A stray goat which evaded capture across the Norwich area for several weeks has finally been caught.
The RSPCA said the animal had been spotted at various locations across the city over the past few months.
But every time someone from the charity tried to rescue him, he managed to escape.
However, as the cold weather set in towards the end of February, the goat finally gave himself up.
Inspector Ben Kirby said he managed to catch the animal in the Sweet Briar Road area of the city on February 28.
He said: 'Despite the freezing temperatures and a very obvious limp, this big, strong goat had been giving people the run-around for some time and we just hadn't been able to get near him to safely catch him and give him the veterinary treatment he desperately needed.
'With the threat of even more severe weather last week, we were determined to get him to safety, and thankfully we were able to get close enough that we could safely sedate him, which made it possible for us to catch him and quickly take him to a vet.'
The goat was suffering from overgrown hooves and was at risk of being in further danger as temperatures plummeted across the county.
Mr Kirby said the animal was lucky to be alive.
'Once we got hold of him I could see straight away that he was suffering with really overgrown hooves which would have been causing him a lot of discomfort. The vet removed almost three inches of overgrown hoof which is just astounding,' he said.
Mr Kirby believes the goat, which is castrated, is likely to have had a previous owner and may have been abandoned or escaped.
However, if he is not claimed before the standard 14 day abandonment period expires, his current carers will adopt him.
'I'm really glad I was able to catch him last week and I feel better knowing he's tucked up in a cosy straw bed with his hooves sorted and a full belly now, with a safe future ahead of him,' Mr Kirby said.
This week the animal was moved from a veterinary practice to a foster home near Wymondham.
• Anyone with information can contact inspector Kirby on the RSPCA inspector's appeal line number by calling 0300 123 8018.
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