Sequim: They love Lucy — and a bunch of other critters, who are finding good homes

SEQUIM — Lucy the llama is heading to Oregon with her herd of Soay sheep.

Casey the chocolate Labrador retriever is reveling in his new home with 2.6 fenced acres and a playmate.

The Angora and LaMancha goats are moving to new digs, and even a mother and daughter pygmy goat have prospects for another residence.

“The only thing that’s left are five poor little silkie roosters and two hens,” Susan Stahlin, who runs Critterhaven with her husband, Bob Bashaw, said Saturday.

Their adoptions are the result of a weeklong whirlwind led by Stahlin and Bashaw as they worked to place the animals while their owner, Jo Taylor, underwent heart-bypass surgery.

With Taylor’s operation, he and his wife, Judy, who live in Sequim, could no longer care for the animals and turned to Critterhaven for help.

But with 152 creatures already residing with Stahlin and Bashaw, there was no room for Taylor’s menagerie.

Since e-mails, front-page news articles and television reports were put out about the dilemma in the past two weeks, Stahlin said responses have come from the local community as well as from Shelton, Whidbey Island, Vashon Island, Carnation and beyond.

“I don’t even remember all the places we’ve gotten responses from,” she said.

“The outpouring from the community is just overwhelming.”

Stahlin said she’s beat after working about 20 hours a day for the past two weeks, making phone calls and sending e-mails.

Most of the animals are still at Taylor’s farm but will be transported next weekend.

The people in Oregon who are adopting Lucy and the 20 sheep — to which the llama is very attached — are picking up the tab for about $150 in health certificates and $850 in livestock transport fees, Stahlin said.

Taylor’s two pygmy goats don’t have a permanent home yet, but Stahlin said she’s checking references and narrowing down the many offers to take them.

More in News

Kennedy Reynolds, 2, takes a look at a row of lavender plants with her mother, Chelsea Reynolds of Port Angeles, during a Saturday outing to B & B Family Lavender Farm west of Sequim. The farm will be a participant in this weekend’s Lavender Weekend, a celebration of all things lavender in Sequim and across the Dungeness Valley. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Fields of lavender

Kennedy Reynolds, 2, takes a look at a row of lavender plants… Continue reading

Burn ban ordered due to forecast

Peninsula expecting temperatures near 90

Habitat project moves forward with infrastructure funds

Clallam County to provide $800K for Lyon’s Landing

Humane Society to house dangerous animals again

Contract with Clallam County to go through 2026

Port Angeles shade tree program open for applications

The City Shade Tree Program is returning for a… Continue reading

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on display during Friday evening’s 29th annual Ruddell Cruise-In at Ruddell Auto in Port Angeles. The event featured hundreds of antique and vintage automobiles from across the region as well as food, music and other activities. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Classic show

Kelly and Dan Freeman of Port Ludlow examine a 1958 Edsel on… Continue reading

Sequim School District officials report it could take upwards of 2 1/2 years to break ground on a new elementary school. Voters approved a $146 million, 20-year construction bond in a Feb. 11 special election that includes a new elementary school, renovated high school and more. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim schools eye bond timeline

Bigger projects may be 2 years away

Sequim volunteer Emily Westcott has led the flower basket program along Washington Street since 1996. This year she’s retired to focus on other endeavors, and the city of Sequim and the Sequim School District will continue the partnership. Westcott is still seeking donations for downtown Sequim Christmas decorations through the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim flower basket program shifts to city, school partnership

Westcott retires, plans to keep decorating downtown for Christmas

Clallam first in state to implement jail healthcare program

County eligible to apply for Medicare reimbursement for services

Writers to converge in Port Townsend to work on craft

Free readings open to the public next week

Firefighters extinguish blaze in fifth-floor hotel room

Firefighters from East Jefferson Fire Rescue and Navy Region… Continue reading

Mowing operation scheduled along Lake Crescent on Tuesday

Work crews from the state Department of Transportation will… Continue reading