Bruce Schumacher

Little Man the Guard Llama Dies After Protecting Sheep From Wildfire

By Teresa Watanabe - Los Angeles Times
09/12/2011

He was called Little Man, a white llama with gentle brown eyes, and he took his guard job seriously.

When the recent Cajon Pass brush fire roared through Hesperia rancher Bruce Schumacher's 10-acre property, the llama protected his flock of about 30 red sheep with his own body. He suffered smoke inhalation and singed eyelids, feet and torso; his thick, woolly coat had burned off.

But the sheep were saved. Every one of them.

In the end, the heroics appear to have cost Little Man his life. Schumacher said Sunday that his llama has died, despite his veterinarian's prognosis that he would fully recover. He speculated that Little Man, who died Thursday, had suffered fatal damage to his lungs from the smoke inhalation.

"He sacrificed his life for his sheep," Schumacher said, choking up. "He'll always be a hero to me."

The llama's death was the latest blow to Schumacher, a 66-year-old psychiatric technician at Patton State Hospital who was on the verge of retiring and planned to start two livestock businesses. Those dreams, however, were destroyed by the 1,200-acre fire, which was ignited Sept. 2 and forced the evacuation of 1,500 residents near the Cajon Pass, destroyed several structures and snarled Labor Day weekend traffic for hours.

Schumacher lost his home, vehicles and more than 100 goats, birds, rabbits and other animals. Making matters worse, he said, he did not have homeowner's insurance for his fully paid-for home. His policy had been canceled seven years ago, and he had not been able to find an affordable replacement since then, he said.


Moving a ram	Devastation...	Cow survivor

But Schumacher said he has received scores of calls, visits and emails from friends and strangers offering to help him rebuild. This weekend, 23 volunteers from his hospital came out to help clean up, restore the burned land and prepare to rebuild his animal pens and sheds.

A fund on behalf of Schumacher has been established through the High Desert Community Foundation and Desert Community Bank. Donors can contribute online; by mail, P.O. Box 2028, Apple Valley, CA, 92307; or through any Desert Community Bank branch.

"What I need to do is start up again," Schumacher said. "I'm 66, and I think I have more work to do."

One of his first jobs, Schumacher said, will be to erect a memorial for Little Man and the other animals who perished. The rancher said he bought the llama nearly two years ago after coyotes killed 38 of his sheep. Once Little Man arrived, he said, the killings stopped -- not only of sheep but also of cats and dogs. Schumacher said the llama would make clucking noises whenever a coyote came around, scaring it off. He speculated that the llama's scent wafted throughout the animal yard, protecting the entire area.

When Schumacher was allowed to return to the ruins of his property, he found the sheep still huddled under and around Little Man, too fearful to leave their protector.

"Llamas are devoted animals, just like a dog," he said. "If you bond with them, they will give up their life for you."

LOCAL NEWS

By; Marti and John Browne

Some LASC members have generously mailed me checks I hand carried over to Bruce. A bunch of my horse friends have made some donations and one friend donated a really nice horse round pen and we are waiting for a person to load it and bring it over to where Bruce's animals are. It will be used for the goats and sheep that are currently crowded in another pen that isn't very good.

Lowe's donated a 10' x 10' dog kennel and someone donated a rubber mat for under it. Lowe's has offered Bruce a discounted price of $150 for any additional kennels he needs to buy. If anyone wants help with that, please send Lowe's gift cards or a check to cover the cost...he needs more dog kennels. Someone donated some chain link fencing but he needs posts to create fences with it and he needs chain link gates. All of this will eventually be able to be moved back to his ranch once he has a house again. A horse person is bringing up some feeders from Valley center for the donkey and cow that survived.

Another LASC member is driving up with a load of hay and dog food and going to meet me to help hold the goats and sheep while I trim hooves and redress burned feet.

Our local vets, Dr. Dennis Loveless and Dr. Megan Dispenza have already given all the free services that they can and have discounted the remaining services they provided. The current bill is probably at least half of what it would have been but it is already $7000. If anyone wants to help Bruce out with that vet bill can use a credit card and pay by phone or call and make other arrangements with the vets. Their phone number is 760-868-2418.

Rick, the ranch hand, also lost his home on the ranch and everything he owns as well. If anyone wants to donate gift cards to Rick they can designate those cards with Rick’s name on them, put who it is from and mail gift cards to us at our P.O. Box and we will keep track of them and hand carry them to Rick. Mail to: John and Marti Browne, P.O. Box 291606, Phelan, CA 92329-1606

People can donate directly to any Desert Community Bank to the Bruce Schumacher Fund or go on line to: www.hdcfoundation.org and donate to Bruce Schumacher Fund.

Anyone can also call our local feed store in Phelan and give their credit or debit card information and pay for feed, hay, dog food, or etc. Desert Feed Store, 760-868-5052 and tell them it is for Bruce Schumacher and they will deliver it to where he and his animals are. They have also made huge donations but they have to make a living as well so cannot continue doing that.

Our local grocery store is Stater Bros. so gift cards for Stater Bros. would be wonderful, plus gift cards for Target, Home Depot, Lowe's, credit card gift cards and etc.

Also Cynthia Swan made a Facebook page as a tribute to Little Man, the llama who so bravely gave his life to protect his sheep and goats so that the word could be gotten out. She needs at least 25 people to click on Like and FB with then give her additional benefits to spread the word.

Some friends with big equipment went to his ranch and got all the burned animals buried. He still needs volunteers to help him clean up the property of all the burned hoses, barn, container, pens etc. and prepared for whenever he will be able to more back there.

If anyone can donate RVs or trailers or motor homes or whatever for Bruce and for Rick his ranch hand to live in while they rebuild that would be a huge blessing.

Bottom line is that the needs are huge...I can't imagine being 66 and losing everything and having to start completely over....any amount of donation is appreciated so please let people know that whatever they can do adds up a little at a time. If a lot of people do a little it will make a difference.

Thank you so much for getting the word out.

Blessings,
Marti and John Browne
760-868-1434