An animal lover and his 10-year-old pet goat have been turning heads around a city by going on daily walks together.

David Hughes, 47, has been walking his large pygmy goat named Boo around their local estates and parks for the last nine years.



Boo developed osteoarthritis when he was one and David decided to take the him out on regular walks to keep him moving.

The pair have to stick to a set route which has been approved by a vet on their adventures around Milton Keynes, Bucks.

David, a technical engineer, said even though he's been walking Boo for nine years, there are still people who haven't seen him before.

He said: "Often I joke that it's a horned dog - sheepdogs always look very confused when they come past."

"Some people think this is too weird and walk straight past while others will come over and want to take a picture. "

"When I walk him along the road, people in cars wave and smile at us. Parents especially like pointing out to their children that there is a goat on the street."

Boo and David's walks last them half an hour, allowing time for Boo to stop and sniff, and stretches about a half a mile through the nearby housing estates and parks.

The father-of-two said: "Boo likes the attention and he's fascinated by dogs. "

"I use a standard lead and collar although he is quite strong, especially when he sees something he wants to take a closer look at. "

"On the estate there are a lot of cul-de-sacs and he likes to wander down those, picking a house and standing on their driveway."

"A couple of policeman stopped their car once and jumped out. It's usually nerve-wracking when the police turn up for anything so I was on edge."

"They said 'its amazing you've got a goat', we laughed about it and then one of officers went on a video call to his mum because she loves goats."

"It was a brilliant case of community policing."

David has owned Boo since he was born in the custom built hutch at the bottom of his garden.

He said his ex-partner had wanted goats so he designed and built the 1.2m by 2m hutch, for Boo's mum Ivy and later Boo himself.

David said: "When Boo was really little, he used to stand on my shoulders. "

"He's called Boo because he used to hide under a kitchen stool from his mum when we brought him inside."

"When he was born, it was March and chilly outside so we bought him in. He used to go to sleep under the stool so she couldn't bother him."

Boo has since grown to 35kg and is the size of a Labrador - although David said he is cheaper to care for than a dog or cat in vet bills.

David has to have a licence from the local authority to keep wildlife and also a ‘walking licence' through the Animal Health Protection Agency to be able to take Boo out in public places.

He said Boo is "peaceful and inquisitive" and he eats carrots and goat mix - as well as a ginger biscuit if he's been good."