Kaila White

The Republic | azcentral.com

After two llamas ran free around Sun City a year ago and skyrocketed to fame, their mom and dad worried life would never be the same.

Kahkneeta, the big white llama who led most of the chase, and Laney, her small, black best friend, were still acting defiant, inspired by their escape.

Their owners, couple Bub Bullis and Karen Freund of Cop'er Star Llamas, were facing trouble with the United States Department of Agriculture.

The USDA told them that they needed to buy a license for all of their animals if they wanted any of them to be therapy llamas, make public appearances or even be photographed during a walk around the block.

"There’s people across the country that do really great therapy work with the llamas who have several hundred. I felt this was cursing them for doing good work," Freund said by phone Friday. "I was horrified I might have brought this to the forefront and turned people off to the business."

Llama drama on a new level

It all started when the two llamas were supposed to visit a former llama rancher in an assisted-living center but instead decided to see the town. The duo dodged cars and avoided lassos in a romp just before noon on Feb. 26, 2015.

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office posse members tried to corral the llamas with their SUVs as they moved from a field into a neighborhood near 103rd and Grand avenues, but they were unable to stop them from bolting. The runaway animals eventually were caught by three onlookers.

Within a month, the family was facing USDA scrutiny, worried about the consequences of the escapade on llama ranchers across the country. They didn't make any money off of the spectacle, "not a dime," Freund said. All Bullis and Freund, who retired from the Phoenix Police Department, wanted to do was to enjoy their retirement years.

A new life in a llama oasis

The USDA backed down, and the couple is holding off on getting a license. The llamas no longer make public appearances.

Bullis and Freund have been busy – they took their eight llamas and three new rescued alpacas and moved to Chino Valley in May, expanding from a half-acre property to three. They're loving life in a smaller, rural town, Freund said.

The extra space means the llamas get to run around as much as they want. Now, the girls have their own side of the yard — an area where Freund sectioned off an area and planted special grass.

"When I opened up the area for them, I think they thought they died and had gone to heaven," Freund said, laughing.

Laney just celebrated her second birthday Monday – "We went out and told her 'happy birthday' " – and Kahkneeta will be 7 years old on Sept. 11.

Thankfully, the llamas have calmed down.

"For a long time they were inseparable; they are now starting to meander … I'm thinking they’re finally getting over it," she said. "The older one, she was always a little witch to start with, but she seems to finally be settling down some.

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"It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year ago," Freund said. "It was just one of those freak accidents and I can’t believe it blew up the way it did, having people tell me from other parts of the world that they were watching it. I’m still amazed."

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