2010 Annual Meeting

Annual Membership Meeting

See the Photos!

Saturday March 6th, 2010

Once a year members come together to vote for Directors and Officers of the organization, get the latest news about the llama community, learn from the llama experts and industry speakers, and to have a chance to get together with friends.

This year's event was well attended and we had great speakers and lively discussion.

A New Venue

This year's meeting was held at the Stars Recreation Center in Vacaville, California. Conveniently located just off I-80, the meeting room was easy to get to and there was ample parking.

While the new venue was very nice, and the food was great, we all missed being on the UC Davis campus interacting with the vet students. The Board will work to have us return to the campus for the 2011 meeting. We will look at changing the meeting dates to better accommodate the vet students, as this time of year is scheduled for mid-term exams. Please let a board member know your suggestions to improve this meeting, or drop an email to: webmaster@cal-ila.org.com

As usual, the event planners put together a great program.

Agenda

Open Meeting - 9:00 am

Adventures in Veterinary Medicine
Murray Fowler, DVM
Murray E. Fowler, DVM, shared with us some of his adventures in zoo medicine and camelids in general. Murray is Professor Emeritus of Zoological Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. He was the veterinarian for the Sacramento Zoo for 24 years, and he started the first veterinary school program that dealt specifically with captive and free-ranging wild animals. An award-winning author and teacher, he is a diplomat of the American College of Zoological Medicine, the American College of Veterinary Internal, Medicine, and the American Board of Veterinary Toxicology. His publications include Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, now in its second edition.

Murray's talk was informative, entertaining and sprinkled with bits of his trademark humor.
First Aid
Rob Pollard, DVM
Rob Pollard provided tips and instructions on important items to take with you to shows and other events.

Rob graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1970, after having been one of the first students in Dr. Murray Fowler’s zoo and wildlife medicine class.

Rob suggested 5 things to be prepared for when traveling;
   Eye Problems - Blowing hay, dirt and other debris in the trailer can irritate the llama's eye. Carry some triple ophthalmic ointment in your 1st Aid kit. The ointment will soothe the eye and help heal infection and scratches to the cornea.
   Choke - Nervous llamas tend to gobble grain and hay hoping that a familiar activity will help calm them (sounds like some people). This can lead to the lumps of food lodging in the esophagus causing the llama to drool and cough. This is different from chocking where the airway is impaired. While not immediately life-threatening, treatment is necessary to prevent permanent damage to the esophagus. Rob suggests carrying a 4 foot length of 3/4" plastic tubing (available at OSH and other hardware stores). Pass the tube down through the mouth and the esophagus with the goal of gently dislodging the obstruction. No lube is needed because the llama will be producing gobs of drool. An assistant will be needed to help hold the llama's head while tubing because they will think you are trying to choke them.
Ear Problems - Cooped up in the trailer, llamas tend to get into each other's "space." This usually results in a spitting match. When the spittor tries to blast the spittee, the spittee will usually turn away exposing the ear to the full force from the spittor. Yes, you guessed it, right in the ear. Rob suggests carrying about 2 oz of ear flush solution and using about 2cc per application. This will give you enough for several treatments. The flush will usually float the debris out.
   Pain Relief - Just like humans, llamas can get stiff and sore from riding long distances. When getting out of the trailer or van, they can easily twist a pastern, bump their head or get an upset stomach from all of the bouncing. Giving an injection of Flunixin will provide temporary relief. In the USA the trade names are Banamine, Flunixamine, Citation, Equileve, and Meflosyl Solution. Dosage is 1cc per 100 pounds of animal. You need to be careful not to mask symptoms of more serious problems. If you have an animal at home off feed or exhibiting pain symptoms, you should consult with your veterinarian before administering Flunixin. A prescription from your veterinarian is required to purchase the drug.
   White Muscle Disease - Llamas eating hay from the Central Valley, or any long running hay operation, may suffer from a deficiency of selenium in their diet. This can lead to White Muscle Disease. Traveling can cause joint pain and worsen the symptoms. In some cases you may not know there was a problem until after an hour ride in the trailer. Rob suggests giving an injection of selenium and vitamin D a week or so before the trip. The injectable form is proven much more effective than the paste. Dosage is 1cc for any size llama.
On the Road Again
Safe Trailering - CHP
Officer Williford of the CHP was on hand to explain trailering laws and restriction and to provide some tips on how to keep you and you llamas safe on the ride. We are all now ready to head to the DMV and pick-up a copy of the latest driver's manual to brush up on trailering laws and lane restrictions.

