Ipswich in Summer 2019-2020

EWE BETTER BELIEVE IT, THIS LAMB IS A REAL GADABOUT

So when another sheep farmer found himself with another little lamb, not expected to live he knew who to call. Two months ago, Judy bought the prematurely born lamb home in a small box and sat her on the kitchen counter. “I didn’t tell my husband. I just said I have a surprise,” Judy said. When Phil held little Elsie May in his arms he asked Judy before even opening his eyes – ‘are we going to keep her?’ “Yes,” Judy said. They set about feeding her with a syringe at first and after four days she was near death. With tears streaming down her face she held the little woolly bundle close to her heart.

It’s not unusual to see the odd dog out and about with their owners but most people look twice when they see Judy or Phil Hepehi walking around Ipswich with their lamb Elsie May in tow. Elsie May has become quite the lamb about town and is adored wherever she goes. Judy and Phil have a bit of a habit of taking home rescue animals and Elsie May is the latest edition to their furry and feathery brood. “We were visiting a sheep farmer and Phil ended up helping her deliver lamb twins by caesarean section,” Judy said. “One died and the other one wasn’t expected to live, but she did. “The sheep is named Lucy and we have had her for two years.”

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