From pastures to pavement: The saga of Tina the Llama
By Just Jim
Tina the Llama got her name from the “Napoleon Dynamite” movie, which cast such a llama. The difference, Carbondale’s Tina likes to roam and even socialize on occasion, even when she’s being interrogated by the town’s finest in blue.
She quickly reached stardom, becoming a Facebook celebrity with Carbondalians posting regularly updating her whereabouts and encounters throughout town — from the middle of Main Street to the entrance to the Third Street Center. Outside Adventure Media posted an impressively produced video of Tina grazing at the Nature Park, in harmony with dog walkers and passersby.
Tina had her first run in with Code Enforcement Officer Ben Yorty at Crystal River Elementary School, and Yorty was pleased to discover she “was very friendly.” Yorty had two more rendezvous with Tina, and said he hasn’t experienced anything quite like this since onboarding with the Carbondale Police Department six months ago.
Tina belonged to an old-time local, who, today, lives on the same property his parents owned just south of Carbondale, off of Highway 133. Tina had a sister, who was not monikered with a name by the townspeople. The sad side to this story is that the sister is still unaccounted for … So keep an eye out for a roaming, perhaps more shy, brown and white llama. It’s been two weeks since her disappearance. Report any sightings to the Carbondale Police Department.
Tina, on the other hand, after playing Houdini one too many times was taken to the Delta auction and sold to the highest bidder. The old timer still has two miniature donkeys who tend to stay put.
“It was a really fun experience,” said Officer Yorty. “Myself and the other officers really enjoyed interacting with [Tina].”
“She was an absolute blast,” added Chief Wilson. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
We hope you find breaks in fences wherever you may roam, Tina.