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Lucky llamas find safe, new home
Susan Gatta welcomes Coco to her new home
By Carin Hughes
For nine months, four agencies and one ranch family labored diligently to ensure the surviving members of a llama herd at last receive humane care. In April, their hard work paid off. Two adult females and a month-old male were finally moved to their new home, a 20-acre ranch where they now roam freely and are ensured access to food and water.
Notified of a number of malnourished and dead llamas on a county property in July, officials at Collin County Animal Services removed the llamas and charged the owner with animal cruelty. Survivors of the six-member herd were placed with Collin County Animal Shelter until a court decision could be reached.
Wanting to ensure that the animals were placed in a secure, safe and permanent home, the presiding judge turned to Habitat 4 Paws (H4P), a new 501c animal rescue group targeting Frisco and Little Elm, to vet possible owners. In March, the court case was closed.
"We are really happy that we could assist in this unusual adoption," says Roni Seely, president of H4P. "Although our focus is dogs and cats, placing the llamas in the right home still fulfills our mission of rescuing and finding permanent homes for animals."
"I had been on the lookout for friends for my pet llama, Twinkle," says Susan Gatta. Gatta and her husband have a ranch in Howe, home to sheep, horses, cats, dogs and birds. The rescued llamas -- Coco, Sparkle and Hersey, the newborn -- "are eating well and curious about their new home," she says.
In addition to sheltering cats and dogs, CCAS has a variety of livestock available for adoption. According to Lisa Drummonds, a CCAS officer, they have a one-eyed horse and a number of donkeys now in need of good homes.
Notified of a number of malnourished and dead llamas on a county property in July, officials at Collin County Animal Services removed the llamas and charged the owner with animal cruelty. Survivors of the six-member herd were placed with Collin County Animal Shelter until a court decision could be reached.
Wanting to ensure that the animals were placed in a secure, safe and permanent home, the presiding judge turned to Habitat 4 Paws (H4P), a new 501c animal rescue group targeting Frisco and Little Elm, to vet possible owners. In March, the court case was closed.
"We are really happy that we could assist in this unusual adoption," says Roni Seely, president of H4P. "Although our focus is dogs and cats, placing the llamas in the right home still fulfills our mission of rescuing and finding permanent homes for animals."
"I had been on the lookout for friends for my pet llama, Twinkle," says Susan Gatta. Gatta and her husband have a ranch in Howe, home to sheep, horses, cats, dogs and birds. The rescued llamas -- Coco, Sparkle and Hersey, the newborn -- "are eating well and curious about their new home," she says.
In addition to sheltering cats and dogs, CCAS has a variety of livestock available for adoption. According to Lisa Drummonds, a CCAS officer, they have a one-eyed horse and a number of donkeys now in need of good homes.
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