AUGUSTA — Jackman and Hebron are dangerous dogs and must be kept securely confined or on a very short, very strong leash.

That designation, issued Wednesday by a judge in Augusta District Court, gives the Smiths, owners of the llama Abracadabra, some assurance that the animal won’t be mauled again by the two pit bulls.

The llama was attacked and mauled by the dogs on the afternoon of Dec. 31, 2010.

“It’s peace of mind that the owner has to actively contain the animals,” said Nancy Smith, of Monmouth. “Let’s take this as a warning.”

Smith, a former legislator, also got an out-of-court apology Wednesday from Corey Lamontagne, 33, of Leeds, the dogs’ owner.

The apology followed the issuance of the dangerous-dog order to Lamontagne after he admitted in court to five violations of laws governing dogs.

According to a complaint filed with the court, Lamontagne told investigators earlier that his two pit bulls got away from him that New Year’s Eve afternoon when he stopped to let them go to the bathroom along the side of Tillson Road in Monmouth, near Snafu Acres, a farm operated by R. Ivan and Nancy Smith.

Ivan Smith told investigators he heard a loud cry from Abracadabra and found him outside his pen pinned down by two pit bulls. Smith chased away the dogs and told the owner to get the them into his car. The owner took the dogs and drove off.

The llama suffered severe lacerations — some baring the animal’s face to the bone — and needed weeks of wound irrigation, antibiotics and rabies shots.

Seven weeks after the attack, the 20-year-old, gray-haired llama is recovering, but bears a number of scars on his face, Nancy Smith said Thursday.

“If Johnny Depp ever needs a llama for ‘Pirates of the Caribbean, Version 6,’ he’s perfect,” Smith said. “He’s got a pierced ear and the facial scars.”

She said the llama’s breathing is altered by internal scar tissue in his sinuses.

“Eating is little difficult, and he has to find a whole new way to drink water,” she said. “The other thing is his temperament has improved. His personality is back; he’s regaining his friendly nature.”

Lamontagne admitted in court to two counts of keeping an unlicensed dog, two counts of allowing a dog to be at large and one charge of keeping a dangerous dog. He was fined $350 and ordered to pay $381 in restitution for the Smiths’ veterinary bills.

Smith said people who followed the llama’s recovery on his Facebook page — where he has 175 friends — made donations that covered the veterinary care, so the restitution money will go to the Abra Llama Large Animal Fund, which was set up at Annabessacook Veterinary Clinic in Monmouth.

“It’s one way we can take this god-awful experience and make something positive about it,” Smith said.

She said she was thankful for the law enforcement officers, including animal control officers in Kennebec and Androscoggin counties, who worked on the case.

“We will be forever grateful for them for taking this seriously,” she said.

Betty Adams — 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com

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