The 3 important points he left with us are:
1. Make sure the ball-hitch is the correct one for the trailer and that it is secure. You MUST check all connections before EVERY trip!
2. Safety chains must have a positive locking device to insure they do not come loose during traveling. Hooks with locking gates meet the requirement. Wire ties do NOT.
3. Do not exceed the weight restrictions of the trailer OR the towing vehicle. Trailers and vehicles have weights listed on the manufacturer's name plates. Those are usually located on the driver's door and on the driver's side of the trailer.
Composting
Riding the Organic Wave
Lora Crawford and Rick Adams described how to compost your manure. Rick and Mary earned $3,000 last year from selling their black gold. Rick described his method of making windrows, turning the manure, monitoring the temperature and controlling moisture content.

More information is available by Googling (or using your favorite browser) "llama manure".

Carol Culp provided a copy of a llama manure analysis performed for the Sonoma 4-H group in 1997. (click here)
Spending the Night
Finding a Llama Motel
It's hard enough finding a motel that allows dogs, so what do you do about spending the night on the road with llamas? Joy Pedroni and Suzann Penry discussed their experiences, both good and bad, with horse hotels. Most of these facilities offer a stall for $20-25 a night. You will need to request no wood shavings if you do not want to spend a lot of time grooming your animals at the end of the trip.

Horse Motel is a site with listings of horse motels across the globe. Visit http://www.horsemotel.com/ for more information. There are other sites as well, again Google horse hotel for more listings.
Local Trips
Know BEFORE You Go!
Everything you need to know about visiting a convalescent home or school with llamas.

George Caldwell discussed taking llamas to convalescent homes. His funniest memory involved a llama in the elevator. When the doors opened as they reached the proper floor, the surprised look on a little old lady's face expecting an empty elevator makes him laugh to this day.

George stressed the importance of knowing your animals and keeping a close eye on what they are doing. Everyone agreed that it can be vital to make a last minute "potty break" outside to insure the llamas retain their "house-broken" reputation.

Barney McClung described how he gets ready to visits schools. Barney suggests using 4 steps.
1. Take llamas you think will be good PR ambassadors out on short trips to the local parks. Watch how they react to people, crowds and noises. Continue with longer events and places with more people to make certain the llamas will do well with school kids.
2. Try to have two handlers per llama, one for the front and one to protect the rear. Kids, and older folks, are fearful of being bitten, so they tend to sneak up to pet the rear leg. This can lead to a reflexive kick at the wrong time. If you can't have two handlers, make sure you can control how people approach the llama.
3. Prepare ahead of time by asking the teacher(s) how llamas fit into their current lesson plans. Be ready to relate llamas to what the kids are studying. Barney makes sure the teachers have prepared their student by having the students make a list of questions they want to ask during the llama visit. It is also a great opportunity to have some interesting interactive handouts (coloring pages work) to give before you leave.
4. Remain on high alert at all times. You must keep an eye on the llamas, one on the kids and one looking for other distractions that might spook the llama (or the kids).

With a little planning, taking llamas out into the public can be a lot of fun for you, your llamas and the public. Don't forget the grooming brush!
Fund Raiser Silent Auction
Surprise Surprise Surprise!
The Board Members managed to work up quite a competition at putting together some great gift baskets that a couple of lucky members took home!

Be ready for the next event when the board is certain to take it over the top!

Thanks to ticket buyers, we raised over $1,000!

Dr Murray Fowler Award

Dr Fowler pioneered llama medicine and though retired (ask his family about how much he has slowed down now!!) he still is the leading expert on caring for these wonderful animals.

The Dr. Murray Fowler Achievement Award was set up to recognize someone who has been a vital part of CAL-ILA. The recipient receives a small plaque to keep, and his/her name will be added to our large perpetual plaque that is displayed at all CAL-ILA events.

Kathy Nichols is this year's recipient of the Murray Fowler Award. Dr. Fowler personally presented the award to Kathy.

Kathy was recognized for her years of teaching the llama community at various conferences, workshops, and classes. For years of support and participation at the CAL-ILA State Fair and other llama shows. For serving the community in various roles, on committees, and on the Board of Directors of Directors of LANA. And for sharing her expertise, her involvement and her activities in various groups to benefit a broad spectrum of the llama community.

Lifetime Achievement Award

CAL-ILA recognizes significant contributions to the llama community with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This year the award was presented to Margaret Drew, Past President, for all of the support she provides to CAL-ILA and the llama community. She is consistently available to help with all of the shows, designing and setting up obstacles, volunteering time on the board, providing tee-shirts, printed hats and other silk-screened items for practically every event, and helping behind the scenes in ways few of us ever recognize. Margaret is a most deserving recipient of this award.

Special Recognition

From time to time the Board needs to recognize contributions made to the llama community at large. This year the Board was pleased to recognize Dr. Julie Dechant, of UC Davis.

Dr. Rob Pollard presented the special plaque at the annual meeting. Dr. Dechant was recognized for her dedication to the veterinary students, the school’s llamas and the llama community.

She has reenergized the students, improved the level of care received by the school’s herd and has supported llama owners who have come seeking medical advice and attention. We wholeheartedly applaud her ability to successfully balance these diverse groups with grace, compassion and a keen sense of focus.