December

12/1  There was an inquiry from someone in Idaho who is looking for llamas to pack with.  baxter is working with him.

12/7  Macho #459 and Junior #530 have been adopted.  The adopter is also picking up a surrendered alpaca.

12/12  L'illette offered to take on the job of creating a certificate for sponsorship llamas.

12/16  L'illette showed us some pictures of a woman's llama.  She is looking for the right llama buddy to join her family.

12/20  A check for $65.27 was received thanks to customers shopping at smile.amazon.com

12/22  An Instagram video of some llamas and emus in California was posted to the Facebook page.  The conditions were poor and the Camelid Rescue Coalition is looking for someone close enough to look into it.

11/13  baxter is looking for someone to volunteer to be Membership Coordinator (or some title of your choosing). It would mean collecting $20/yr (or some decided amount) from each member for SWLR. Then compiling member lists of contact info. Then sending each member info on biz cards, maybe a list of the latest forms used for volunteers (health records, etc). Betsy Bell started it before she passed and it has been laying undone since then. Betsy at one time had vehicle magnets made for SWLR, for example. Let baxter know before year end so we can start in January with members!

11/13  SWLR reports to state and federal to maintain SWLR 501(c)3 status. This includes expenditures by category such as feed, vet, transport and volunteer hours. I start compiling the expenditures and statistics in order to total in January for reporting purposes. Those reports include some statement such as this:

Care, feeding, medical care, and transportation (over 7,000 miles) for over 100 llamas/alpacas were provided in (year). Area of rescue included most states west of the Mississippi including Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, California, Wyoming,

Would each of you give me an estimate of some activities related to SWLR rescue of llamas/alpacas such as
1) miles traveled with transporting
2) how many llamas/alpacas were rehomed with your networking (not the same as adoptions)
3) how many llamas/alpacas were brought into rescue & fostered with you
4) how many llamas/alpacas were adopted into new homes from your facility
5) estimate of hours volunteered with SWLR during the year (can be a weekly estimate or total for the year)
which includes time spent talking to owners, emailing, research, posting on Facebook
6) estimate of donated expenses that were not reimbursed by SWLR (items bought for fosters?)
7) what states were involved such as Idaho, Utah, including your own facility location

As treasurer, baxter can put together the expenses by category but the rest of the info really needs to come from each of you.

11/15 A woman in Colorado is desperately looking for someone to take her 5 alpacas and goats as her husband has ordered them removed immediately.  A man was suggested as a possibility and baxter has sent her contact information because SWLR wants to help.

11/21  SWLR received a donation because of your designation of SWLR with your purchases:
Southwest Llama Rescue Inc (EIN: 20-1580766) has been issued a $65.27 donation from the AmazonSmile Foundation as a result of AmazonSmile program activity between July 1 and Sept 30, 2019.
Thank you for using Smile.Amazon and designating SWLR in Tularosa, NM.

11/23  Nina helped with boarding of llamas during the October fires in CA. SWLR just received a donation as a thank you.   It takes a village.

11/27  baxter asked if someone said they would do certificates of sponsor llamas? She is getting requests now that Christmas is closer.  She attached a sample but is sure someone else could do better.  Ellen suggested two people as possibilities.

November

10/7  baxter warned that some list mail is going to her spam folder so everyone should check theirs.

10/8  baxter had a farm day.  2 vets and an assistant microchipped 4 llamas including 1 junior male from West Texas, plus looked at two others.  Sue and Anna handled the CDT, ivermectin and some toenail trimming.  "Llama Lullaby" or thiamine was suggested for next time.  baxter asked for suggestions as to what to use.  Valerian, Rescue Remedy and a tea towel over the eyes had worked for some but no all.  Joy uses Dormosedan Gel, an oral.  Amount to use varies with the lama but it does work.  She learned about it at UC Davis.

10/16  Yahoo groups is closing.  Transfer any files you want before it happens.  Would anyone want to take on the project of moving everything to groups.io?

10/20  baxter picked up a very old female llama who is covered in tumors and extremely thin.  Her people and all of her herd had died.  She was alone on an abandoned property with someone going over to feed her.

10/21  A woman inquired on the Facebook volunteer page for a female guard llama for her 3 alpacas.  She was directed to the public page and the website and her state coordinator.  baxter also asked her to consider 2 or more.

10/21  Someone wrote on the Facebook volunteer page to say thank you for rescuing a llama and to sing the praises of both baxter and llamas in general.

