Five-legged lamb may be for the chop

Jake the Peg, a little lamb with an extra leg, likes to run fast with the other lambs on Natalie Wright and Bill Noonan’s hobby farm near Meredith in Victoria, Australia. Natalie said the extra limb does not seem to bother month-old Jake. He has quickly been accepted by two slightly older lamb friends and the dogs on Natalie and Bill’s farm.

“He can run quite good,” Natalie says. “He’s quite happy to follow me around and he’s pretty affectionate. The dogs just love him, they love all the lambs like they’re part of the pack. Jake comes when he’s called, probably because he thinks he’s getting a bottle ... he has his little routine in the morning and has a great little personality."



Natalie is determined to ensure Jake has the best life possible. That means an consultation with Werribee Veterinary Hospital on Friday to determine his next step. Jake’s extra front limb has no movement and just hangs from his body. He has a couple of other little quirks like a floppy ear and slightly misshapen head and jaw.

Born on a sheep farm, Jake was adopted by Natalie and Bill when he was about five days old to be hand-reared, partly to make him easier to handle should he be operated on. Natalie plans to do whatever it takes should it help Jake grow up as a sheep. She thinks he might make a good addition to a children’s petting farm one day, because of his loving nature.