Thursday, May 16, 2019
An open letter to new alpaca owners or potential owners
Dear Newbie,
We are so excited you’re considering alpacas! We love new people joining us in this adventure! Alpacas are beautiful, sweet, curious, and unique! Due to their uniqueness sometimes we may suggest something that will improve your alpaca ownership experience. Please don’t consider us rude. Our goal isn’t to discourage you, but to prevent discouragement in the future.
When we tell you that alpacas are herd animals and require other alpacas we aren’t trying to make you buy from us. We have seen a lonely alpaca light up like a Christmas tree when introduced to other alpacas. We have watched the herd dynamics and realize that these animals require like companionship.
When we tell you that alpacas don’t make good bottle babies or indoor pets it’s not because we don’t think they are adorable. It’s because we’ve watched an overhanded alpaca go berserk and be put down due to mishandling.
When we tell you that alpacas are more difficult to keep with other livestock it’s not because we enjoy watching you put in more pastures. It’s because we don’t want you to witness an alpaca that was fine months ago suddenly go down due to parasites after put in with goats.
When we tell you alpacas need to be shorn yearly it’s not because we like watching you find a shearer. It’s because we’ve watched an animal convulse from heat exhaustion and fight for their lives.
When we say that you can’t mix male and female alpacas it’s not because we don’t want you having crias. It’s because we don’t want you to have to deal with the infertility, stress, and infection that comes from overbreeding.
Dear Newbie, when we offer info it’s because we love these animals and want you to have a good experience. Please consider what we say, learn from our trial and error, and don’t brush us off.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
A 10+ year alpaca owner