Looking for llamas....

After working on Thursday, I got my ducks in a row to drive up to Decatur in the late afternoon. If there is traveling to be done going some distance, I try to spread it out over more than one day to prevent 'asleep at the wheel' (though I can't recall the rest of that particular song.). The cousin who lives in N. Decatur was going on a little road trip on Friday, and, as usual, in order to go someplace interesting, I had invited myself along.

There are in-laws who live to the west of Rome, out in the country, nearly to the Alabama line, in a (modern day) log cabin.  She, L., is very much into therapy animals. And was recently in Decatur for some training of therapy dogs, which is how I had the opportunity to pester her with questions and learn so much about both the process of getting animals certified as 'therapeutic'. This family enjoys rural life with an assortment of livestock, including a number of large German Shepherd dogs, chickens, horses, cows and llamas. I think most of the dogs are 'professional', with experience as either show dogs or trained to visit public places like nursing homes and schools as therapy animals.And a couple of dogs that live outside in pens that are rescues.

I was so intrigued by the idea of llamas being therapy animals - and actually just llamas in general, when the crowd in Decatur started talking of making a trip to west Georgia, I was hoping to go along. So we went on a llama visit. They are really interesting: just to look at. Apparently will domesticate very well, to the point of coming in the house, as they will only 'do their business' where it has been done previously. Which means they apparently have the ability to hold it until it is convenient to make a deposit at the right time and place.
The pair we saw on Friday had recently been shorn/clipped, with a full coat only around their heads, so looked a lot lighter, smaller, more delicate than one with a thick insulating coat would appear. We fed them a few carrots, that the little llama mouths very politely took from fingers.

One of the two (both females - much more tractable than males) are halter trained, and apparently much more docile and agreeable when they have their halters on. They also have 'costumes' with 'clothing' and hats they will agree to wear when in public, and are often attendees at parades and other events with crowds of people. I'm thinking they would probably be reluctant to do the 'dress up' routine and a feel pretty silly wearing articles of clothing, but must be really agreeable to be so willing to Play the Fool for humans. You have to admit that seeing one strolling down the street dressed as a person would certainly be eye-catching and traffic-stopping. L. said one of the 'girls' is probably already ready to be certified as a therapy animal. Think about walking into a nursing care facility to visit a family member and encountering a well-dressed llama in the hallway??!