10/28  A SWLR volunteer found and rescued a loose llama.

10/29  Nina's power has been turned off due to a nearby wildfire.  She has an additional 8 llamas that were evacuated from fire danger.  She has 300 gallons of rain water and plenty of feed.  Will haul in water if necessary.  Jerry offered to take the llamas until danger passed.

10/30  SELR received a request from a TV producer in LA who is working on a new show all about adopting and rescuing dogs.  She wants to also do a short segment on other animals in need of help and adoption.  She would like to possibly feature lamas.  SWLR being in the area was thought to be a better fit for her needs.  There were several suggestions as to who would be a good interview and ways to connect for filming.

October

September

9/1  baxter commented that there is no point in discussing adoption until folks have filled out an application.  Until they go through the process many think rescue means free but there is a $200 adoption fee.

9/8  Corinne Hewett posted to Facebook that "
We are seeking 1500 lbs of waste fibers / fleece. We can pay for shipping. It is going to a research project for oil spill clean up filters. We can send shipping bags and coordinate pick up.
Please let us know if by any chance you have bags of fleece that could be donated to this cause. We can offer tax deductible receipts as well.
Thank you so much, in advance, for your time and consideration!We are looking for waste fibers 2nds, 3rds, mill garbage fibers, as little feces, rocks, twigs etc. as possible. We have funding for shipping it to a 2019 research study, looking at using this fiber for oil spill clean up. Thank you very much! Please contact us at lisa@matteroftrust.org
Best wishes,
Follow us on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa
Lisa Craig Gautier
President
+1415-235-2403
MatterOfTrust.org
For folks who have fiber they wanna get rid of- good cause- contact Lisa directly

9/15  Roberta Hahn has agreed to the job of acknowledging donations, gifts or material items.  Everyone should be sure to give her the donor name, address, amount and date as you receive donations so she can do her  job.  baxter will forward information of online donations and has added Roberta to the volunteer list.

9/25  4 llamas in Brownwood, TX have found a new home just over an hour away with help from an experienced llama owner who will be a mentor. This surrender/new home is worth celebrating.

9/25  Transport is needed for 2 males from Kerrville, TX to Tularosa, NM or at least part of the way.

9/27  SELR passed along a message from an alpaca person in Washington who does a lot of private rescue/rehoming.  She has 2 people looking to adopt llamas but can't find any.  Both have recently lost llamas due to old age and would like replacements.

9/29  Lynda updated us on her activities for the month:
- New intake on 9/7 of Tina a Female, ~ 400 lbs and likely between 5 and 10 years old from Jal NM and bought a year ago in Midland TX from an ad in the thrifty nickel. No history. She is residing at Llamas del Sol and Lynda Liptak is working on halter training.
- Lynda is talking with Eliza of Albuquerque NM about llama adoption and  care. She is interested in adopting Tina.
- Three females from Phase 2 of Jefferson CO rescue were halter trained and adopted out to June Goritz in Kanab UT on Sept 1 are now named Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. I think they need to have SWLR registration numbers. Adoption fee for them was $150 each.
- Two males from Phase 2 of Jefferson CO rescue were halter trained and adopted out to Deb and Dave Fuller in Tijeras, NM on 9/27 named Larry and Tony. I think they need to have SWLR registration numbers. Adopt fee for them was $200 each. These were the last of the Jefferson heard at Lynda's place - everyone trained and adopted out.
- New intake of a male about 20 years old ~275 lbs from SW Albuquerque, NM on 9/28 needs a SWLR registration number. His name is Chewbacca (Chewy) and is at Llamas del Sol.
- Lynda talked to Cindy Culpepper in Aspen, CO who will be surrendering 7 llamas -all descendants of her original two male female pairs that she is keeping. Cindy will provide transport and agreed to the $150 per llama surrender fee. They will be transported to Albuquerque, NM at Llamas del Sol with their vet records.
- I missed the opportunity to submit in August that Lynda and volunteers of Llamas del Sol took llamas to the Albuquerque Lavender Festival to promote SWLR and interest in llama adoption/foster. It went very well and generated some interest -one new recruit I met is Jodi Addis who was a llama judge/handler/raiser in the 80s and 90s and has returned as a volunteer at Llamas del Sol. She is excellent help with her background and remembers many of the old guard including Betsy Bell. She has been helping me with pickups, handling, and training. I would like to add her as a member - she doesn't do Fb.

