My parents and I got "into" llamas in 1994. My dad thought they were so unique and knew I'd love the idea. We began by purchasing a breeding pair, Landa and McLeod. Imagine our delight on May 15th, 1995 at the subsequent birth of a little girl colored almost identical to her tuxedoed sire. Our "first baby" was named Northern Llights Laramie, the first baby to wear our farm name. We lost her sire, McCloud to a perforated bowel soon after.

As Laramie matured we bred her and eagerly awaited her baby. October 7th 1998 she gave birth to a tiny little girl, white with black cheeks, freckles on her nose and a black blanket. "Northern Llights Cheyenne."

On October 10th, my son came running into the house to tell me that a dog was attacking Laramie and her baby. I ran out with a rifle and took a shot at the dog. It was our own border collie who had been gotten as a pup, raised with the llamas and living with them.

I had FAITH in that dog. He would get between the young males during a fight and stop them. He would herd the babies to their moms when they wandered. He NEVER chased or attacked anything other than skunks and raccoons when they came through the yard.

I NO LONGER believe in or trust any dog larger enough to do the kind of damage he did to Laramie's face. If you could see the way she drank her water, a few sips then tilting her head back and to the side trying to keep the water from running out the hole in her cheek. I had to hold her water pail so the angle would be ok for her to drink.

If you had seen the blood running down her face and throat. The shredded skin and huge gaping hole in her face. Her face was torn open from the back of her cheek to her mouth. You could see her whole jawbone and completely through her mouth. Her total terror and trembling at the sight of the dogs at the vet clinic while waiting to be " repaired" made my heart ache for her.

After a LONG tough battle, me spoon feeding Laramie, giving her daily medication. Feeding her with turkey baster towards the last. On 11-20-98 she turned for a last look at her little one, hummed softly to it and the baby got up from her flank and walked without a glance back towards another cria and her momma llama "Genesis." Laramie said goodbye, and to go to her new mother. I am CONVINCED of this. She laid her head down and I sat with her till she passed away. Genesis has adopted Cheyenne completely. I believe somehow they worked it out on their own.

My sheltie is big enough for me from now on. I WILL not risk this kind of thing happening from my own dog again. Shooting Radar, trying to console my son, loading Laramie into the trailor and getting to the vets and seeing the whole floor of my trailor wet with blood. I know I may have to risk strange dogs. But I will not be put into the position of killing a friend, pet and companion because something in it's instincts prompted it to attack another friend pet and companion.

As for strange dogs, there is no 2nd chance, if they are in my yard, they are buried. I WILL shoot, shovel and shut up. I guess if you trust your own dog COMPLETELY- The choice is yours if you allow them in the same areas. I hope you are not wrong and don't ever have to make the same decision I did. I hope for ALL concerned you do not.

Goodby my sweet Laramie.
Michelle Hoyt
mhoyt@mlgc.com