A TRIBUTE TO THE LLAMAS THAT HAVE LEFT US
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent. Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the herd, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your llama, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
One of a kind	CHILEAN LA REINA FINA I remember the first time I saw Reina, she was 5 months old and about the cutest, wooliest girl I had ever seen.  She looked up through those bangs with big brown eyes as she was grazing in the grass on the side of a hill.   It was love at first sight.  We brought her home where she matured into a lovely exotic female.  Reina's production was top class and her daughters were outstanding.    Reina was not feeling well, she had lost her cria during birth.   I took her to the vet's office optimistic that Reina would be fine as she was bright eyed and stoic.   The vet gave me the news that Reina would not recover and would worsen in time.   The decision was made and I was numb. I looked back over my shoulder with tears flowing down my face at my beautiful Reina.  She was standing in a pasture of grass eating, unknowing that her life had come to an end.   I continued to stare at her until she lifted her head up and looked at me through those bangs  just like she did when I first saw her.  We said our goodbye . . .  "When tomorrow starts without me, Don’t think we’re far apart, For every time you think of me, I’m right here, in your heart"
Her cria survived and is doing fine today.	BAL FILIGREE Big Fil, as I lovingly referred to her, was a giant of a girl in size and in heart.  Boy, did she love a scratch.  She was the first girl to purr around me in the pasture and it was often that she would catch me in her eye and beeline for me for a rub down. Fil was expecting her second cria towards the end of January.   I noticed she was not eating and was laying down, which was not like her.  I cared for her around the clock rubbing her tummy, drenching her with fluids and even went so far as to boil a mixture of grain, molasses and hay to create a broth for her to keep her hydrated.   I had her on Banamine injections right away for pain and it enabled her to rise and walk about. I was hopeful she would feel better soon.   I had the vet out two days later and we ultrasounded her.  The vet said that she had what appeared to be a blockage in her small intestines.  Due to the size of the baby, her intestines were pushed all the way to the right side and swollen.  The vet tubed her with liquids and told me to watch her, I wanted her to go to the clinic then, but the vet said to see how she would do through the night.  I sat with her until 10 pm, then went to bed.  I awoke at 5 am and discovered that she had passed away but managed to give birth to her cria before she did.  He was about an hour old.    May you rest in peace, my proud Filly Girl, I loved you so much!