Why Rescue?

by L’illette Vasquez, L’illy Llamas of VeeVeeVille
with input from Southwest Llama Rescue, Inc. (SWLR) &
Rocky Mountain Llama & Alpaca Association (RMLA) Rescue Committee

For whatever reasons, llama rescue has gotten a bad rap over the past few years. Even the owners, when faced with dispersing their herds, feel a sense of failure at having to turn their llamas over to a “rescue” group. But as a member of two extraordinary rescue organizations and a friend of our local group, I can honestly assure you that need be no stigma associated with llama rescue!

Rescuers and Rescue Organizations

I suspect a very real reason for the distrust of llama rescue in general is the inevitable rise of scam artists—those folks looking to make a buck, not to improve the well-being of the animals. And we read reports in the news and passed along through the Internet of some very well-intentioned people who tout themselves as rescuers, when a more appropriate term might be “collectors.” Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if an organization is truly legit. But orgs like Southwest Llama Rescue, Inc. (SWLR) and quite a number of others are registered non-profits with board members, public reports… the whole shebang.

Llama rescue organizations do not compete with reputable breeders. SWLR, for example, requires that males are gelded and females are placed with a non-breeding contract .In some cases, an adoptive owner may only want a single animal as a guard for sheep or goats, or a couple of non-breeders for packing or wool production. However, people with rescue animals often decide to begin breeding or showing after finding that they have fallen in love with llamas, at which point they can be referred to reputable farms providing registered breeding stock .Llama and alpaca breeders know that someone with a rescue llama from the organizations is already pre-screened and mentored, so they can sell a valuable animal with confidence that it will be properly cared for.

The Need to Rescue

You might be surprised to find out that almost 90% of llama rescue intakes come from folks that just can’t keep them any more. These are conscientious breeders and owners who have had drastic life changes: death or divorce in the family, health problems, aging, moving, military deployment. Rather than risk putting their llamas on the market, they release them to a rescue group for fostering and eventual rehoming. No shame in that! They love their llamas and want the best for them.

Additionally, although the majority of intakes are from owner difficulties and life changes, groups like SWLR have taken in many animals that were abused or neglected. These animals would inevitably end up euthanized or further abused as they are passed around to unknowledgeable new owners often looking for a cheap or free “yard ornament” or livestock guardian. In cases of abuse, the rescue organizations work with local law enforcement and animal control authorities who can legally remove the llamas from difficult situations.

Llamas and alpacas are also turned over to a rescue organization because of behavior problems .You’ve heard, I’m sure, of the dreaded “Aberrant Behavior Syndrome (ABS)” or of “berserk llamas. In these rare cases, this results from the over-handling of young animals, especially males, which causes them to be disrespectful of humans .If normal boundaries are not established early in life, then males tend to become aggressive with people at the onset of sexual maturity .Females may become prone to spit on humans .Ideally, llamas and alpacas with true aggression towards humans may be given sanctuary and undergo training to diminish their unwanted behaviors. Fortunately, these animals are a small proportion of rescues and are not offered Llamas for Adoption . Unfortunately, there are far too few qualified, experienced rehabilitators and facilities that can take in these animals. Most of them are euthanized. Nonetheless, groups like SWLR have a quite high rate of success with these animals. They may not ever be the sort of llama you’d want to turn your back on, but they can live long and productive, happy lives. They don’t have to die.

Why Adopt?

Why should you consider adopting a rescue llama? If you’re looking at a SWLR llama, for example, you’re looking at a llama that is “off the market,” no longer available for breeding. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a great animal! Rescue llamas compete and win in shows, are excellent drivers and packers, and can make wonderful 4H or companion animals and livestock guardians.

When you adopt a rescue llama, you also make it possible for other llamas, equally wonderful and valuable, to have a shot at life, a good and meaningful life. All the rescue groups mentioned in this article are funded solely by private donations and adoption fees .They also happily accept tax-deductible contributions of money, tack, feed, or other equipment to assist maintain the llamas in their care.

A rescue llama comes with a history. Maybe a sad or terrible one. More often, a history of being loved and cared for by someone who just couldn’t continue to do so. You’ll know what you’re getting. Even if the back-story is vague, the llama has been watched, tested, treated, handled and fully evaluated by qualified members of the rescue team.

What About Fostering?

If you have extra pasture and shelter space, you are needed! Lots of times, llamas come from one part of the country, but available foster homes are states away. Each of these groups needs more folks to offer long- or short-term temporary sanctuary to llamas awaiting adoption. Unlike with adoption, the rescues do reimburse veterinary costs, though the day-to-day maintenance falls upon the foster caretaker. It’s critical that we have approved locations to take surrendered llamas, and there are never enough available.

Transport is also a huge issue. It’s not uncommon to have individual llamas, and even herds, ready for immediate delivery to a foster or adoptive home; but no one available to help transport cross-country. Such transport is also reimbursable, though not at the rates professional haulers charge.

How Can You Help?

As mentioned above, we need foster homes, transport, donations… and sometimes just folks to come out and help shear, do toenails and vaccinations, and spend some time with the animals. Each of the rescue orgs has more information available for you; or you can contact me, and I’ll help get you connected with the groups in your area.

Perhaps as important is spreading the word. Llama rescue helps save lives. Too many llama are discarded, unnecessarily euthanized, or abandoned. It just doesn’t have to happen, and you can help!

SWLR & SELR

Southwest Llama Rescue, Inc.
http://southwestllamarescue.org

Sometime around 2001, there became an obvious need for llama rescue efforts in the southwest region. Individuals in Texas contacted Southeast Llama Rescue and began working as the Southwest regional representatives. The official SWLR began in New Mexico in the fall of 2002, when 14 llamas from an Animal Control rescue needed a place to live while awaiting new homes. In July of 2004, SWLR received 15 malnourished llamas from an owner who could no longer take care of them. In December 2004, SWLR received 25 females and babies. Some of the females were pregnant, so they went to a foster care facility for their special needs. Since that time, groups and individual llamas have been fostered in SWLR throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and, most recently, Oklahoma.

Southeast Llama Rescue (SELR)
http://southeastllamarescue.org

SELR is a non-profit located in Marshall, North Carolina, with foster homes and volunteers spread out across the country .SELR takes in all llamas in need, regardless of behavior, health, or condition .Those with special health needs who are considered unadoptable are sent to live out the remainder of their lives at Indian Creek Llama Sanctuary, or ICLS, in Oliver Springs, Tennessee .ICLS has ready access to the large-animal practice at the University of Tennessee veterinary college and can provide customized feeding or treatment regimes for special-needs animals .While alpacas are occasionally surrendered to these rescue organization, most of the animals in need are llamas.