By Tammy Ayer / Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.
Nine llamas suffering from severe neglect were recently rescued in Yakima County, two animal welfare organizations have reported.
Pasado’s Safe Haven, based in Snohomish County, and the Olympic Peninsula Alpaca Rescue worked with the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office to rescue the llamas, according to a post on Pasado’s Facebook page.
“Four of the nine llamas have come back to the sanctuary where they’re currently receiving much-needed medical care from our team,” the March 27 post says. “All four llamas are underweight, severely matted, and unfamiliar with people and being fed.
“We’ve been able to determine one llama is also suffering from neck and leg wounds,” the post continues. “These llamas deserve better than what they’ve been through.”
The llamas were rescued March 21, according to Pasado’s website. Officials with the groups didn’t provide the exact location. Pasado’s was contacted by the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office to assist.
“The animals had been neglected by their owner for some time and were suffering from a lack of food, shelter and necessary care. All are severely malnourished and many, if not all, have parasites,” the organization’s post reads.
The team found deceased llamas on the property. Llamas are herd-oriented animals and form close bonds. One llama would not leave the side of his deceased mate, the group said.
A video shared with the Facebook post shows llamas with thickly matted and overgrown coats being tended to and transported.
Pasado’s, an animal sanctuary and rescue organization, planned to provide ongoing medical care and rehabilitation to four llamas in its care at its sanctuary, “where they will have all the time they need to recover before finding new, loving homes,” according to the website page with information about the rescue.
The nonprofit investigates animal cruelty and has been working with the sheriff’s office on cases involving abused and deceased dogs found in Yakima County.
An online fundraiser has been created to benefit the Olympic Peninsula Alpaca Rescue, which joined Pasado’s in Yakima County. The Port Angeles-based nonprofit is caring for the other five llamas rescued.
“A mother llama watched her cria (baby llama) being attacked and killed by dogs,” the fundraiser summary reads.
Three of the females rescued “are fighting to stay alive, starved and pregnant. Two young males are also undergoing daily medical treatment,” according to the fundraiser.
The fundraising goal is $7,500. The summary says the nonprofit has rescued, rehabilitated and adopted out more than 600 animals since its inception in 2018.
Reach Tammy Ayer at tayer@yakimaherald.com.
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