Connecticut couple Jenny Turner and Chris Pittenger have brought a smile to their community with a pair of life-like sheep outside of their home.
Over the last six months, they have dressed up the sheep in different outfits and scenarios for fun at their Bethany home.
“We live in a busy intersection in town, and we noticed people looking at the two sheep we have in the yard. We started playing with them,” Turner said. “It’s been a tough year in town with a (alleged) child sexual assault case with one of our town-run camps. We have kids that age and are friends of people that have been affected. So, we wanted to do something fun.”
When the couple woke up on Saturday morning, they learned that the sheep had disappeared. All that remained was a broken sheep leg.
The couple contacted the Connecticut State Police. Trooper Stephen Corona responded and investigated the incident on Saturday morning. Turner said the trooper spoke with neighbors to see if they had cameras. As of Sunday afternoon, the sheep were still missing.
“We posted it on Facebook and the outpouring and outrage has been great,” Turner said. “I didn’t realize how many people cared. A woman drove by this morning just to drop off a card and she had no idea the sheep were stolen.
“I’m really disappointed someone stole the sheep,” Turner added. “I hope they didn’t smash them. I was hoping they would reappear this morning. The officer said this was his first missing sheep story.”
Courtesy of Jenny Turner
One of the sheep once had a “broken” leg and a members of the public dropped off a bouquet of flowers for it. (Courtesy of Jenny Turner)
Turner said she has had the sheep, which were a gift from her husband, for a long time. Turner said her husband “is a very goofy guy” and the couple has four children. They have gotten creative with how they present the sheep.
The public even started to get involved. One of the sheep had a “broken leg” that Pittenger needed to fix. Residents left cards and flowers for sheep. The couple also set up a Halloween scenario that involved inflatable dragons. The sheep have gone apple picking.
“We are on the bus route for the elementary school, and we could hear the kids say, ‘Baaaa’ as they drove by,” Turner said.
Couresy of Jenny Turner
The couple set up a Halloween scenario with the sheep that involved inflatable dragons. (Courtesy of Jenny Turner)
Last week, they set up an Election Day scenario with one of the sheep dressed like an elephant and another as a donkey. One with a red scarf and one with a blue scarf. Turner said they were equal opportunity voters.
On Tuesday, the sheep revealed they were voting for Kamala Harris with a “Country Before Party” sign. The signs were taken down Wednesday, and the sheep were stolen sometime on Friday night.
Turner is asking whoever took the sheep to just bring them back. According to the police report, the life-like sheep are worth about $450 each and they are about 30 pounds each.
“They bring a lot of joy to the community and a lot of people are sad that they are gone,” Turner said. “We had plans to have the sheep fall in love and have babies in the spring.”
Turner was born in Wyoming and raised in Montana. Turner said the sheep remind her of the animals she used to see growing up on a ranch.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” Turner said. “It’s made us feel closer to the neighbors in town, and I’ve really enjoyed it. We don’t care about who took them, just bring the sheep home.”
