OPELOUSAS, La. (Marguerite Shipley/The Advertiser)- Earl, the pet llama shot by his owner last week in Opelousas, is in the care of LSU’s Large Animal Veterinary Services. 

Earl’s owner, Madeline Bourgeois of Opelousas, told authorities the llama attacked her when she was in her pasture and she responded by hitting the llama to escape. She said she then went into her residence, retrieved her gun and shot at the llama, striking him three times. 

She was charged with cruelty to an animal and since has been released.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz described the case, “the problem came when she escaped the danger, the immediate danger, and she was on the safe side of the fence then she should have called us or Animal Control to take possession of the animal.”

Stacey Alleman McKnight, director of St. Landry Parish Animal Control, and her staff responded to the call from the Sheriff’s Department Feb. 15, and were able to get the llama to Copper Crowne Equestrian Center for an initial x-ray. From there, McKnight reached out to LSU’s Large Animal Veterinary Services.

McKnight said Earl is under observation for now.

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