POST FALLS — Friends of a special North Idaho resident are rallying to come up enough funds to keep him in his home.

Bottle-fed as a calf, Carlos, now a 4-year-old Angus steer, is affectionate and friendly with humans and has become a special part of the Whiskey Flats neighborhood on the west side of Post Falls.

"He trusts and loves being pet by humans," said neighbor Alisha Kreissig, who is leading the "Save Carlos" charge. "He comes when he is called, and loves apples, lettuce, and, most of all, the neighborhood's grass clippings from mowing their lawn. The owners have promised to keep him on their property if paid in full for $1,100."

Kreissig said the owners live on cattle land and are selling their livestock, but they're willing to give Carlos a reprieve from the slaughterhouse if people can come up with the money. She's throwing in $100 of her own money. $200 has been raised so far.

"Everybody knows him because he loves people," Kreissig said. "We feed him by hand and he lets us pet him. He's always a sweetheart."

Owner Bill Guy said he was OK with keeping Carlos around since people are serious about the fundraising. Carlos is one of three steers Guy raised. The others have already been sold, and those funds help pay for irrigation and taxes on the farm Guy's parents bought in 1955.

"All the little kids like Carlos. They come out and reach through the fence and feed him," Guy said with a chuckle. "He likes the attention. We go out there to move the sprinklers, and he’ll sneak up behind you. If you stop, he’ll run into you. He has horns, you got to watch out."

Guy said Carlos weighs about 1,000 pounds, but "he's a big, gentle baby."

Visit www.facebook.com/donate/586225571914332 to contribute to the Save Carlos campaign.