Adoption Agreement for Alpaca
Printable Mail In form
Hog Heaven is thrilled to offer gelded male alpacas for adoption as pets and /or fiber animals. They can be shown at the alpaca shows and are used for agility. People are also starting to do therapy work with these wonderful gentile animals.
Alpacas are considered easy keepers. They are part of the Camlelid family, have padded feet versus hooves and are a herd animal. As a herd animal they do not do well living alone, therefore there must be at least two of them adopted (unless you already have them or llamas). Requirements for keeping alpacas include woven fencing to keep any predator animals away as they have no defense, at least a three sided shed to get out of the weather and rain, fresh water and 2nd cutting grass hay in the winter. If kept on a dry feed lot, they require hay all year round. Monitoring their body condition will guide you in determining their need for additional nutrition and/or supplements. They love to have a pile of sand or gravel to run on and play. I am not aware of alpaca’s being housed with any other type of animals, so it is suggested that they be housed separately.
As a fiber animal, alpacas need to be shorn once a year. Their fiber has many uses and is wonderful. Shearing is important and so is the technique of the shear-er. These animals can be injured if restrained improperly. Names of shear-er's who are familiar doing alpacas can usually be obtained by contacted another alpaca farm in your area. We stress the importance of having the alpacas shorn annually. This is a health issue. Alpacas are very susceptible to heat stroke. Leaving fleece on the animal for the summer contributes to this problem.
There is monthly maintenance that is needed of worming, trimming toes and sometimes teeth on an as needed basis. They use a community potty pile that needs to be cleaned up regularly. The worming is very important as they can be stricken with meningeal worm – which can be fatal unless caught very early. Please educate yourself on this issue before adoption so you understand the need for this routine care. Hog Heaven also requires that you research and find a vet in your area that is experienced in Camelids and call and talk to them. Make sure they are taking new clients.
Hog Heaven suggests that you do your research on these animals. There are many care books available and we highly suggest that you invest in having a few on your farm for reference.
Thank you for your interest in adopting. Please fill out the adoption form and submit it along with the $20 processing fee and photos of your facility. This fee will be applied toward your adoption fee of $400 per alpaca. There is also a manditory 20.00 purchase of an Alpaca book with the adoption. The costs to have the registration changed to include your name are not included in the adoption fee.
These animals will be processed as a first come basis. Once the adoption form and processing fee is submitted, your name will be placed on the animal as adoption pending. That is the first step in the process. Once I have the vet reference returned (if you have a different vet that cares for your other animals, you should list that one for your animals care references), then I will do the personal references and notify you of your approval. Your vet MUST send his refrence to us within 10 days or the animal(s) will be put back up for adoption and the processing fee will not be refunded. Sorry but we have had far too many vets take months to send us refrences.
Delivery is not included in the adoption fee. This fee goes back into the rescue to allow us to care for other animals.