The Story Behind Schmendrik the Wonder Llama

Schmendrik's buddy Albert was placed on disability in 1994. Albert was formerly a computer programmer/
analyst who worked on mainframes. Albert owned a production company with his father that produced a
variety of film projects: TV commercials, industrial, medical, and educational films. Albert also worked in
a sheltered workshop setting, training visually-handicapped, developmentally-disabled adult clients.

In the beginning, two of Albert's friends felt that having an animal companion would provide companionship
that human fellowship alone could not provide. One Saturday, they surprised Albert by showing up with a
small cardboard pet carrier. Out of the box rolled a nine week old black and white kitten. By the way, his
name is an old Yiddish word that means a "fool" or a "nincompoop". Over time, the cat came to be known
as "Schmendrik the Wonder Llama" because of Albert's love of the sketch-comedy troupe Monty Python.
He first saw them perform on television on the Public Broadcasting System in the late 1960s.

Schmendrik was allowed to pass on July 6, 2009, after he became ill and was in pain. As his health allows,
Albert continues to volunteer his human, computer & mechanical skills to people in need. Albert will always
have a special place in his heart for Andrew and Kendra, the friends who brought Schmendrik into his life.