ALPACAS paid a visit to a nursing home so residents could experience their ‘therapeutic qualities,’ as part of a pet therapy session.
Marley and Sheldon the alpacas went along to the Queen Charlotte nursing home in Chickerell to see its residents - and they did not disappoint those who live there.
“The residents loved meeting the alpacas. It was wonderful seeing their faces light up with smiles,” said Queen Charlotte manager Moira Stevens.
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The animals, often confused with llamas and better associated with South America than Dorset, were brought along by their owner Karen Hume – who owns an alpaca experience business.
She said: “They are such calming animals and it is so rewarding seeing the effect they have on care home residents.
“It’s common to be told that a particular resident with dementia won’t take any notice. But once they start stroking the animals they want to carry on and take a real interest.”
Ms Hume launched her alpaca experience business four years ago, having always been interested in animals from a young age.
She said: “I am an animal lover and have always kept horses. A friend of mine suggested starting an alpaca walking business.
“I fell in love with the animals and after taking husbandry and shearing courses we started up, offering treks on Portland from Fancy's Farm.”
Currently Ms Hume has 16 of the animals as part of her business, Portland Alpacas, who have all gone through a careful process to get them used to noise and groups of people.
In addition to training so they are both comfortable inside and outside.
Portland Alpacas has only grown and now Ms Hume is able to use her alpaca experiences to cater for a wide variety of occasions
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She added: “The business has since diversified into lots of other events, from care home visits even to weddings.”
Previously the care home has hosted dogs, birds of prey and donkeys for their residents to meet as part of pet therapy, a recognised way of calming and lifting the mood of people living with dementia.
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