The Llama Sanctuary

06/29/2025

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU’RE NOT COMING? Prince is one of the wild llamas of the Inky Tribe who roamed the South Okanagan. He was caught together with George, Spud and Cocopuff last spring and brought to The Llama Sanctuary. He might not be the most sociable of llamas, but he does like carrots and he was wondering whether you had time today to come and visit?

Every llama at The Sanctuary has a story to tell

It was a little hectic here yesterday, but today is a new day: beautiful, sunny and peaceful.

To book your visit go to: https://llamasanctuary.com or call 250 948 3675

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/22/2025

JUST 21 MONTHS – It’s not even close to 2 years since The Refirmary was nothing but a pile of dirt and an idea. Now The Refirmary is home to about 15 chronically ill llamas and alpacas, with room for double that number in winter. It provides multiple isolation and feeding stalls with winches and an operating table, a dedicated kitchen and feed store, tack room, grooming and toenail station and storage for about 12 tonnes of hay. And this is just one of the numerous shelters and buildings essential to the functioning of The Llama Sanctuary.

The llamas have a roof over their heads, but they still need proper fences. Since launching the campaign a month ago, to raise $13,500 to buy fence materials, we only have $220 in the piggy bank!

If you would like to contribute, please head to https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/help-build-a-safer-home-for-rescued-llamas-and-alpacas-3

The Llama Sanctuary offers guided tours every single day and right now the llamas are feeling very smoochy with free kisses for everyone! Visit https://llamasanctuary.com to book a tour or call 250 948 3675

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/19/2025

‘A’ you’re Adorable, ‘B’ you’re so beautiful, ‘C’ you’re a cutie full of charms!

Carmen fits the song perfectly, but then so do many of the other llamas at The Llama Sanctuary.

This week we had fun and ‘mixed them up’! The Arena Tribe crossed the road and joined the Inky Tribe. The Loners had the opportunity to join them. Cocopuff was originally an Inky and was thrilled to rejoin his buddies (he seems to forget they beat him up on a daily basis!). Saffron and Juniper chose to leave the Loners Club and join the Squabblies in the Arena and Tantoo ...Tantoo doesn’t seem to have noticed that anything has changed. He hid in the house during all the activity and has barely moved since. I did poke him and he responded appropriately!

Visiting The Llama Sanctuary isn’t an option – it’s a MUST! Book online: https://llamasanctuary.com or call 250 948 3675

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/17/2025

BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY - here's something to lift your heart: Earth Rangers has partnered with The Llama Sanctuary to bring awareness of animal needs, mixed with a delightful blob of loving compassion and a dollop of fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt2uUhpKuF4

https://llamasanctuary.com

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

Eddie was found with a giant tangle of hair so big you couldn’t even see his feet! No one had taken care of him for years, and his fleece coat was one massiv...

06/10/2025

TAILS ‘N TOES SALON is a busy place at the moment. A cold spring delayed shearing as the first few customers shivered violently during the cold nights and had to be wrapped in coats. Some customers are very compliant and appreciate the haircut, others are not quite so happy and turn it into a major ordeal. If they choose to lay down outside, then that’s where the haircut happens!

Shearing is not just about getting the haircuts done as quickly as possible. It gives us the opportunity to check body condition, examine existing ailments, trim toenails and give injections, where required. With more than 60 llamas and alpacas to get through, it takes about a month to see them all.

Not all of them need shearing, this year many of the Ccara llamas will receive deep grooming, leaving their long guard hair to wave in the breeze!

To book a guided tour to meet the llamas visit https://llamasanctuary.com

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/06/2025

LARRY’S NECK INJURY – It’s been two weeks since Larry the alpaca arrived at The Llama Sanctuary with a severe neck injury. With luxation (dislocation) of not one, but two vertebral joints in his neck, his condition is critical. We have contacted numerous veterinary practises and veterinary chiropractors, as well as being referred to veterinary colleges and the answer in every case has been: ‘we can’t help him’.

