Why Dobbey has lost Christmas spirit

10:59am Friday 3rd October 2008

HE MAY look sweet, but this is Dobbey the reindeer's last chance to parade his new antlers before he becomes an entirely different beast.

His owner Gordon Elliot estimates that he will no longer be able to handle him without being attacked as Dobbey starts to assert his authority as the only moose in town.

In fact Dobbey will not just throw his weight around, but rather throw anyone around that gets in his way.

Mr Elliot said: "I have to be careful because last year, he picked me up on his antlers and ran about 30 metres pinning me against a chain link fence. He won't let anybody get near his females when it’s rutting time."

But Dobbey's solo reign is now over, as a new male reindeer, born earlier this year, has joined the rest of the clan of nine living on Crews Hill woodland.

Mr Elliot says the pair will have to be separated when the male reaches about two-years-old, as Dobbey would be likely to challenge him to a fight.

Dobbey's antlers, which were fully formed in July, grow an inch a week and each year become more magnificent than before, with an extra branch or two. He can drop them any time from just before Christmas to April, when they start growing again.

Mr Elliot, dubbed Dr Doolittle by the national press for his exotic collection of beasts, also keeps a collection of camels, emus, peacocks and wallabies, regularly taking them to charity events.

He once rode a camel down Enfield High Street, while Dobbey, who he says is normally extremely well behaved and responds to his name, makes about ten appearances a year for charities.

Dobbey has also appeared at his local pub, on the train, and appeared at the the ITN studios, though he was forced to obtain a licence last year after massive media interest in Dobbey's whereabouts.