I realise this may sound like a big mistake but here goes.....
A neighbour and good friend of ours has been recently widowed. As part of his planning for the future he has decided to move closer to his family but he is not able to take his wife's two pet sheep. These are two 'pet lambs' that are now about 13 years old. They are un tagged and he has not kept them on a registered small holding but just in a paddock attached to his garden.
Our friend already has a property to move to and so is planning to go there within a few weeks.
He says he is planning to have the sheep PTS but it is very obvious this will be painful for him. What he thinks are 'subtle hints' about me taking them in are being regularly dropped. I have not yet got a CPN as we quickly recognised our limitations and have concentrated on growing stuff since we moved pending my 'giving up the day job' - which thankfully is to be soon!
We have plans to have a small flock shortly in any event.
We have a suitable 2.5 acre field with shelter and water. My immediate neighbour is a shepherd and would help me. I can sort out a CPN BUT can I take in untagged sheep and, if so, how would I record this??
To be honest this is only being contemplated because of our friend's position and to help him get over a livestock problem of his own making - and I would never choose to take on animals that will bring health issues with them . I am more concerned about carcass removal when the inevitable happen which I assume will be soon in any event.
I am not unduly sentimental about the sheep - they are ugly blighters with attitude and bad feet.