Under the direction of Dr. Anthony Stachowski, CLI officially launched its Responsible Breeding Program on December 1, 2007, at the Murfreesboro Classic in Tennessee.

The Responsible Breeding Program encourages all llama veterinarians – and especially veterinarians who own llamas – to become Participating Veterinarians by donating time and services to the llama industry.

Veterinarians in other industries routinely give back to their industries by donating some of their time to perform spays and neuters, to offer free education and to be ambassadors for their industries. It just makes sense that veterinarians who make a portion of their living through the llama industry would do the same by volunteering some of their time for the betterment of the industry.

CLI has created a venue for that to happen and calls on ALL veterinarians to be a part of CLI’s ongoing Responsible Breeding Program by becoming Participating Veterinarians.

The First CLI Gelding Clinic lead by Dr. Anthony Stachowski (Ohio) and assisted by Stacy Mashburn (Licensed Veterinary Technician) was held immediately following CLI’s Murfreesboro Classic on December 1, 2007.  Dr. Stachowski has performed several thousand of these procedures.

An application for gelding clinis can be found under “Shows.”  Clinics will be offered at select venues.

*** As an extra benefit, CLI will allow males that are scheduled to be altered immediately following a show to enter the Altered Male Classes. This will be done with the complete understanding and agreement that those unaltered males will immediately join the line to be altered following the show. Failing to do so will result in the forfeiture of any awards received in the Altered Male Classes and a forfeiture of all monies prepaid for the show and for altered male procedures.***

This is an ongoing series of clinics that will accompany CLI shows across the country. The primary focus of each clinic will be to provide participating owners low-cost, professionally administered gelding procedures for their llamas.

In Summary it’s time to recognize and appreciate the value of all male llamas. Although less than 1 in 10 males may be selected for breeding programs, the other 9 can become exceptional show quality starter llamas for new llama owners. Additionally, they can become exceptional public relations ambassadors, agility/performance show prospects and promotional tools – thereby enhancing the marketability for all llamas.

CLI encourages ALL llama owners and breeders to become part of the Responsible Breeding Program. We urge you to contact your veterinarians to make them aware of this opportunity and to strongly encourage their participation in the CLI Participating Veterinary Program.

Don’t take no for an answer!