be to build the stable for the winter, which will ensure she is comfortable and warm. We've put in a lot of money ourselves but the donations will help a lot. We understand times are hard and the cost of living is rising but donations will be hugely appreciated."
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