A lamb is learning to walk after suffering injuries to her front legs during a “traumatic” birth.
Gia, the Valais Blacknose lamb, was instantly rejected by her mother, Mia, due to nerve damage to her front legs which happened during her delivery.
The lamb was unable to stand when she was born three weeks ago at Arnbeg Farmstay, Kippen, near Stirling but famers Ali and Michael Thom refused to give up on her.
The couple created a harness made from an IKEA bag with holes cut out it, so she could get used to balancing on her legs.
Ali, 55, and husband Michael, 58, are now bottle feeding their new pet, who is taking her first tentative steps around their field.
Ali said: “I’ve not let Gia run with the other sheep yet in fear she would get trampled over.
“She’s enjoying walking about in the sun – she’s very nosey and is taking a great interest in her surroundings.
“It’s been supervised visits in the sunshine for now.
“She’s seeming stronger, she couldn’t walk anywhere before, but now she’s managing to walk with the casts on.
SWNS via SWNS“She is walking fine on her own now though with the cast on, but we stay with her so the other sheep don’t knock her down.”
Gia has two new friends – a dog named Ivy, and a cat named Ed.
Ali added: “Ivy the dog is always around the sheep – usually following them about licking milk off their faces – so she is getting on with Gia.
“Ivy knows something is not right with her, as she’s not getting knocked over by the other sheep.
“Ivy has been lying next to her.
“Ed is a sheep cat, he’s always around sheep, all the sheep usually follow him about.
“He’s not too bothered about her as he is so used to sheep.
‘I’m going to keep her with me as a wee pet – I’m considering renaming her Tripod’
Ali Thom
“So they all hang out together when I take Gia in, and they’ve all been lying together in the sunshine.
“I’m going to keep her with me as a wee pet – I’m considering renaming her Tripod.”
Gia’s casts are expected to be removed this week but the lamb will still need physio.
Ali said: “The adult ewes can tell when their young are injured, so just concentrate on her healthy lambs.
“Anytime Gia tried to feed her mother would just walk away, so we’ve been bottle-feeding her a lamb replacement milk.
“Luckily her mother still lets her cuddle so we don’t need to worry about that job.”
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