 

August

8/5  baxter presented a list of things needed to be an SWLR foster farm and asked if readers would want to be a foster farm and for input:
* follow policy on care, adoptions (non-breeding agreement, for example)
* communicate thru the email list (preferred) or Facebook for volunteers to share info with other volunteers on potential placement or availability
* keep records on SWLR llamas (number assignment, health records)
* find homes and arrange farm checks (see facility check list and farm check form)
* arrange transport to new homes
* if 7 or less llamas, be willing to use your own funds for hay, vet, supplements, water, fuel for transport, facilities maintenance but requests can be made if funds are available
* if designated a "sanctuary" such as Tularosa, Kerrville, and others, with 7 or more llamas, then care expenses MAY be paid by SWLR IF funds are available
* participate in fund raising activities
* participate in PR activities such as open farm days, fairs
Amanda said she will remain an independent private entity.

8/5  Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga (both are about 1 year old) are available for adoption as a pair or as a 4 some with their moms.

8/5  baxter showed a picture of a female with strange anatomy and noted that this recent rescue from west Texas disagrees often with other llamas. She lets the crias comfort nurse.

8/10  L'illette is trying to locate an application that was supposedly sent in about a month ago.  baxter will send her another.

8/30  Deb is looking for help for a gal in California who needs to rehome two beautiful llamas she has owned for 13 years.  She is having a lion situation and wants to get them safe.  Jerry says the phone number indicates his neighborhood in Grass Valley and he will give her a call.  L'illette will also contact her.  Susi suggested the Farm Animal Sanctuary in Grass Valley but Nina thinks it has closed.  Jjohnson said placing solar lights and motion lights, playing radio talk shows, along with spraying of cheap perfume, greatly helps keep the lions away.

8/30  Tom Knotts of Arkansas joined the SWLR Volunteers on Facebook.

8/31  baxter is looking for someone to set up a list on groups.io of contact information and wishes for llama/alpaca adoption.  Requests come in from all over the place on Facebook as well as email and  phone calls.  baxter would also like a list made of available llamas/alpacas or their possible availability date that could be used to match to requests as they come in.  Foster farms are different from the coordinators. For the lists to be sustainable, it would mean asking the foster farms and the coordinators to help maintain the lists. Foster farms & coordinators are already volunteering at their max.  Maybe it is not a good idea. Sorry, just trying to figure out how to match llamas with potential homes when requests are now coming in from distance locations probably because of the national reach of the gofundme request.   To date, each coordinator has maintained their own lists as llamas/adoptees info was by state or at least nearby states. Now that folks are willing to transport distances, a combined list might be beneficial. For example, baxter has always forwarded CA area info to L'illette, Joy, Nina. Pat maintains her own lists also. baxter is just asking if a combined list would be helpful or should we still continue our "coordinator keeps all the records" system.
Susan is confused and thinks it would probably be better if her name wasn't on the website or Facebook page.
Nancy thought the available llamas list belongs on the website with as much information about them as possible.

July

7/1  A gofundme page was set up to raise money for the huge rescue.  As of 7/8, 69 llamas had been moved.  53 (mostly males) were moved to Susan Coley's farm and gelding, shearing and vaccinations have been started.  baxter is fostering 10 females and Krystin Bodden in Bodias, TX took in 5 males.  It is expected that it will take until September to get them ready for new homes.  It is unknown how many more there are to come.

7/8  L'illette is trying to find a llama dentist for a gal near Alamogordo, NM.

7/16  Rosemary was contacted by a gal looking for llamas or alpacas for packing in the Sierras.  Rosemary advised her that llamas would be the better choice.  Joy spoke to her at length the night before and said she is very interested.

7/20  baxter is concerned about the work and time necessary to prepare these wild llamas for adoptions.  What should SWLR do?  Let them go without being trained?  Perhaps to experienced owners?  Assuming someone wants them?  This is the Jefferson bunch that were loose on large acreage.  Susi suggested contacting trainers to donate time working with them, maybe Marty McGee could come and direct a group of volunteers.  baxter liked that idea and thought this might be a good way to get some SCLA people involved.

7/21  baxter is going to contact Tracy Annis who is a cohort of Marty McGee Bennet's and lives not far from baxter.  She also asked the president of SCLA to do an email blast looking for volunteers.  Rosemary suggested Cathy Spaulding might help and wondered if any nearby universities had ag or vet programs whose students might be recruited to help.  Unfortunately, the only ones that are close don't have much of an ag program but baxter will contact them just in case.

