PHOTOS: Llamas draw a big crowd at Loma Colorado Library

Panda, Sundance and Chico, three llamas from local nonprofit rescue Llamas del Sol, were the stars of the show at Loma Colorado Library Thursday morning as part of Rio Rancho Public Libraries Summer Reading program.

Lynda Liptak, the founder of Llamas del Sol, brought the three llamas from the rescue to teach the large crowd about the work Llamas del Sol does and, of course, to see the llamas.

“They really don't want to spit. I want to get that question out of the way: They don't want to spit. They do it when they have to,” Liptak said. “That is to defend themselves. Now what better way to defend yourself without hurting anybody than by just doing something disgusting? It doesn't harm anybody at all. So it's really a lovely way to let somebody know that you are threatening me, you're hurting me and I just need you to stop whatever it is you're doing.”

About 260 people gathered in the backyard of the library to learn about, take pictures with and feed the llamas.

“This is so cool,” 7-year-old Matthew Romero said. “Llamas are my favorite animals.”

Liptak founded Llamas del Sol in February 2009 when she learned of an abandoned farm in southern Colorado that had two young llamas in need of a home. Liptak did not know anything about llamas then but decided to see if she could settle them down from their wild state and ready them for a happy adoption with another llama farm.

It was not long before Dalai and Daisy were halter-trained and going for walks along the bosque and were an integral part of Liptak’s family. Now Llamas del Sol supports Southwest Llama Rescue and coordinates rescues and adoptions for the betterment of llamas and enjoyment of people.

“We have 23 llamas right now that we are ready to re-home,” Liptak said.