Sunday, February 24, 2008

Koo's Surprise

For a year or so we have been casually looking for a companion for Koo. I have called on a few but it hasn't been the right situation. Usually there are two that need a home and I didn't want to take on two and have Koo be odd llama out. We even decided we really didn't need another llama.
While cruising around on craigslist I saw the most beautiful llama I had ever seen. He was the color of a calico kitty. Bright splotches of distinct colors all over his body. I could just picture him in my pasture. I emailed right away. Unfortunately I emailed from school and it didn't go through. Apparently the powers that be decided that llama shopping was not an appropriate use of the school computer. By the time I got an email through he was gone. His owner said she had some lovely babies coming up but they were well bred and would be a whole lot more. I kindly declined since we are not interested in breeding or fiber and wanted to wait for one that just needed a home. She said she would pass my name along.
Enter...Kate the llama gal. She got my name from someone and emailed me with a name of a lady that had a llama that needed a home.
Enter...LeeAnna the Alpaca lady that got the llama to guard the alpacas.
Enter....Chilean's Penne Pasta an 11 year old spayed female llama that doesn't give a rip about guarding alpacas. Her story goes like this........
Penne, as her friends call her, was a lovely show llama making a name for herself in the llama world. She was bred and produced her first cria. Unfortunately the cria was deformed in some way. I was told what it had but have forgotten. Anyway because of the chance of this happening again Penne was promptly spayed and put out to pasture, so to speak. She was bought by someone and put in with goats. I am told she loved her goats. Thinking she would guard alpacas too she was bought by LeeAnna to guard her herd of 25 pregnant alpacas. Penne has failed at this job. She thinks those alpacas can just look after themselves while she is over eating all their hay. Now because they are pregnant they are free fed 24/7, so Penne helps herself 24/7. She is getting fatter and the alpacas aren't getting as much as they need. LeeAnna is looking for a home for Penne and thinks we would fit the bill. We have goats and we don't, heaven forbid, free feed.
Enter.....The Problem....Penne is on Whidbey Island, a long drive, plus a ferry ride away. I was told that Penne could ride in my mini van with the back seats out. I was also told, at all costs, to avoid taking a trailer on the ferry. We were all set to make the journey to the island to get her when the van started acting up. It was time for a new car and I didn't want another mini van. Those days are over! I traded my van in on a cute Jeep Liberty with no room for a cushing llama. I felt bad but could not wait on getting a vehicle for a llama. I emailed LeeAnna and told her I had sold my van. Her van was broke down too. We tried to come up with an alternative method but it was involving renting something and was all too complicated. I don't do complicated. So it looked like Penne was staying on the island.
Enter again.....Kate the llama gal, who's motto is, We LOVE happy llamas, and we love happy llama owners. She has volunteered her time to give Penne a ride to my place. What a gal. If everything goes as planned Penne will be here on March 8th or 9th.
Wonder what Koo will think?

9 comments:

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Waaaahhhooooo!!! Can you tell how excited I am??!! Yay Koo!! Yay Penne!!

Yay you for giving her a good home!

Having two llamas is so much fun and very interesting all the time.
My two are such a pair. I can't imagine having just one.

I'm excited about reading future llama updates now.

goatgirl said...

I'll keep you posted! That's a blog joke.

Danni said...

Oh wow - I love that you are giving Penne a good home with a reasonable diet! :-) What's the process for introducing new llamas to each other? Is there any concern that they might not get along? I think you should blow up that picture of Penne -really big- and post it in Koo's pen, just so he has an opportunity to grow accustomed to the idea of sharing. :-)

Anonymous said...

Very cool. Cannot wait to meet her.

goatgirl said...

I don't know what the process is for introducing them. I think I will put Koo in another pasture so they can see each other but can't chase each other around. Then when they get used to the sight of the other I'll let Koo out. I hope the llama gal knows how to do it.
If Koo can survive the pigs he should do OK with another llama.
I'll keep you posted.

Marigold said...

Yay! for Koo, Penne, but especially for Kate the Llama Gal! There are nice goats out there, but it is so refreshing to see that there are nice people too! Do you suppose Penne wil like Peanuts?

Anonymous said...

That is wonderful. I can't wait to see pictures of Koo and Peene together. I want a llama now! Hmmm, I wonder how Annie the goat would like a llama friend?

goatgirl said...

I think a llama would fit right in at your place. I didn't know anything about them when we got Koo 4 years ago but we have really enjoyed him and he is the most popular animal at our place.

goatgirl said...

I am sure, Marigold, with her history, she will love Peanuts.