7/22  Tracy Annis responded that she might be able to help in a couple of weeks.

7/23  baxter needs a volunteer to help with posting to social media.

7/26  Franklin Clinic has quoted a price of $100 each for gelding.

7/26  Any ideas on how to get a "zoo" near Phoenix shut down?  Alicia Santiago posted this to facebook:
According to the Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), WWZ has never been accredited by them and they will never pass accreditation. WWZ seems to not care what people think of them so long as people continue spending money there.
We started going after them when we learned that they took cria away from the moms directly after birth to bottle feed and use in their petting zoo. When hormones hit they are fed to the zoo's lions and tigers. They have admitted all of this and more on the local news and try to spin it as educational for the public. They aren't doing anything outside of the law, therefore they remain untouchable. The only thing that we know to do is educate the public and we have turned quite a few people away from this so called zoo.
Word of warning, they do have a legal team and do utilize them so any statements made must be proven fact.
Nina suggested In Defense of Animals might go after them.

7/26  An interview with Pat Little was posted to youtube.

7/31  The gofundme page needs to be promoted.  It has raised $725 but the goal is for $6000.

June

6/4  There was a short discussion about the difficulties of moving up to 100 llamas.  Hot weather brought the question of loading in the dark but it was pointed out that llamas are uncomfortable moving around in darkness.  Better to load in the daylight and drive at night.  More volunteers were being recruited to help and a call was put out for donations of halters.

6/7  A gofundme page was set up to help  with the costs of taking in up to 100 llamas.

6/9  Alvin Andrews  joined the group and told us she is researching grants to defray the cost of the west Texas group.

6/10  baxter is looking for information about setting up a toll free number for SWLR and CRC that could be forwarded to different people, such as a monthly rotation.  A website was suggested as a source for information https://800-numbers.choosewhat.com

6/12  A man reported that the 2 llamas he adopted are very excellent llamas.  He wrote a story about them that was published in Pack Animal magazine.

May

5/4  baxter was contacted by Olympic Peninsula Llama/Alpaca Rescue regarding 45 alpacas needing rescue in Donnoly, Idaho.  The alpacas only have enough hay for 4 more days.  They have found enough hay for another 30 days while they get things in order.  Cost for hay and transport is estimated at $4500 but do not have the funds to cover it and are looking for help.
UPDATE 5/17  The number is now 60 alpacas to be relocated.  Two loads, comprising 23 alpacas, have been moved to Washington.

5/5  Discussion began regarding the possibility of raising the adoption fee from $150 to $250.  After discussion, the Board voted to raise the fee to $200.

5/12  Lynda is looking for someone to shear 8 llamas in Moffat, CO.

5/14  A person in Whitefish, Montana needs to find a home for her gelding alpaca.  A bear attack resulted in the 23-year old llama having to be euthanized and the owner fears Specks is no longer safe there.  He is currently confined to his barn with a live trap set for the bear.  If a safe home cannot be found for him the owner will have him humanely euthanized.  Several possibilities for Specks have been found.

5/21  baxter told us her hay delivery guy also works at the local exotic livestock auction.  He said 20 llamas were sold last month for $700-800 each, up from as low as $50 a few years ago.  It was also reported that they have been going for a good bit at auctions in Tennessee.

5/23  Pat explained SWLR policy as to placing llamas where there are horses pastured.  Horses kick out with both hind legs when "celebrating" or when being irritated by another horse.  SWLR  would not place llamas with horses on small acreage. A ranch with a lot of space would be considered.  She also pointed out that horses are terrified when encountering a llama for the first time. She packed with her llamas in the Wilderness for years.  When we heard horses approaching  us we would move our llamas well off the trail to allow the horses safe passage.  Even then  the horses were very nervous and sometimes the rider had to dismount and lead there horse around us.  Susi said it is the same for her in Yellowstone.  baxter has someone inquiring about her 34-year old horse that is used for therapy.  Susi though that should be fine.

5/30  A large number of llamas are being surrendered and need to be picked up near Van Horn, TX and transported to near Fredericksburg, TX.  Pickup of llamas is scheduled at a ranch for Saturday June 22, Sunday June 23. May be 50 plus llamas. Count not known. Transport will be to near Fredericksburg, TX.  The llamas have been surrendered to Camelid Rescue Coalition. The llamas need to be removed as the ranch was sold and will be a hunting ranch by the new owner. These llamas or descendants may have belonged to SELR, SWLR. The llamas need our help.
Are there any llama folks willing to go to west Texas to this ranch near Van Horn  to help? On the weekend of June 22nd?  Or help at the Fredericksburg arrival on Sunday June 23?  If you can't help physically, can you help with donations?  Email SouthwestLlamaRescue@yahoo.com if you could help and want details which are currently being arranged.

