By Emma Cropper
Owners of a lodge near Arthurs Pass have become so fed up with one of their lambs they sent out an online plea for someone to take the animal off their hands.
The animal enjoys hanging out with humans a little bit too much, and it's driving the owners crazy.
Grasmere Lodge owner Thomas Butler says 'Marcus' has a taste for the finer things in life, and he's getting too cosy with the luxury alpine lodge they call home. He follows them everywhere, chews on the plants, poops on the doorstep and regularly jumps into the car for a ride.
"It's a love hate relationship, he's obviously quite cute, but he leaves deposits everywhere," Mr Butler says.
"He's more or less a human/dog in a sheep's body."
He's mad, messy and a friendly enough member of the Grasmere Lodge staff, but they're fed up with his wild antics and the extra work he's making for the housekeepers.
Housekeeper Heaven Karanga says she has to clean up his droppings "all the time"."
"He's pretty nice but he's a little annoying at the same time, he's just everywhere. I didn't think it was going to go this far."
They struggle to keep him locked outside as Marcus has decided he's an 'inside sheep', and would rather spend the chilly winter nights by the fire.
But the sheep has dodged a bullet and an online plea to take him and his deposits away from Grasmere means he'll live to see another day.
Tai Tapu's Bridget Parker has decided to welcome the four-legged friend to their home.
"I don't think he's going to be able to live in the garden cause of the roses, he'll kill them all, so he'll be in a paddock just over here or around the house," she says.
But if Marcus has anything to do with it, he'll be back inside in no time.
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