A landscaper's novel approach to clearcutting an unsightly property has hit him hard in the pocket.
Some of the sheep Sandy Chappell put on the property to chow down the weeds was stolen Tuesday night.
Six of Chappell's 31-strong Barbados-breed herd disappeared in the night from the vacant lot next to McDonald's restaurant in the 8100 block of Alderbridge Way, costing him around $1,500 in lost livestock.
Chappell only realized the sheep were missing when animal welfare officers arrived to inspect the site on Tuesday and their count differed from his.
"(The thieves) have snipped the fence," said Chappell. "I have an idea of who it might have been and I've told the police."
Richmond RCMP are probing the brazen theft from the fenced area and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 604-278-1212 or report it to Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-477.
The News reported this week how Chappell, after being tasked by the developer landowner to tidy up the overgrown site, came up with the idea to use sheep to chew down the property.
Chappell, who keeps a 60-strong herd on a few acres on Odlin Road, thought it would be an environmentally-friendly solution benefitting everyone.
But his green-minded plan contravened a whole host of the city's animal control bylaw subsections, and he was told Tuesday to remove the sheep.
He has until next Wednesday to remove them or face bylaw infraction fines.