 

April

4/4  baxter is looking for volunteers for two fundraising projects:
1) Adopt a llama packet w/certificate & cuddle toy or llama wool item.
Would anyone want to start a program similar to the adopt a llama program on this Australian website? I make a certificate but am not very talented at it and a cuddle toy would be a great addition.
https://christmashillsllama.wordpress.com/store/
 
 2) Small bags of llama beans to make compost tea.
The Olympic Peninsula Llama/Alpaca Rescue sells compost bean bags as a fundraiser. Rondi sent me some info on how they make the bags. Would anyone want to have a compost bean bag program for fundraising? or just to promote the benefits of llama/alpaca manure?
Note that the Australian website also has compost bean tea bags.  Does anyone have experience with this?

4/6  L'illette is helping a local gal find a home for her alpaca and asked about a guy who told the gal his alpaca rescue would take her.  Is he for real or looking for a free alpaca for lunch.  Update:  Owner of alpaca said she spent an hour with them, they’re going to take her LGD as guard for the lambs they raise for meat, and a chiropractor in Burson is taking the alpaca.  They’re picking up the alpaca tomorrow, so L'illette will "at least be able to get a feel for the folks involved, ask some questions, maybe schedule a visit. Would be SO cool if we could enlist a foster farm, or at least a temp holding station of some sort. I don’t have anything like that up here."

4/6  L'illette asked about the protocol for republishing articles in the Calpaca newsletter.

4/9 Susi wrote that a man near Big Timber, MT is looking for 2 llamas to train/use as packers. She asked him if he would be interested in rescue llamas and he is. Are there any looking for homes and jobs as packers nearby, Montana or possibly Northern Wyoming?

4/9  baxter reported that we've had a couple of births from the Jefferson or Clayton rescues. One was a premie (Shoo Fly) and she had a close call a couple of weeks ago. Meds & TLC & vet calls seems to have done what was needed but it was a close call. Shoo Fly is still small for her age & not as energetic as Niquita who is a month older. Shoo Fly & Niquita are constantly playing together. Volunteers and I spent most of March doing training & rearranging corrals to accommodate these very skittish llamas. A shearing / farm day is scheduled for next week so she has been scrambling to work enough with the llamas to calm them down at least and to train at least the youngsters.

4/16  27 llamas at baxter's were sheared, CD-T, plus ivermectin, and some toenails done. Many of these were the skittish herd from Jefferson, CO. She started at dawn getting things ready with lead ropes, haltering some, catching them all in a confined area. 5 volunteers plus 2 shearers (Susan Leslie & Anna Reese), worked all day to take care of the herd plus the old ones that are residents here.   The volunteers were Ellen Jackson (board member), her sister June (long time volunteer), plus two other friends and baxter. While all are tired, it was an extremely good day as all llamas were at least barrel sheared and there were no major issues. A few llamas would not tolerate toenail trimming. So that will be another day after some training. Whew.

Saved for another day is to organize the record keeping (health records, registry), deal with the bags of wool, and put away all the gear that was used. Most of the wool is too matted to be useful as many of these llamas had never been sheared.

4/20  baxter suggested a new fundraising project that would be llama/alpaca blank greeting cards.   Anyone interested in taking on this fundraising project? It would mean collecting great pictures, print the cards somehow, be willing to mail out sets of cards, etc. Could be done on a donation basis. She knows collectively we have some great pictures.

4/20  baxter and Ellen are looking for donations for items to sell or raffle at a 3-weekend booth at a folk music festival.  Items are needed by May 17th.

4/22  Lynda reported that she "had a wonderful time at the RMLA Conference. It was not as expected by me as it was members only so I don't think anyone took any brochures. We made $113 by raffling off an artistic llama from Betsy Bell and donations $100 from Mr. and Mrs. Rivera - very generous. Also we got several buckets and some low end halters from Mary (last name escapes me now). Anyone needed small feeding buckets?
"I learned a lot from Dr. Rob Callan and the US Forest and Agriculture management folks and got to bond with some friends and learn about some of the RMLA activities.
"I will send the $113 out this week to Baxter and anyone wanting buckets for their rescues come help yourselves - they are stored here (for now I guess)
"I hope two folks I talked to will adopt llamas - there were some candidates that were there.  50 people were in attendance."

