text: Winter weary New Yorkers have been given a timely reminder that Spring has finally sprung. Smokey Da Lamb has been turning heads in some of the city's coolest neighborhoods ever since restaurant owner Sandy Dee Hall, 34, and his girlfriend Maxine Cher, 24, adopted him. But now the couple - and Smokey's impressive legion of fans - have been left devastated after city officials demanded he is taken out of the metropolis. Scroll down for video . Happy family: Restaurant owner Sandy Dee Hall, 34 (R), and his girlfriend Maxine Cher, 24 (L), adopted Smokey Da Lamb after he was abandoned by his mother . Lamb and the City: Smokey has made dozens of friends during his month-long stay in New York, however city officials are now demanding that he be sent back to live on the farm . At home: The young lamb has been living with Sandy in his Lower East Side apartment, and the couple have been providing him with round-the-clock care and attention . 'Unfortunately Smokey has got to go back to the farm – we're not allowed to keep a lamb in the city,' Maxine said. 'I'll be sad to see him go because he's so loving but we're officially adopting him which means he will never end up on a dinner plate. 'We'll visit as often as we can – Sandy has even taken lamb off the menu at his restaurant The Black Tree, in tribute to Smokey. 'Smokey has caused a few disasters while he's been here but he's a farmyard animal so it's to be expected. 'We're still going to miss him hugely.' Devotion: Maxine (pictured) and Sandy bottle-feed Smokey three times a day and have to burp him after he has eaten . Friendly face: Smokey has been growing quickly since arriving in the city - and is much more confident than he was when he first moved into Sandy's apartment . Accidents do happen: Maxine admitted that Smokey is a bit like a 'dog which has not been potty trained' She added: 'Everybody should own a lamb – he is great and so loving. 'I guess he's like a dog which has not been potty trained.' Smokey was born at Violet Hill Farm in upstate New York but was abandoned by his mother and would have likely died in the cold. Fortunately Sandy, who runs Manhattan-based restaurant Black Tree, agreed to take him in when contacted by the farmer and Smokey was smuggled into his tiny apartment in the city's Lower East Side . 'Sandy told me that he had adopted a lamb and I said he was crazy – we couldn't look after a lamb,' Maxine explained. Something for everyone: The couple believe that everybody should get the chance to own a lamb . Crazy: When Sandy first told Maxine that he had adopted a lamb from a farm in upstate New York, she admits she thought the idea was ridiculous . Change of heart: 'When I saw him my heart melted,' Maxine admits . Keep clean: In addition to his regular bottle feeds, Maxine and Sandy have to bathe Smokey regularly, ensuring that they only use water so that his fleece doesn't shrink . 'But when I saw him my heart melted - he was so cute. 'He must have been around 3 or 4 pounds and was wearing a little diaper with his tail sticking out. He was so sweet and loving.' Smokey is bottle-fed three times a day and needs to be burped like a baby after he has had his formula. He needs regular baths and can only be washed with water so his fleece does not shrink. Maxine added: 'We take him out for regular walks in the park – he really loves that. Restaurant revolution: Since adopting Smokey, Sandy has removed all lamb dishes from the menu at his Manhattan restaurant, Black Tree . Take a seat: Often Smokey will spend time with restaurant-goers, keeping them entertained while they wait for their food . Fan club: The people of New York have quickly fallen in love with Smokey's charming personality . Let me take a selfie! Smokey has quickly become a social media star; almost everyone who meets him wants to snap a picture with the popular pet . 'Smokey never needs a lead because he just likes to follow us around. 'In many ways he's better than a dog but I've never known a dog that needs to be bottle fed – or who poops and pees so much. 'Whenever I stay at Sandy's apartment I will sleep in the bed and Sandy will sleep in the living room with Smokey. 'We can't let him in the bedroom because he will make a big mess in there. 'People in the city love him, it's hard to get too far when you have Smokey with you. They'll do double takes then run back to stroke him and take pictures – he's so popular.'
target: Restaurant owner Sandy Dee Hall, 34, and his girlfriend Maxine Cher, 24, adopted Smokey Da Lamb after he was abandoned by his mother .
  The lamb has been living with Sandy in his Lower East Side apartment and the couple have been providing him with round-the-clock care .
  In honor of their new pet, Sandy removed all lamb dishes from the menu at his Manhattan restaurant .