Please also see our other blog at

http://nywildliferescue.blogspot.com/

It is more active than this one. Always check there for updates, too.



Northeast Llama Rescue was started by Wes and Darcy Laraway of Middleburgh, NY.

Several years ago they rescued their first llama out of a tiny horse pen. Since that day, Northeast Llama Rescue has helped dozens of Camelids from several different states.
The primary mission of Northeast Llama Rescue is to educate owners on how to properly care for their animals.

We also offer assistance with a traveling chute to shear, worm, and trim toenails on hard to handle animals. A 'TRUE REPUTABLE BREEDER" should help out the llama down the road that is not being cared for by owners that understand the needs of llamas.

If you know of a llama owner who is no longer able to care for their animals, there is help available. Members of Northeast Llama Rescue will adopt any unwanted animals. Rescue animals will be relocated to farms of members for training and necessary vet work.

If a llama is able to be rehabilitated, he will be available after a careful screening process. All rescues are placed in homes with a contract that says they shall be provided for and can not be sold. In the event a rescue animal becomes unwanted, the llama MUST be returned to Northeast Llama Rescue.

If you share our philosophy and love for the animals, you are more than welcome to join us! There are lots of llamas that need a person to love.

We also rescue farm animals, and are licensed wildlife rehabilitators.

This site is copyrighted by Wes Laraway.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Donkeys

As Hannah loses a tooth, I think of Donkeys. I am really still trying to "blog." Ive always liked donkeys. I like the fact that they are independent. They don't take any crap from anyone. My donkeys here on the farm kick at the Clydesdales but they dont get it.

My first experience with donkeys started about 15 years ago. Mini donkeys were just another pet fad and I got a couple for Darcy. She wasnt impressed, I sold them but I still check in on them. When we moved to the "big farm"....we were llama directed.We were trying to just do llama rescues, but that wouldnt last for long.

I got called in by a "Humane Society." I still work with them today and they are great.....I know that when a humane society callls me they are normally overwhelmed. I know that they are looking for help and they cant deal with the situation. I got the call, I wont even mention her name (because I am so protective over what I do), she gave me the run down, I told her I would be there in an hour. I was there in an hour. I parked my truck and trailer....I walked down the road. I told the trooper in charge who I was, I was in...

As I entered the barn, I was warned by a bunch of people that I had better be prepared for what was behind the barn doors. I told them that I could handle anything, told my volunteers to stay by the trailer and "went in:". I walked over a pile of dead llamas....I didnt even see the live ones...I was disgusted. Then all of a sudden, a Humane Society worker pointed out the llamas that were running through the trusses of the building. Literallly they were 10 ft. in the air... I was looking at lllamas. When you opened the stall door they were above my head.)

I quickly started barking orders. I dug with my hands, I ordered everyone out of the barn. I gave my staff really strict orders. As I climbed up into the horse stalls, I herded the llamas to the hole which they suddenly fell through and quickly went haywire. I got out my wands, I ordered everyone out of the barn........within a minute I had all llamas on my trailer as it started to snow.

I was pretty proud of myself, I am the llama man and I got 5 llamas to jump over a pile of dead animals on to my trailer and my "staff" didnt even walk in the barn. That is when the humane society I was working with said we had another problem. There was a barn full of donkeys and no one wanted to "deal" with it. Now, In all my rescuue experience, donkeys are the last to die. They are so freakin' tough, they literally dont eat for weeks and somehow they are still fat.

I walked over to the barn where the donkeys were. Couldnt get the door open because the crap was in the rafters. I told the "volunters that this was a bad scene. We had no shovels and I was spent. I had brought several panels with me. I kicked down the debri and after about an hour I got 3 donkeys on the trailer....Were were homeward bound. I think that is the only rescue Lynn has ever been on with me with, she was my right hand, now she isnt around. I really miss her so much. We came home that night in a blizzard, Lynn was riding shotgun....I was afraid, I had 8 animals on the trailer, they were the bottom of the barrell. Why could no one else could deal with this nightmare?. I got stuck coming up the mountain, It was another nightmare... but I am still not to my donkey story.

My donkey story starts several months after this. A 'friend" contacted me. She heard that I had been in on the rescue and she wanted to "talk to me". I would rather go to jail then talk about where animals are....she called again. "Marlene" said that she had taken 2 donkeys out of the same place, she said that they had lived in her kitchen all winter....it was 6 months later and I said it would be my pleasure to take them. I picked up "Bonnie" and "Clyde" and they were 2 of the animals that changed my life.

Bonnie and Clyde were the size of a golden retriever,. The had free run of the farm. The kids frequently had them in the house. My wife wasnt amused. We actually had a party. Bonnie walked up the stairs on to our deck, started eating out of the potato chip bowl.. I was watching with amuzement, and then my guest slapped her in the face...I told "my guest" that if he hit my donkey again that I would throw him off my deck by his throat. He said "well she is eating out of the chips....." I said "If you want more there are some on the kitchen counter"...Bonnie and Clyde lived for me for years. Then I found a perfect home. You have to understand, I loved Bonie and Clyde....I wouldnt part with them for a million. Debbie is great, I had to do it, it was a perfect placement.

Then came the complications....Debie called me to let me know that there had been a birth (Boom Boom)...She said that they loved Bonnie and Clyde but they didnt really plan on Boom Boom.....I brought her home....NO ONE will ever mess with this srtain of donkey. I figured if Budweiser could have a donkey as a mascot I could...and BB quickly took over the farm.
I got a call from Debbie last month. It seems before Clyde was gelded he did the dirty with Bonnie. (Again) I was at a wildlife rehabilitators conference....as my wife and I walked out, she said see you home in an hour....I said Im gonnna get a piece of ass......I came home an hour after her with Bam Bam (an accident) riding on the back seat of my truck. (see previous post). Bam Bam and Boom Boom have a place here...their parents are my favorite.

