A pub has made a “good-natured” goat its mascot after he was seen wandering along a village road.
The animal, which has been called Gregory, was found by the bar manager of The Nevill Bull and has become a celebrity in Birling, near West Malling.
Gregory the goat roaming Birling village near The Nevill Bull pub. Picture: Chris Marchant
Kat Gilbert, 22, left the watering hole after her shift had ended at 8pm on Sunday, January 5, when she saw the brown goat walking around Bull Road.
She managed to get a hold of the billy and led him into the pub car park where she met her boss, Chris Marchant, who had been taking down Christmas decorations.
The 36-year-old, who has run the pub for seven years, told KentOnline how they had “no idea” what to do with the animal.
“We tried calling up Buttercup Sanctuary for Goats (near Boughton Monchelsea) but they were closed so we tried the RSPCA, but they don’t deal with livestock,” he said.
“So I set him up in our yard and fed him some carrots that had been prepared for cooking.
The Nevill Bull pub landlord Chris MarchantGregory at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats. Picture: Matt Huggins
“I was a little worried at first as he was quite big. I’m 5ft 10in and he came up to my waist.
“But he was lovely and friendly. I called him Gregory as he just looked like a Gregory.
“Plus when I called him it, he looked at me so the name stuck.”
Mr Marchant left Gregory in the pub yard overnight and checked in on him in the morning.
In the meantime, he had asked on social media and in the village WhatsApp group if the goat belonged to anyone.
The Nevill Bull pub in Ryarsh Road, Birling. Picture: Chris MarchantThe landlord of The Nevill Bull pub, in Birling village, housed Gregory the goat in the watering hole overnight. Picture: Chris Marchant
“At first people were of course making jokes,” he said. “I had a couple of messages saying goat curry was going to be on our menu soon.
“But there was also a lot of concern but nobody had a clue where he came from.”
He called Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats again, and it took the animal away on Monday, January 13.
But Gregory left an impression during his stay and Mr Marchant has now decided to sponsor him.
The arrangement allows him to visit his four-legged friend at the sanctuary.
Matt Huggins, a spokesman for the charity, says the billy has a good chance of adoption thanks to his “docile and good nature”.
Gregory the goat in his new home at Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats. Picture: Matt Huggins
The 30-year-old says Gregory, who has now been castrated, is getting on well at his new home, but they do not know how old he is.
They believe he is a fully grown Boer-cross – a South African breed.
Mr Huggins said: “He is doing absolutely fine but he hasn’t quite realised what has happened to him since the operation as he’s trying to mate with the other male goats.
“Although he had a tag in his ear we don’t know where he came from. It is very rare that we actually find their owner.
“We get this sort of thing quite often as when goats see an opportunity to escape they often do – especially if they are not being kept with other goats.
“Hopefully Gregory will get adopted. His chances are pretty good as he isn’t too big, is docile and has a good nature.”
The sanctuary has about 120 goats on its books and around the same number with foster families.