This is Melissa Schuster's account of what her husband Cliff saw in neighbor Jerry Watts' house, after two of her llamas were killed by three dogs.
It started with a phone call from a neighbor at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning. A neighbor getting the morning paper saw the attack and ran inside to call the Schusters. Another neighbor walking by saw one of the llamas injured at the intersection of Wayland Road and Inspiration Lane and jumped the fence to knock on their door.
"I jumped on my golf cart and ran down and found Mama Llama lying down on Wayland Road. Her injuries were so horrific there was nothing I could do," Melissa Schuster said.
The attack was devastating. An animal's teeth had punctured deep into vital organs. Mama Llama died in her arms. Mama Llama's son Reno was found standing nearby with deep wounds in his hindquarters, deep enough to expose more than muscle. Reno had to be put down soon afterward.
The daughter of Mama Llama, Cheyenne, escaped somehow and was not harmed. Melissa imagines that Reno, the "protector" of the three-llama herd, did what he could to protect Mama Llama while Cheyenne ran to safety.
Jerry Watts, the neighbor Melissa Schuster accuses of owning at least one of the dogs and taking care of the other two, declined to comment beyond saying, "they weren't my dogs."
Paradise Police Department records related to the incident have been sealed pending ongoing investigation, according to an email from Lt. Al Billington to The Post.
Melissa Schuster wants to see the dogs out of the neighborhood and possibly put down since they have tasted blood, she said. Her primary concern about the dogs is for human safety, especially for children such as her 2-year-old grandchild who lives on the property.
"We have lots of walkers and bicyclists on Wayland Road, and it's just no place for dogs like this," she said.
The Schusters own and operate Chapelle de L'Artiste, a bed and breakfast just off Wayland Road that also functions as their home. While Melissa tended to the wounded llamas, Cliff ran to visit Watts.
Watts told Cliff that he didn't think his dog attacked the llamas, despite its being covered in blood as well, Melissa said. The dogs were of medium size, but it wasn't their bulk that made them dangerous.
"In this case, it doesn't matter what the breed is," she said. "It's the pack mentality that generates from that."
The llamas suffered an attack from the dogs before but the wounds were superficial, Melissa said.
That wasn't the first conflict between the Schusters and Watts.
"It was definitely not a good relationship."
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| Cheyenne is the only surviving llama |
As for Cheyenne, she now is without a family and without protection, Melissa said.
"I am beginning the process of replacing her herd, essentially," she said. "I need to find llamas to be with her."
The incident still causes Melissa pain to recall, a traumatic experience that reduces her ability to operate her business.
"My cognizance of time on that day stopped at 7:45," she said.
(Paradise Post - Sept 29, 2012)
