I recently received emails from Judy Ross saying that there was a lady who needed help getting a llama who was in a terrible ssituation. TLC members Eric and Chris Adams were willing and able to help as well. The lady who had found this llama was Claire Kitchen, and she wrote that a farmer had two llamas that were given to him in payment for something and one of them had been killed already. Claire was in fear for little Emily's life between the death of the other llama and the cold harsh winter which is fast approaching. Claire and Emily were both in Mount Sterling, Ohio as well as the Adams couple who already have llamas.

 We all met there, at the pasture where this llama was being kept on Friday November 14 2003. A terrible situation was exactly what we found!! There was poor Emily in a 7 acre pasture with no shelter, no water and was only fed hay by the farmer until Claire started working with her 3 weeks before. Claire had named her Emily and was feeding her llama grain and alfalfa pellets. Emily was well under weight , my guess  about 90lbs at most and covered in burs. She continued to lick her lips, which I attributed to her being thirsty. She appeared to be very curious but, scared.

The Adams brought their trailer and panels to set up a catch pen. We started with that by pulling the trailer in the pasture and putting the panels up to the back of the trailer. Claire had brought her some grain and tried to get her into the pen with the grain but Emily was very scared on constantly on guard. We couldn't seem to move in close enough or fast enough to get her in the pen. We needed something to close the gaps between the four of us. I asked for a rope and thank goodness, Claire had a hundred foot rope in her truck. We then took the rope and ran it between us to close in the gaps and very carefully walked her into a corner of the fencing. Once we had her there I was able to go under the rope and halter her. She was very scared and jumped around a little but, Eric was able to bring the trailer through the pasture to us and we lifted her in. Claire is such a kind hearted person that she sat in the trailer with Emily to keep her from being scared.

We took her to Claire's where a small area had been set up for her until the vet could get there. Claire has other animals, goats and horses but, no other llamas. She said that she didn't know a lot about llamas but, would do whatever it took to make Emily happy and healthy. She is looking for a companion for Emily and would appreciate any help she could get in finding one.

We are all excited for Emily and Claire and can't wait to see what a difference a year can make for the two of them. I guess, the most important thing I learned from all of this is that for every non-caring llama owner there are two caring ones even if they are not llama owners yet, we just need to find them or help them find us!!!!

                         Wendy Stebelton