Rojo the Llama
{{Infobox animal
| name = Rojo
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| species = Llama
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| gender = Male
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| death_date = November 6, 2019
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| resting_place = Washington School for the Blind
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| nationality = United States
| occupation = Therapy animal
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| owner = Shannon Joy
| residence = Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas
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| namedafter = Red colouring
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Rojo the Llama was a llama and therapy animal based in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. His handler was Shannon Joy of Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas, also known as the "Llama Mama".{{cite news |last1=Hubbard |first1=Kaia |title=Rojo the Llama, Portland's Most Beloved Therapy Animal, Is Retiring |url=https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/06/06/rojo-the-llama-portlands-most-beloved-therapy-animal-is-retiring/ |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |work=Willamette Week |date=June 6, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608163729/https://www.wweek.com/culture/2019/06/06/rojo-the-llama-portlands-most-beloved-therapy-animal-is-retiring/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Littman |first1=Adam |title=Bits 'n' Pieces: Kids' book tells story of Rojo the llama |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2016/jan/30/bits-n-pieces-kids-book-tells-story-of-rojo-the-llama/ |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |work=The Columbian |date=January 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608163744/https://www.columbian.com/news/2016/jan/30/bits-n-pieces-kids-book-tells-story-of-rojo-the-llama/ |url-status=live }} He was named after his red coloring ("rojo" means "red" in Spanish).{{cite news |last1=Bresnahan |first1=Samantha |title=Let a llama take your troubles away |url=https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/health/llama-pet-therapy-oregon-feat/index.html |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=March 15, 2016 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608163731/https://www.cnn.com/2016/03/14/health/llama-pet-therapy-oregon-feat/index.html |url-status=live }}
Rojo was a show animal in a 4-H program and entered Dove Lewis' Animal-Assisted Therapy Training program at the age of 5. He was the grand marshal of Portland's Junior Rose Festival in 2013, and appeared at the city's Grand Floral Parade in 2019. Joy raised more than $8,000 to publish a children's book about Rojo called Rojo, The Perfectly Imperfect Llama.{{cite news |last1=Kilstrom |first1=Andrew |title=Llama invasion! Rojo makes surprise visit to Bolton |url=https://pamplinmedia.com/wlt/95-news/345391-224962-llama-invasion-rojo-makes-surprise-visit-to-bolton |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |work=West Linn Tidings |date=February 16, 2017 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608163736/https://pamplinmedia.com/wlt/95-news/345391-224962-llama-invasion-rojo-makes-surprise-visit-to-bolton |url-status=live }} In 2018, Joy and Rojo appeared at the Ilani Casino Resort to audition for the twentieth season of the reality television series Big Brother.{{cite news |last1=Harlan |first1=Kohr |title=Rojo the Llama to make appearance at 'Big Brother' audition |url=https://www.koin.com/entertainment/rojo-the-llama-to-audition-for-big-brother/1033940563 |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |publisher=KOIN |date=March 12, 2018 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608163735/https://www.koin.com/entertainment/rojo-the-llama-to-audition-for-big-brother/1033940563 |url-status=live }}
Rojo has been described as "Portland's most famous therapy animal". In 2019, after being a therapy animal for twelve years, Rojo retired and returned to his owner's Ridgefield, Washington farm.{{cite news |title=Rojo the llama to retire after 12 years of spreading joy |url=https://www.koin.com/news/animals/rojo-the-llama-to-retire-after-12-years/2055092864 |accessdate=June 8, 2019 |publisher=KOIN |date=June 5, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608093021/https://www.koin.com/news/animals/rojo-the-llama-to-retire-after-12-years/2055092864 |url-status=live }} After experiencing declining health, Rojo died on the morning of November 6, 2019. His owners are having his body preserved and donated to the wildlife safari room at the Washington School for the Blind.{{cite news|url=https://katu.com/news/local/rojo-portlands-beloved-therapy-llama-passes-away-from-health-problems|title=Rojo, Portland's beloved therapy llama, passes away from health problems|date=November 6, 2019|work=KATU|accessdate=November 6, 2019|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106225545/https://katu.com/news/local/rojo-portlands-beloved-therapy-llama-passes-away-from-health-problems|url-status=live}}
References
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External links
- [http://www.rosefestival.org/news/2013/rojo-the-llama-is-announced-as-grand-marshal-for-the-junior-parade Rojo the Llama is Announced as Grand Marshal for the Junior Parade] (May 29, 2013), Portland Rose Festival
- [https://www.kgw.com/video/entertainment/television/programs/live-at-7/rojo-the-llama-in-studio/283-2402353 Rojo the Llama in studio] (October 24, 2016), KGW