Dec 23rd, 2017: Cairngorm Reindeer

[Carruthers]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Could it be Mr Elliot has more than one critter?

So it would appear!

A quick Google came up with this:

Man takes pet reindeer for bus ride to pub

Gordon Elliot regularly takes the pet reindeer he raised from birth for a trip on the bus to the local pub.

Five-year-old Dobbey can often be seen at the pub, on the bus or at the shops with Mr Elliott.

Dobbey was hand-reared from birth by Mr Elliott, 65, who is known as 'Dr Dolittle' by neighbours in Enfield, north London.

The builder and dad-of-two, has spent the last 15 years rearing an array of animals at his farm.

"Dobbey is just one of seven reindeer I have at my farm," he said, "I take him for a walk every Saturday and Sunday down the high street. "We go to the burger bar, the pub, all over.

"It is certainly a strange sight when a reindeer with 3ft antlers is wandering around the high street in September."

But it is around the festive season that life gets a little hectic.

My life totally changes at Christmas," said Mr Elliott.

"I take the reindeer around the town to see the schools, nurseries and to Santa's grotto.

"On Christmas morning I dress up like Father Christmas and take Dobbey out through the town to see the children and to raise money.

"Unfortunately, reindeers' antlers fall off around early December but people are still impressed by Dobbey.

"I even taken him to church on Christmas morning and everyone loves seeing him."

Gordon keeps his animals in a six acre field and two-acre wood, known to locals as 'Elliott's Field'.

"They are all in different pens but they all graze on the field together," he said.

"At my farm the reindeer and the camels, donkeys, goats all get on together.

"The reindeer have a special diet of carrots, toasted bread, sugar beat, celery, cabbage and then they eat the grass."

He added: "My wife Marion thinks I'm a bit barmy sometimes. But I just love all my animals."

Daily Telegraph link.

(Usual paywall spiel applies).