An unlikely mascot

You've heard of emotional support dogs, but Nugget is no puppy — she's a six-week-old black lamb who has been spreading joy at the Penticton Seniors' Drop-In Centre.

December Foster got Nugget when she was just two days old. At that point, Nugget needed constant supervision and feeding, so Foster took her along to her job at the Drop-In Centre. 

The decision was a big hit.

"She's kind of become the mascot around here," Foster said. "She's caused a lot of smiles around here that's for sure."

Office manager Donna Verbeek took on the task of kid-sitting, setting up a baby gate across the door of her office and keeping an eye on the rambunctious Nugget while Foster works. It's more fun than work though, Verbeek says.

"She's just so much joy. People drop in all day long and want to see her and touch her," Verbeek said. "[She] brings back memories too, from when they were children and lived on farms, so she's a great addition."

As Nugget grows, though, she's become more independent. She's become known as an escape artist, leaping at the barrier in the office and occasionally wreaking havoc with the contents of garbage cans — habits that Verbeek chuckles over.

Foster says when Nugget gets too big to come to work with her, she'll put the lamb out to pasture on her acreage. 

For now though, Nugget has a special place in the hearts of the seniors who use the centre.

"She's an honourary member now," Foster said, referring to the membership tag hanging around Nugget's neck. "She's just a wonderful little creature and everybody just loves her to bits."