Larry’s spinal cord has recovered significantly since he arrived, but his still life rests on a knife-edge: a fall, a bump from another alpaca or even a sudden movement can pinch or sever his spinal cord. The inflammation has reduced, enabling his nerves to recover, giving him greater mobility and enabling him to eat and drink normally. It has been suggested that whatever we are doing now to make him comfortable and provide a quality of life without pain, keep doing it. The thing is, we KNOW it is treatable, as such operations are performed on other animals in other countries: fusing those vertebra would give him quality of life and remove the need to be kept in a padded cell all the time. This Universe is a place of INFINITE possibilities, not just one or two, so the search continues.

If you would like to contribute to Larry’s ongoing care and vet bills, please visit: https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/donate-to-make-a-difference-16656

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/05/2025

Once again a Great Tribe from KSA Kamloops School of the Arts descended upon The Llama Sanctuary. Not only do they bring buckets full of charm and delight, but they also bring along some of their creativity to decorate the walls! Thank you again for being such an awesome group!

The Llama Sanctuary welcomes educational and group visits. Contact us for rates and dates [email protected]

For regular daily guided tours visit https://llamasanctuary.com

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

06/04/2025

PARTY TIME! Their eyes nearly popped out of their heads as they stepped off the trailer to the encouraging snorts of dozens of girls. This was Party Town! And then the vet stuck a needle in them and everything went black. When the back-end surgery was complete they wanted nothing more than to get back in the trailer.

The Llama Sanctuary perhaps, isn’t always a great place to be! There are many places in Canada where vets don’t travel, so Cuzco and Larry had to travel to The Sanctuary for a vet visit. We’re happy to help out where we can.

Guided Tours are daily at 2pm. https://llamasanctuary.com Castration is optional!

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

05/30/2025

LARRY UPDATE – We have the x-ray images of Larry’s neck injury, but we have not yet found any vet willing to help him. We are under no illusions – this is a really tricky case and it is understandable that for many experienced vets, this is out of their league. There is a very high risk of severing the spinal cord with any surgery or manipulation. The only other options are: do nothing or euthanasia.

Larry has perked up and is eating a little more and drinking more water, but the longer this condition persists, the less chance there is of making a full recovery. The spinal cord is being squished and he has limited feeling in his legs, making him walk with a wide gait. There is a solution for EVERYTHING! There is always a way, there is always hope. If we didn't know that as truth, we wouldn't be doing this.

If you would like to support Larry, he has his own fundraiser at https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/donate-to-make-a-difference-16656

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

05/27/2025

LARRY’S DISTURBING X-RAYS – The Shuswap Vet came out to see Larry again yesterday and take x-rays. The results are very disturbing. He has luxation of not one, but two neck vertebrae. This means they have been knocked completely out of alignment. According to my research, in humans, about 90% of cases like this result in tetraplegia. His life hangs in the balance as the vet tries to find a specialist who might be able to re-seat the vertebrae without severing the spinal cord. Remember, when I collected Larry, just lifting his head a few inches caused collapse with temporary paralysis. That’s quite upsetting to me now!

What caused this injury? It takes a terrific force to break the neck like this, so a human act is the most likely cause. Please, PLEASE remember that hate doesn’t heal anything; only love can do that. We’re so grateful to his loving carers for reaching out to us for help in what is a very emotional situation for them.

Larry’s vet bills have already reached around $700, so we’ve started a fundraiser to help as the next step is likely to be costly! Thank you for your prayers for this little chap!

Help with Larry’s Medical Bills https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/donate-to-make-a-difference-16656

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”

05/26/2025

LARRY UPDATE – Larry improved slightly yesterday. We decided to give him a haircut so we could examine more closely the physical condition of his neck. He just sat on the grass and didn’t complain. There is a hard bulge on the right side of his neck forcing his head to the left. We gave him a different homeopathic remedy and continued syringing water into his mouth and then he finally drank water on his own from a very shallow tupperware. Yay! That’s the first water he has drunk on his own since arriving. He also nibbled a little grain.

The vet will be along later to take xray images and we’ll let you know how it goes.

Help with Larry’s Medical Bills https://www.zeffy.com/fundraising/donate-to-make-a-difference-16656

“Let Care & Compassion be our Legacy”