Odd couple enjoy their daily stroll

Timaru-- A dog and lamb amicably walking on leads down the street gets the occasional stare and comment.

Tracey Bingham and her daughter Emily Garner started taking Charlie the wether lamb out on a lead when he was a few weeks old.

His canine companion, Ruby, took it all in her stride.

Now they stroll a circuit from their Le Cren Street home to Grey Road daily. Emily, a Gleniti School student, said Charlie was a good pet and sought affection by nuzzling in and baaed when he felt like a stroll. Ruby took it all in her stride and had started mothering the lamb as soon as he arrived.

Ms Bingham said most people they meet smiled, chuckled, and had a joke (made a few baa-rking mad comments?)

Emily was surprised some people were a bit taken aback. She said Christmas posed no threat to Charlie. He was a valued pet and not a food source.

Ms Bingham said Charlie was a "self fertilising lawn mower" whose wool would be used.