Plea for thieves to return lamb

OWNERS fear a little lamb stolen from a petting zoo at the Townsville Show will die unless it is returned to its mother.

Police are investigating the incident after the lamb was taken some time between 9pm and 9.30pm on Friday night

Carters Farm petting zoo owners Kevin and Debbie Carter said they remember seeing people picking up the lamb and petting it just after 9pm.

The devastated couple said this was the first time anything like this had happened in four years of attending shows. They fear the lamb was so domesticated that it would have gone quietly with the thief.

“She was so used to being picked up – it’s been happening since she was born – the little thing wouldn’t have thought she was being taken from her mum,” Ms Carter said.

“They don’t make a sound when you pick them up, they’re very trusting of people.

“It’s devastating, she isn’t taking a bottle, so if she isn’t returned to her mother for a feed, she will die.

“The poor little lamb needs to be with her mother for at least another two months.

“The animal is going to suffer. She won’t eat and she will die.

“It’s very upsetting, you know, really devastating stuff, it’s only little and we put a lot of time and heart into the little things to get them comfortable around people and then someone goes and takes her from us.

“We’ve got about 80 animals here in total and it is really hard to keep an eye all of them. You’ve got to trust people to not do something stupid and pinch a lamb.

“We just want her back. I don’t care about anything else. No questions asked.

“People love the animals and we love putting a smile of their faces, so to have something like this happen is really upsetting.”

Anyone with information that could assist with this matter are asked to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers. com. au.