PORT ANGELES — Sara Woodard has been posting fliers at feed stores and gas stations between Joyce and Sequim in hopes of finding her dearly loved pack llama, Melinda, which she believes was stolen from a pen near her Dan Kelly Road home in September.
“I don’t know if she was sold to somebody who wants a pet,” said Woodard, who along with her husband, Ernie Vail, has been packing llamas for hiking groups into the Olympic Mountains for 13 years.
“I don’t even know if she is alive.”
$500 reward offered
Woodard is offering a $500 reward for the safe return of her llama, which she and her husband — who operate Olympak Llamas — bought for $1,000 from llama breeders in Portland, Ore., three years ago.
Melissa disappeared on Sept. 24.
“I want my llama back,” Woodard said, explaining that she had a close bond with Melissa after they had traveled together 300 to 400 miles a summer on pack trips.
She thinks she knows who took Melissa, and believes the animal now is somewhere in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley.
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has made no arrests in the case.
Limited leads
“We only have limited leads on this that we are trying to follow up,” said Detective Stacey Sampson, who investigated the burglary and theft.
Woodard said the llama loss was just one of three burglaries during the same week in which thieves made off with two off-road quads, chain saws, a generator and power tools while she and Ernie were away from home.
“They must have been hiding in the woods waiting for us to leave,” Woodard said.
Woodard described Melissa as an “Ecara Classic” llama with black and white fleece, about 300 pounds and having a “sweet and friendly” disposition.
Woodard said there were no signs of an animal attack and that Melissa wouldn’t voluntarily have left the other llamas behind.
Three sisters and five brother llamas were nearby the night of the theft, all part of the pack team that can carry supplies for up to 12 hikers on tour with Woodard and Vail.
They weren’t disturbed.
“It looks like they wrestled her in the corner by the gate,” Woodard said she told sheriff’s investigators.
“Then they pulled her over the gate into the truck. That’s what we’re guessing.
“However they got her out of here, it was brutal.”
Those who believe they have seen Melissa can contact Woodard at 360-452-5867 or Sampson at 360-417-2576.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.