Animal Stories from All-Creatures.org

Our Beloved Friend Yoda

From Farm Sanctuary
Facebook posting, June 23, 2022

Yoda’s passing was devastatingly unexpected. Our Sanctuary family will never be the same without him, but we’re so grateful for all of the memories, joy, and laughter he brought us.

We’re heartbroken to share the news that we had to say goodbye to Yoda — Farm Sanctuary’s first and only llama, the fearless protector of our Acton sheep flock, and our beloved friend.

We rescued Yoda eight years ago from someone who was losing their home, and in their desperation to rehome Yoda, had put him up on Craigslist for free. Recognizing the uniqueness of the ad and the potential peril for said llama, a Farm Sanctuary volunteer leapt into action, contacting the poster and then us. ⁣Yoda’s guardian confirmed that he was friendly with people and other animals⁠ — so we decided he would be a good fit for our Acton Sanctuary.

Llamas are known for living with goats and sheep, and Yoda easily assumed the role of guardian of our sheep flock. He bonded with Felicity in particular — a sheep who struggled to make friends in the flock and needed a bit more security and comfort. Yoda also puzzled and enchanted human caregivers and visitors with his antics, including reaching his head through the open office window to ring a bell in exchange for treats.

Yoda lived to be around 20, which is a ripe old age for llamas. In recent years, we treated him for arthritis and did everything we could to keep him comfortable. His condition declined and, one morning last week, we found him unable to stand. Heartbroken, we consulted with his veterinarians who confirmed that there was nothing more we could do. Yoda passed away surrounded by so many loving friends, including Felicity.

Yoda’s passing was devastatingly unexpected. Our Sanctuary family will never be the same without him, but we’re so grateful for all of the memories, joy, and laughter he brought us.

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