alpacas

Move over, therapy dogs. Here come the llamas!

Llamas and alpacas are simultaneously growing more common in therapeutic settings. While a handful are registered with Pet Partners, a national nonprofit clearinghouse for therapy animals, most are simply family farm pets whose owners take them to hospitals, college campuses and senior centers to ease people's stress.

At Pet Partners, 94%  of the registered therapy animals are dogs, but there are 20 llamas and alpacas in the mix, said Elisabeth Van Every, a spokeswoman for the group. (Most are llamas, which are much larger than alpacas and typically far friendlier to humans.)

Writing in The New York Times, Jennifer A. Kingson explains how the charismatic camelids are increasingly being used for therapeutic purposes in nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. "The novelty factor is a big part of the appeal, along with the creatures' big-eyed, empathetic gaze," she writes.

Source: The New York Times

We all love Llamas and Alpacas, but do you know how to differentiate between the two? Yeah, we have no either. 

Until we read these very informative infographics! Now we're Llama and Alpaca pros! Go on, ask us anything. 

To sum up what we learned here today: Alpacas are adorable and sweet. Llamas are adorable, want to kill you and spit on your grave. 

When they are smiling, we are smiling too. Just can't help it. 

Photographer Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek wants us all to live happier and more coordinated lives; and what better way to achieve the daily goal of serenity than with a year-long calendar dedicated to a healthy lifestyle by way of the majestic alpaca? This was the concept behind the artist's latest project, Better Living With Alpacas, made with the support of office Publishing.Working with a cast of domesticated alpacas, Daniel posed his four-legged models in a number of stunning locations including hotel suites, rooftop bars and drawing rooms straight out of your favorite glossy travel magazines. Koekkoek's calendar is now available through the Office Magazine online shop. To see more of Koekkoek's work, visit his instagram page/ Facebook page. Via: The Office Magazine

Alpacas are always fun to look at, their fluffy fur and their funny actions. Well, now they are styling a new look! 

Via: Some Pets

Helen Kendall Smith from the UK decided to cut the locks of ten alpacas as part of her tenth year of breeding the animals.