Photos: Velvet the pet reindeer rides into Nome

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Carl Emmons hops out of his pickup truck on Front Street in Nome as his pet reindeer Velvet rides in back on March 16, 2015. Emmons adopted Velvet 14 years ago from a Western Alaska reindeer herder.

NOME -- When Carl Emmons drives into town, his four-legged friend usually rides along in the bed of Emmons' Toyota pickup. That's not unusual for Bush Alaska, where it's common for dogs to ride perched in the back of their owners' rigs. But Emmons' companion is far from your everyday house pet.

You might know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen. But have you heard of Velvet the truck-riding reindeer?

Emmons adopted Velvet – a 300-pound reindeer with a cream, brown and tan coat – 14 years ago from a Western Alaska reindeer herder.

"I raised her from a little orphan baby," Emmons said last month during a trip to the post office in downtown Nome. Velvet always rides in the back of the truck, Emmons said.

"She likes to go along," he said as a small crowd of tourists gathered to take their picture with the unusual pet.

Emmons said Velvet is friendly to people and likes her trips into town.

"They're a real social animal," he said.

When he adopted Velvet she weighed just 17 pounds, Emmons said, and he's raised her on his own ever since. Her favorite food is pizza.

Velvet has become a common sight on the streets of Nome, but Emmons said she's not a huge fan of the city's most famous event, the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

"She's not terribly impressed with all the dogs," he said.

Emmons said Velvet has been an ideal pet over their 14 years together.

"She's a real good companion," he said.