Among Friends

[just bee]

Here they are:

[just bee]

But these were so much fun!

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

Here they are:

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@just bee 

👍

[geezerette]

@just bee 

I'm surprised you haven't posted about this...

No drama for birthday llama: ABQ llama celebrates 27th birthday in Guinness world record attempt

Published: Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at 10:37PM
Updated: Monday, January 30th, 2023 at 5:08PM

Kee Straits leads Dalai Llama out of his enclosure at their home at QD Farm in Albuquerque on Saturday. Dalai Llama turned 27-years-old on Friday and is awaiting confirmation of being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest llama living in captivity. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)

He’s old enough to rent a car. He’s old enough to run for Congress.

There’s just one problem: he’s a llama.

One-eyed brown llama and Albuquerque resident Dalai Llama turned 27 on Friday. His owners, Andrew Thomas, Kee Straits, and their daughter, Samibah “Sami” Straits, celebrated what they hope is a world record-setting birthday for the oldest llama in captivity on Jan. 28.

Party guests dined on ribs, burgers and chocolate cake while Dalai noshed on alfalfa “cake” complete with candles reading “27.” Dalai wore a festive string of felt pom-poms and his best friend, a Nigerian dwarf goat named Gelato, donned a jauntily-askew party hat.

“This llama is bringing everyone together,” said Shannon Fleg, a family friend of Thomas and Straits.

Fleg brought a sign and a carton of apples for the birthday boy.

The last record was set in 2020 by Rapper, a llama in Olympia, Washington. At the time of certification, Rapper was 26 years and 258 days old.

Dalai was born at the Dorsey Mansion Ranch in Raton in 1996. Straits and Thomas got Dalai in 2007, years before 13-year-old Sami was born, when Dalai’s original owner, a 4-H member, went to college.

Sami grew up riding on Dalai’s back around the bosque and the Sandia Mountains – until she grew too big. Thomas said that Dalai has always been “surefooted” navigating mountainous terrain.

“He was so proud when he put on the saddle,” Sami said.

Dalai Llama, 27, enjoys his alfalfa birthday treat on Saturday. Dalai wore a festive string of felt pom-poms for the affair. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)

Like Dalai’s original owner, Sami is active in 4-H. Ribbons and awards for prize-winning animals line the walls of her room. She wants to become a vet, and even recently shadowed at a veterinary clinic.

Thomas and Kee and Sami Straits raise several animals on their northern Albuquerque property, QD Farm, including guinea pigs, Navajo churro sheep and chickens.

Kee Straits is Peruvian and Quechua. Thomas is Navajo. Among all the animals on the farm, Sami said, both cultures are represented: Peruvian with the guinea pigs and llamas, both of which are indigenous to Peru, and Navajo with the Navajo churro sheep.

“We’ve grown up so interdependent with each other,” Kee Straits said. “In Peru, our llamas are part of our ceremonies, and we celebrate them … they’re a livelihood.”

Dalai lives with fellow llama Dalí, named after the surrealist painter, and his best friend, Gelato. Thomas said that Gelato cries when Dalai leaves the pen, and the pair often sleep and cuddle together.

“It’s the cutest thing,” Thomas said.

No representatives from Guinness were in attendance at the party. Thomas and the Straits collected photos from Dalai’s life and his International Lama (sic) Registry certificate – a “birth certificate” for llamas – to prove that he was, indeed, turning 27. Several witnesses from the community attended the party to verify that they had seen proof of Dalai’s age on behalf of Guinness. It can take several weeks or months for Guinness to certify a world record.

Llamas generally live between 15 and 20 years. Llamas del Sol founder Lynda Liptak, who served as an official witness for Guinness, said that llamas in captivity generally live longer than those in the wild.

Kee Straits attempts to light birthday candles in the wind with her daughter Sami Straits, 13, center, at QD Farm on Saturday as part of the birthday celebration for their llama, Dalai Llama. (Chancey Bush/Albuquerque Journal)

Kee Straits said her family’s two llamas have different personalities.

“Dalai has always been a spitter, like, more fiesty, more of a leader – he’ll boss the other ones around,” Straits said.

Dalí is a bit more shy – but Thomas said the two llamas are “inseparable.” Thomas said if they get a third llama, it’ll be named Obama Llama.

Kee Straits said Dalai’s old age is a “miracle,” especially after a close call last year when his eye had to be removed following an infection.

But Thomas attributes Dalai’s good health to the love the family gives him and all their animals. Dalai isn’t their only long-lived animal – they had a hen that lived 15 years, far above the average lifespan.

“That means that we’re taking care of them,” Thomas said. “They have a special feed … when you take care of someone, it takes care of you in return.”

Editor’s note: A previous version of this article misstated Dalai Llama’s color. He is a brown llama. It has since been updated. 

[just bee]

@geezerette 

I avoid the ABQ Urinal -- er, Journal -- so I missed the article.

But I'm sure glad you posted it!

How cute is that?

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

@geezerette  Egad, I know there's a big storm coming across the country.  I hope you keep your power.  Bet the pup hates *going* out in that weather.

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@Lucky Charm 

She's been loving it.  Unfortunately she wants to eat all the extra birdseed I'm putting out. 😡  

Fool dog. 😆

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@geezerette 

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

@geezerette 

I avoid the ABQ Urinal -- er, Journal -- so I missed the article.

But I'm sure glad you posted it!

How cute is that?

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@just bee 

I figured you'd appreciate being known for something other than murder and mayhem for a change. 😉

[geezerette]

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@just bee wrote:

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@geezerette wrote:

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@Lucky Charm wrote:

@geezerette  Egad, I know there's a big storm coming across the country.  I hope you keep your power.  Bet the pup hates *going* out in that weather.

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@Lucky Charm 

She's been loving it.  Unfortunately she wants to eat all the extra birdseed I'm putting out. 😡  

Fool dog. 😆

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@geezerette 

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@just bee 

Pretty much.

Except for the tennis ball.  That wouldn't have lasted five minutes.  Has to be solid rubber.  Which is even more destructive. 😩

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

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@just bee wrote:

@geezerette 

I avoid the ABQ Urinal -- er, Journal -- so I missed the article.

But I'm sure glad you posted it!

How cute is that?

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@just bee 

I figured you'd appreciate being known for something other than murder and mayhem for a change. 😉

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@geezerette 

A nice change of pace!

[just bee]