4/25  The Board is considering raising the adoption fee to $250 to match SELR.  Current fee is $150 with fees adjusted with approval for special circumstances such as a group or special needs. Rehomes are without fees.  Input anyone?  Lynda thinks that big of a jump seems high.  Susi suggested $250 for the first, $200 for the second, third, etc.  Cheryl agrees with Lynda and thinks $50 at a time is a better route.  Nina suggested keeping the fee in line with other rescue organizations and added that the fee can be taken as a tax donation.  Additionally, the fee could be broken down:  $150 adoption fee, $50 vaccination fee, $50 gelding fee or $150 adoption fee+ $100 vet fee…if you want to break it out.  But a $250 adoption fee should suffice, or “covers vaccinations, gelding, training, vet fees.  Scott agrees with Nina that $250, or at least $200, is not at all unreasonable considering the costs associated with rescue.  Lately, the llama supply vs. demand ratio has been getting increasingly favorable as well.  That said, he wouldn't be opposed to flexibility in the fee for various reasons such as taking in special needs llamas.  Susi thinks you have to balance the goal of finding adopters with an attractive price that is not too low and not too high. How is the adoption success rate at NELR?  Kim thinks $250 is more than fair. There’s a line between not wanting to discourage adoptions and ensuring an adopter has the funds to maintain proper care or seek medical attention when needed. If someone doesn’t have $250 in savings, chances are they don’t have money saved up for proper care either (harsh but true 99% of the time).  Kay noted that it would be easier for those in Texas if the fees matched SELR.

 

March

3/4  Nina reported on her rescue of a llama who has been passed around to at least 5 owners.  At her third home there were 4 llamas.  The first one was killed by a mountain lion, the next by a pit bull dog attack, the next one died of unknown cause, leaving this female.  She has had free reign on 50 acres. A vet saw the llama that was attacked by the dog and remembers this female llama but she stayed back. The Tubbs Fire burned down all the buildings and land in Oct. 2017 and this llama survived.  She remained on the property during her 4th owner's control while he looked for a safe home for her.  He named the llama, Lena, at the end of February 2019 because she had no name.
#5 Owner: SWLR/Foster-Nina Pedersen in Petaluma, CA.  Lena was “caught” 3/1/19 by a team of people, trailered to the vet (Cotati Large Animal Hospital) for exam, fecal test, and shots, then transported to Nina’s ranch in Petaluma for her final destination.  She has been vaccinated and dewormed but is fearful of people.  Lena was extremely distressed and screaming when caught.

3/9  Susi reported receiving an inquiry from someone who has a small farm in East Tennessee that they want to convert into a llama rescue.  They are looking for more information about how ans where to start getting the word out.

3/11  Black Back and Ringo were returned to Lynda.  The adopter decided they were not what he was looking for.   They were from the Fairplay rescue part 2.

Orphina, 6 month old female, had surgery for a bone infection that turned out not be an infection but rampant scar tissue build up. Xrays, surgery and lab work and treatment was about $1100. She is recovering and the scar tissue is dissipating as are the surgical incisions.

3/11  Sue Downs said she would work on the coordinator manual.  baxter sent a copy of the SELR manual sent to Sue and will send a copy to L'illette also if Sue & L'illette want to work on it together.

3/15  2 alpacas were rehomed from Edgewood, NM to Ft Summer, NM. Both of these were older female rescue alpacas. Rosemary Metcalf was the coordinator for the rehome.

3/23  Lynda posted pictures of a nice trio of camelids needing a new home. They are very tame. She is coordinating with Karen to look for a new place they can go. If you know of anyone who would like three friendly males, please let me know. They are currently in Pagosa Springs, CO.

3/25  An adopter wrote to alert us about Hall's of Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica 'Halliana') - an ornamental bush species that it turns out is highly poisonous, when leaves or berries are eaten in large quantity in the winter. 

Tragically I just lost Mangas to poisoning and am heartbroken that something like this could happen.  I just want to make sure others don't lose an animal to this or other species that demonstrate higher toxicity in different parts of the plant and/or different times of the year see:
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/all/lonicera-japonica/
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/honeysuckle-poisonous-pets-64900.html

While the are this plant was found, was largely inaccessible to the llamas, Mangas jumped a short fence and then stretched his neck over another fence to top the leaves off the shrub.  Since the incident I have cut the shrub down and burned all the plant material.

