District impounds lost llama
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Updated: November 19, 2009 5:04 PM
A llama who turned up uninvited on a property in Maple Ridge has been claimed by its owners.
Gambler was impounded by the district’s bylaw department after arriving one morning two weeks ago at Bracks’ home in Ruskin.
The family woke up to find the bay-coloured South American camelid grazing on their front yard grass.
“I was a little surprise,” said Tori Brack, 19, who admitted she doesn’t know a lot about llamas.
“I just know they spit on people sometimes. I wouldn’t try to pet it.”
Brack called the SPCA, the District of Maple Ridge and City of Mission to inform them about the stray animal.
In the past two weeks, the llama chewed on lots of grass, refused treats of apples and carrots, and napped near a pond under a big tree.
The family’s pet Labrador Joe was cooped up in his kennel to avoid a confrontation with the shaggy herbivore.
Tori’s dad Kelly figures the llama, which has branches tangled in its coat, made its way to Ruskin through the bush.
“We checked two places nearby with llamas and no one [knew] anything about it,” Kelly Brack said.
Maple Ridge bylaws enforcement officer Barb Melnick said the district ran an advertising asking its owner to come forward.
“I guess he was scared off from its home,” she added.
The Bracks agreed to keep the llama on the district’s behalf until it is auctioned off or finds a new home.
“It’s a very kind gesture, but they don’t want a llama,” said Melnick.
Gambler was claimed later Thursday after the district threatened to auction him off.
