On the hoof - llama and pygmy goats stop traffic after enclosure escape

The animals were on the loose on the A82 in Dumbarton

A runaway llama and two pygmy goats brought traffic on the A82 in Dumbarton to a standstill after breaking out of their enclosure.

The animals were caught on camera on Saturday before owner Kevin McVey managed to lead them back home safely.

McVey, who owns Overtoun Llama Lodges, had taken four other llamas to do an animal therapy session at a care home in Bishopton when he was alerted to the escape.

He said the llama, named Noah, was very intelligent and may have gone looking for the others in his herd before being followed by the goats - named Penny and Tuppence.

News imageOvertoun Llama Lodges Llama in a halter faces the camera while a grey-and-white horned goat rests on a rocky ledge in sunlit woodland.Overtoun Llama Lodges
Noah and pygmy goat Tuppence broke out of their enclosure in Dumbarton

He said one set of gates had been left open, and Noah had jumped over a second temporary barrier.

"Llamas can jump six feet, so he's cleared them no problem," he said.

"His mum got out during Covid, so he must have found his jumping legs."

Once Noah had made it out, Penny and Tuppence weren't far behind.

McVey added: "The goats stick with their llama, so they bashed through the gates to be with him."

News imageOvertoun Llama Lodges Black goat with curved horns and a long beard stands on a gravel path, looking toward the camera, with a fenced garden and trees in the backgroundOvertoun Llama Lodges
Penny also went looking for her friends

McVey added that luckily he was on his way home when he got the call to say the trio had gotten out.

"I expected to find them on the grassy area, but I think they had gone and checked another nearby care home I visit first, and I found them on the road," he said.

"You're stressed and worried about traffic, but it was fine. Noah is pure white so you can't miss him, and the roads were quiet."

He said it was not too difficult to get the animals under control once he had found them.

"It's just like a big dog — you shout on him and shake a bucket of food and he comes running," he said.

Once on a lead, McVey managed to get the animals to safety.

"To get back, I pushed the button on the pelican crossing and brought him back across the road," he said.