Story highlights
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- Llama owner: "They were having a lot of fun today, but we weren't" +
- Two llamas escape from an assisted living facility in Arizona +
- TV cameras follow the chase, spurring reactions on Twitter +
(CNN)Picture a mix of your favorite movie car chase and a trip to the zoo.
+Two llamas were on the loose in Sun City, Arizona, Thursday, with TV cameras following them as law enforcement closed in.
+Of course, it didn't take long before Twitter joined in the hunt. #Llamas became a trending topic worldwide.
+The chase began after a 911 call came in to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office just before noon, reporting that a black llama and a white llama had escaped from an assisted living facility, where they were about to do patient therapy work.
+Lt. Brandon Jones said the llamas darted between cars, delaying traffic. It took nearly an hour to catch them, CNN affiliate KNXV reported.
+Cable news and social media go all in on #LlamaWatch
+In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of tweets chimed in on the topic.
+Sports teams, media outlets weigh in
+ +NFL Network reporter Jeff Darlington couldn't contain his excitement.
+The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were impressed with the white llama's dodging skills.
+The Arizona Cardinals also saw a recruiting opportunity, posting that the llamas would soon be joining the football team's lineup.
+ABC news anchor Tom Llamas said he was recusing himself from covering the story.
+The chase sent CNN's Steve Brusk down memory lane.
+The Daily Beast's Asawin Suebsaeng noted that it was only a matter of time before someone blamed President Barack Obama for what happened.
+The official Twitter account of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command weighed in with an analysis of the llamas' motives.
+By Thursday night, there was already a sequel to the chase.
+Police said two more llamas were on the loose in Vancouver, Washington.
+On Twitter, some joked it was a sign there could be something more serious afoot.
+But in Washington, the llamas were found before CNN affiliate KPTV's chopper made it to the scene.
+In Arizona, citizens helped capture the llamas, who were on the way home Thursday afternoon, Jones said.
+"Needless to say, they are on their way back to the ranch," the lieutenant said. "There was no therapy."
+The Twitterverse begged to differ.
+'We were totally stressed out'
+ +Karen Freund and Bub Bullis said their afternoon was anything but relaxing.
+They told CNN Phoenix affiliate KTVK they never expected their white llama, Kanita, and black llama, Lainey, to make a run for it at the retirement home on Thursday. Alejandro, a third llama they'd brought with them for the demonstration, stayed put.
+"They were having a lot of fun today, but we weren't. We were totally stressed out," said Freund, who was wearing an "I love llamas" T-shirt and llama earrings as she recounted the ordeal to the station.
+Bullis said the chase lasted for hours -- until a landscaper with a lasso came to the rescue.
+It's not the first time they've had to chase down a suspect. The llamas' owners are both retired police officers.
+"I have run after people before," Bullis said, "but never that fast."
+Now, with their llamas' whereabouts pinned down, they're starting to enjoy the Internet frenzy.
+"It's pretty funny to have our llamas get loose in Sun City and get this kind of attention," Bullis said.
+Freund told KTVK she's already taken an online quiz to find out whether she's a black or white llama.
+"I was the black llama," she said, laughing. "I don't know who has the time to put that together."
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