Community outraged over llama's death:

Llama shot for trespassing on grass seed farm

February 24, 2007

Captain, standing in a grassy field.

When the Lighthouse Farm Sanctuary received the call about a llama roaming the hills east of Salem the troops were rallied and a plan was put into action to capture and transport the llama to the safety of the Sanctuary. Because the llama was now considered feral (wild), the challenge was proving to be a difficult one.

With the assistance of many in the neighborhood and members of the Willamette Valley Llama Association, efforts were being made to gentle or tame the llama. Food and water was being provided and many were simply watching over the llama to ensure his safety. Even the original owner was located who had given the Sanctuary the rights of ownership once the llama was captured. For months the llama, an intact male named Captain, was escaping from his pasture as his owner’s simply were not paying attention to his safety and welfare and failed to notice that Captain was not at his own home for months on end.

As it turns out, Captain spent most of his time grazing on fields designated for grass seed production; therefore, he was eating the producer’s livelihood. With that said, we were told we had time to remove Captain. Unfortunately, time ran out, and we were not told of this until word came from the neighborhood that Captain had been shot and killed.

This information was quickly relayed to the Marion County Sheriff Dept. and the Marion County District Attorney, but it appears as if the grass seed producer had every right to protect his property. As it turns out, many of the key players were not outraged at the producer, but very upset with the original owner’s of Captain for allowing this to happen. Who should be held liable? In this case, the previous owners of Captain. Who is the real victim? Captain!