It’s been a year since Smokey — an orphaned lamb who required daily bottle feedings, diapers and Woolite baths — hoofed his way into the hearts of New Yorkers.
So it’s no surprise that he’s now charming the ewes at Violet Hill Farm, where he’s readjusted to country living since making headlines last year. But he still stands out from the crowd — and not just because a streak of paint on his flank ensures he doesn’t accidentally get sent to slaughter.
“He’s kind of turned into a big dog in the herd,” says Mary Carpenter, owner of the Winfield, NY, farm.. “I guess city life made him a bit more worldly!”
Smokey, now 13 months old, was born at Violet Hill Farm last spring, only to be abandoned soon after birth. Carpenter sought the help of Sandy Dee Hall (pictured with Smokey below), a chef at Black Tree restaurant (which buys its pork from Violet Hill) and his girlfriend, Maxine Cher, who agreed to foster him in their Lower East Side apartment. The NYC Department of Health intervened soon after, and sent Smokey back to the farm.
The couple made several trips upstate to visit Smokey, though he’s become less interactive with each reunion.
“The last time he seemed to maybe have some recognition, but didn’t come [over] to visit,” Carpenter says. “I think that was kind of hard on them, but, honestly, it is exactly what we would hope for. Too-friendly intact rams can be dangerous, since ‘playing’ often involves butting heads at full speed.”
Smokey’s fame has inspired other New Yorkers to care for lambs in need. There are currently three from Violet Hill being fostered in the city.
And Smokey may even be wrapped up in his own baby drama.
“One of our new [lambs] looks just like Smokey. Speculation is that it’s his baby,” says Carpenter, who can attest that the randy ram “was taking care of business last fall.”