3/25  DaddyLlama (yes, that is his name) needs a number. He just arrived this week. He came with an injury and currently is at Franklin vet. Owner did sign surrender documents and delivered llama and gave a donation toward his vet care.

3/27  Rosemary was contacted by a lady asking for assistance regarding a single male alpaca.  His buddy was sold and he was given to an 87-year old man.  The alpaca and the man's miniature horse and donkey are not getting along and the alpaca needs to leave ASAP.

 

February

2/1  L'illette asked if we had any information about estate planning for camelid owners.  We were given a guide SELR wrote with overview from an attorney who is experienced in this sort of work.  (I've added it to the files section of our list on groups.io.)

2/14  baxter reported that the IRS form 990 has been accepted.  It shows that in 2018, 67 llamas, 13 alpacas, 1 sheep, and 1 goat were surrendered. 14 llamas and 3 alpacas were placed in permanent farms, or re-homed, or into permanent foster care. 55 llamas are in temporary foster care.

Care, feeding, medical care, and transportation (over 7,000 miles) for over 100 llamas/alpacas were provided in 2018. Area of rescue included most states west of the Mississippi including Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, California, Wyoming.

2/15  Mister, #462, was adopted through Lynda.

2/21  Our association with the AmazonSmile Foundation netted a check for $80.66 for the 4th quarter 2018.  Please sign up with AmazonSmile and order everything through them so we can get some credit.

2/22  baxter asked if everyone had all thee forms/info needed for fostering, surrender, adoption.  It is important that the non-breeding contract is signed for all fosters/adoptions of rescue llamas. Current suggested fee is $150 per llama. That fee is reduced from $250 of a few years ago. The fee may need to be raised again. Transport would be additional. There are farm check forms, health record forms, surrender documents, adoption packets, adoption agreements, etc available. Notice the documents in the files area of groups.io.

2/23  There was a request on our public Facebook page from someone in the Bay area wanting 2 or 3 llamas for her goats.

2/23  Someone is needed to rewrite the SELR coordinator manual to be an SWLR coordinator manual.  Also, forms need to be updated, people to stay in contact with, mentoring, fund raising, records to keep, stories to write and get published.  
Sue Downs offered to work on the manual.
Jonna Johnson replied that she has a fundraiser in mind and would be very happy tyo help organize it.

2/25  The members of the Camelid Rescue Coalition are many of the llama associations & rescue groups. SELR is the fiscal agent, SWLR, LANA, SCLA, NELR, individuals, and I forget who else are members. The yearly report due for the continuing status as a non-profit registered in Texas (baxter is the registered agent) was filed with the Texas Comptroller 2/24/2019.

 

January

1/10  baxter and Ellen Jackson have been working on year-end tax receipt letters.  They are requesting that all volunteers let them know if they need one.  

1/11  baxter got a phone call about an alpaca herd in Idaho.  The caller was grateful that others had stepped up and picked up his herd to take them to Washington state.

1/12  A SWLR volunteer in Teller County, CO emailed to ask if SWLR might help with the cost of gelding an intact male she took in from the local animal control.  She is willing to give him a forever home if she can get it done.  Lynda suggested it might be appropriate to offer $100 directly to the vet.

1/16  baxter shared this story written by Nina about a rescue:
I wanted to share this story because it is one of the reasons I do llama rescue and it had a happy ending for all.
 
A few years ago, I was contacted by a woman in Southern California who said she needed assistance placing her male llama, Grande. She lived with her young children in a residential area of a Mojave Desert town, and her boyfriend had brought her home this llama. It was in her backyard and she didn’t’ know how to care for it. She had a few Nigerian goats who immediately were friends with the llama, as well as the children. The backward was only dirt. She knew enough to get hay for the llama. The woman said she was getting rid of the goats and said she knew the llama should have a better home with its own kind and someone who knew how to care for it.
 
The history behind the llama, Grande, was he had lived at a large exotic petting zoo in a pen all his life. For exercise, his owner would tie him behind his tractor and pull him around a field to walk him, then put him back in his pen. The owners were now elderly and closing the petting zoo and selling all the animals to butchers or private owners. The woman’s boyfriend heard of this and got Grande.
 
The woman was ok with feeding Grande until I got arrangements in place. I asked that a vet come out and examine Grande, give vaccinations, and report. Her estimate of his age was 12 but found out Grande was closer to 17 to 20 years old. He still had his fighting teeth but was gelded. Not shorn and a little thin. 
 
