A woman and her llama
I came across this colorful photo from MorgueFile.com and felt myself strongly attracted to it — the photo not the woman or the llama.
Something in the picture reassures me. It’s like the woman is saying: “Oh damn. Bad llama. Get off my foot please!” On second thought, I suppose it isn’t all that reassuring. But llamas are just so freaking funny looking even though I have been spat at by one. Fortunately, the great bomb of spittle missed me by about a few feet. I might be wrong but I feel that llamas have to spit only in the general direction of other llamas to get their attention. I don’t know that accuracy means all that much to a llama. Although I’d hate to get into a spitting contest with one.
But llamas are unfairly branded for their spitting, according to Llamapaedia.com
“A properly trained and socialized llama will not spit at people at any time, even during veterinary procedures. Most llama owners only meet with spit when they get caught in the crossfire of llamas spitting at each other. Spitting is used by llamas to settle arguments, establish dominance and pecking order, tell males that females are pregnant, discipline crias (baby llamas) and express fear or discomfort.”
The “all-llama all of the time” Web site goes on to say that llamas give some sort of warning before spitting including pinning their ears back or raising their head. Hmm. I guess I was too busy not trying to step in the llama crap to notice that the llama was about to peg me as a human spitoon.
I’ll know better next time I go up close and personal with a llama that’s got a problem.