Nine llamas suffering from severe neglect were recently rescued in Yakima County, two animal welfare organizations reported.
Pasado's Safe Haven 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 from 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," it says. "These llamas deserve better than what they've been through."
The llamas were rescued on 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," it says.
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 based in Snohomish County, 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.
A GoFundMe has been created to benefit the Olympic Peninsula Alpaca and Llama Rescue, which joined Pasado's on the scene of the rescue 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 momma llama fought so hard she ... sustained deadly injuries, but is currently being treated," the GoFundMe summary says. "Three llamas, terminally injured, fought for their lives, (died) from the massacre after suffering without medical care.
"Eight other llamas on site had also endured continual attacks as well as were starved, endured gaping dog bite tears on their legs, hips, groin, and under their bellies."
Three of the females rescued "are fighting to stay alive, starved and pregnant. Two young males are also undergoing daily medical treatment."
The GoFundMe fundraising goal is $7,500. The summary says the nonprofit has rescued, rehabilitated and adopted more than 600 animals since its inception in 2018.
___
(c)2024 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)
Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
