Excited Llama Fatally Knocks Over Ohio Woman

Sept. 28--An excited llama named Baby Doll ran to greet her owner with such exuberance that the woman was knocked over, and Florence Lenahan hit her head when she fell.

Lenahan, who was the Delaware County coroner from 1986 to 1992, called for help for her head injury. Then she had a heart attack in the ambulance on her way to the hospital, according to a Delaware County sheriff's office report. She died at age 74 at Riverside Methodist Hospital later on Tuesday night.

Now, the Humane Society of Delaware County and others are trying to find homes for more than 50 animals that belonged to the Delaware County woman.

Lenahan cared for the animals with help from a hired hand but left no will to establish who should take care of them after her death.

"She had quite the menagerie," said Misty Bay, who oversees humane services and marketing for the humane society.

The society and Lenahan's family and friends are trying to find new homes for 13 llamas, 11 dogs, five cows, six cats and about 15 active or retired Standardbred racehorses.

"We're looking for someone to open their barns and their hearts," Bay said. With no will in place, the fate of the animals could have been left to the county's probate court, Bay said, a process that could have taken months. But Lenahan's family and Kevin Scott, the Powell man who helped care for her animals and maintain her farm, agreed that custody of the animals should, at least temporarily, go to both Scott and the Humane Society.

Scott did not return a call yesterday; Lenahan's family could not be reached.

Bay said Scott found a place for two of Lenahan's dogs and said they have also found a home for her chicken. The rest of the dogs, and her cats and rabbit, went to the humane society's shelter on Rt. 37 in Delaware.

The society is taking applications for the livestock; the cats and dogs will be evaluated for adoption at the shelter. Until the animals are ready to go to new homes, Scott will continue to feed and groom the horses, llamas and cows, Bay said.

"They are under care," she said. "They're going to be fine."

larenschield@dispatch.com

@larenschield

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