It took several weeks to get arrangements in place. Part of this was the woman had become very attached to Grande and worried where he was going.  I couldn’t find a temporary or permanent home for him in Southern California, even Northern California was getting difficult with an older male. I phoned some friends who had a guard llama and medium size flock of Barbados sheep on 7 acres. Explaining the situation, they agreed to take Grande.
 
The big day came. I contacted my friend who lived 200 miles north of this woman. She drove down and picked up Grande, turned around and drove north.  I drove south and east, and we rendezvoused with my trailer to meet in a mall parking lot. Grande was kushed in the trailer and didn’t want to get out. He was scared. It was another long trailer ride back to my ranch and the next day, I took him to his new home on 7 lush green acres of pasture. He had probably never seen green grass or ran free in his life.
 
Today he co-guards the sheep with the other llama. The sheep will go between one llama and the other. He is truly spoiled with his new owners with great hay, treats of carrots/apples, and llama pellets. He has a shelter out of the rain. He can run free, is not penned up and pulled by a tractor.
 
Grande's rescuer had a big heart. If it wasn’t for her selflessness, Grande would still be in a bad situation.  I sent her a photo of Grande with “his” sheep all around him and with the other llama in his new home.

1/19  baxter is looking for someone to help field phone calls to SWLR.

1/19  A woman in Woodbine, Kansas contacted SWLR about a potential give-up of a 9-year old male llama.  She's not sure if she is the best foster home for him as her experience is only with alpacas but she did have her fence guy build an additional pasture in case she needs to take him in.  She has yet to be in direct contact with the owner.

1/20  Pat reminded us that SWLR charges $150 per llama adopted or surrendered.  Any exceptions must be approved by the Executive Board.

1/20  3 22-year old geldings and 1 20-year old female in Carnation, WA need a home by Feb. 1.  3 males and 1 female.  If a home is not found by then the owner will put them down to make room for boarding new horses.  They are healthy, friendly and fairly well cared for.  There was a discussion about how difficult it is for older llamas to move to a new home with strange llamas.
UPDATE:  Owner has extended the deadline to move them to the end of February.  They have been together their entire lives.  Placement is urgent.

1/21  One of the Clayton, NM surrender llamas had a premature cria. Neighbors and Ellen came to help as cria was not nursing. Some bottle feeding w/goat's milk & collostrum. Milked out mom, then a vet visit for both mom & cria.  Vet tubed cria with the milk we had saved. Cria required coats each evening & some supplements for a few days. Mom & cria are doing well at this time. Ears have come up on cria and she is active and acting more like a normal cria every day. Mom is named Buttermilk (she is creamy white) and female cria is named Shoo Fly (she is solid black). The Clayton herd arrived malnourished to the point that their teeth were worn down from eating sand or hard bark. Another dam in the herd had trouble with her cria and both required a stay at the vet when the dam was at Cheryl's.

1/25  Training begun on the Jefferson herd with some of the youngsters. A volunteer with horse training experience is helping with the training.This is a big project as this particular herd is very skittish and known to jump.

1/26  Lynda is coordinating the rescue of a male, female and their one offspring in Bueyero, NM.  The owner died and the nephew is having to get rid of them after a horseback rider was thrown upon seeing the llamas.  They have been living wild on 200-300 acres for over 5 years while never having been sheared or haltered.  They will be coralled next week and Lynda will pick them up.
UPDATE:  These llamas have been rehomed.

1/27  Joel Foote is coordinating the Colorado State University Veterinay Teaching School camelid castration clinic on Tuesday, March 19.  Cost is $45 for alpacas and $55 for llamas.  Contact Joel at fuzzyfarm@earthlink.net, my cell phone is 303-748-2308, and the house phone is 303-465-1576 (answering machine).

1/29  baxter is looking for someone to set up an info booth for SWLR at the RMLA Conference on April 20.  Lynda quickly agreed to do it.  Ideas flew for materials to take for display and handout.

1/31  Pat reported that she received a male from Baxter's.  He was rescured as a cria in Colorado and is now a yearling.  He is there with a yearling from the Jefferson herd and they have a home waiting in Colorado where they will be trained as packers.

Two males from the Ruidoso center are at the Littles where they are being halter and lead trained by ET.  They will be paired with two other males and will go to Oklahoma where their family is awaiting their arrival to have a pack string of four.

 

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