The pet I’ll never forget: Catkin the sheep, who broke my ribs and then my heart

Sheep have a reputation for being dim and dull. But mine had personality in spades – and a sometimes dangerous sense of humour

Most people assume a flock of sheep share just the one brain cell. Actually, they are engaging, affectionate and bright. And, if you invest time, their personalities shine through. I moved from the city to the country 16 years ago and spent the first decade content to have two horses, two dogs and two teenagers. Then a local sheep breeder asked if I’d have some of her show ring rejects and so a motley crew of seven Zwartbles, with all the wrong markings, arrived at my farm.

Zwartbles are a large, handsome breed with a dense, wiry black fleece and white socks and tail tips. I assumed they would be my glorified lawnmowers, but the one time I let them into the garden, havoc ensued with Astrild falling asleep in the flower bed, Eliza and Emily dozing in front of the car, Brontë moving the garden furniture around, Catkin and Willow staring in through the French doors and Lovely rounding up the dogs.

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