I really like donkeys...they love you if they know you, an they are loyal to the end..Just another rescue story....Im going to bed, Wes


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Northeast Llama Rescue by Wes Laraway

The Northeast Llama Rescue was started by Wes and Darcy Laraway several years ago after they rescued their first llama out of a tiny horse pen. Since that day, the Northeast Llama Rescue has helped dozens of animals in 5 states. The primary mission of Northeast Llama Rescue is to educate owners on how to care for their animals properly. We also offer assistance with a traveling chute to shear, worm and trim toenails on hard to handle animals. If owners get "tired" of the daily maintenance of their herds, members of the Northeast Llama Rescue will adopt or buy, if possible, any unwanted animals. Rescue animals go to the farms or members of the organization.

The Northeast Llama Rescue does not wish to compete with other rescue organizations, although any llama or alpaca is welcome. We need to cooperate to help ALL camelids, not just registered or "nice-looking" ones. Everyone has the right to breed and sell llamas, but a true reputable breeder will "help out" the llama down the road that is not being cared for, regardless of its age, sex or conformation.

Our last rescue came from Central New York. A farm had purchased 9 animals from a Midwest auction. Four of the animals had died from natural causes....starvation? The owner had health problems and no longer wanted the animals. After several other concerned people failed to negotiate their sale, I eventually called and within five minutes we had agreed on a price and the deal was done. The next night, Wes Laraway, Kim Scheurerman and P.J. Wagner went to pick up the animals. The owner informed us that the llamas were wild and could not be handled. Within five minutes all were calmly caught, on lead ropes and in the trailer, with us using a wand and some TEAM Training techniques. The owner thought I was the "llama whisperer" because I got those llamas to do things in five minutes that she couldn't do in a year. She unfortunately knew nothing about handling llamas.

Three hours later, we were back into quarantine at Red Maple Farm starting "damage control". The animals were immediately wormed, fed fresh hay and grain, and watered. All were body scored under three by sight and by feeling through their wool. This hands-on inspection revealed barbed wire that needed to be cut out of the fiber. We decided NOT to shear because it was too late in the year and they were too thin.

Another concern was an ingrown halter. One of the best ways to remove ingrown halters is to undo the buckle(s) and cut the nose band with sharp toenail clippers on each side of the nose. Then gradually, over time, the remaining pieces will fall out. With application of an antibiotic cream, any wounds from the ingrown halter will heal quickly. In this particular case, the halter came out of the nose and was added to the "wall of shame" in our barn (along with the barbed wire and ear tags still on them from the auction they were purchased from). The blood stream stopped within fifteen minutes and now, after a month, we can tell that scarring will be minimal. Please tell everyone you know that owns camelids, NEVER leave a halter on a llama! Even in a week, with wet conditions, a halter can embed itself in a llama's nose.

My biggest concern was the 10 month old female that was exposed to her father. If bred, we decided to abort the unborn cria for the safety and well-being of the young female. None of these five animals were over the age of three years. All of them, over the following months, would need intense care and proper nutrition. The animals were all updated on health requirements and gelded. All of these animals would need training before they could go up for adoption.

New problems continuously arose. Two weeks after they arrived, one of the females surprised us with a weak, constipated fourteen pound male cria. Within hours I knew it wasn't "normal" so mom and baby were moved to a quarantine pen in the barn. The decision was made to supplement the cria with goat colostrum and give him an enema. Although the cria was walking, he continued to strain to relieve himself. Around the clock surveillance did not reveal any nursing or defecation. At two days old, I found very small maggots between the cria's toes and by his umbilical cord. After consulting my vet again, the cria got a bath and dried out in the heated office before going back to mom in the barn. My vet explained that crias born on rainy days must be completely dry or flies will lay eggs in moist areas of umbilical fluid. I've never heard of this problem before but I know now to check my newborn crias for maggots every day. After five days of constant care, we lost "Trooper"....I guess it was not meant to be, but we tried.

The rest of the animals are doing well today. Concerned individuals found them, bought them and will protect them. Today is actually a special day, because the vet did fecals on them and all five of them are parasite free and can join our llama herd. After training and further rehabilitation, by Spring 2001 this group of animals will be available for adoption to carefully approved homes. All animals sold or placed by Northeast Llama Rescue will be adopted with a legal contract. The contract states that if the llama ever becomes unwanted or is not cared for properly, the animal will return to Red Maple Farm for a full refund. I used to think I could save every unwanted llama in the world...I know that I can't . It is too great an undertaking for one farm to rescue all the unwanted camelids out there. For this reason, several other farms have joined in the effort with Red Maple Farm to pool resources and save neglected and unwanted camelids.

Any farm that shares our philosophy that every llama deserves a life with proper care is welcome to join us. We are people who genuinely love all llamas and want to make a difference one llama at a time. Eventually we will print an educational brochure to hand out at events with member farms listed. Don't just tell people that you love your llamas; show people by making a difference and actually save one. Always quarantine new animals for at least one month while getting wormings, vaccines and nutritional needs in order. Always do a fecal exam and consult your vet about when new animals should go out with the herd. Geld all males and most of all BE PATIENT. Llamas are very forgiving animals and will learn to love and trust again with gentle care and training.