Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary

08/17/2024

Thank you to all the incredible nonprofits changing the world. Happy National Nonprofit Day 8.16.24 from SHLAS. 💖

08/15/2024

Good morning to everyone. Hope you are enjoying our posts.Well, tomorrow is another vet day as Miss Lucy needs a molar pulled. So Dr. Rolette Pruyn is coming as he does teeth. Have a couple of others to get teeth taken care of as well. Lucy's tooth had been doing some abcessing and I ended up poking it and squeezing it to get the junk out and get the pressure relieved. Our vets in our area just do not work on llama teeth, they kindof just take a lookyloo and that is it. , another thing animals need just like us humans. If you would like to help Lucy with the cost to get this painful thing taken care of, your donation would be greatly appreciated. Have a blessed day everyone.

08/10/2024

Ohhh Mr. Mo! He’s really loving the cooler weather! He’s also reallly wishing he had some llama lunch to snack on! Donate on our website to assist us in buying pellets.
Average bag is $20each and we need a pallet worth. Every bit helps!
Donate at www.safehavenllamas.org

08/08/2024

☀️Top Of the Mornin’! From Brylee!
Www.safehavenllamas.org

07/28/2024

It's been so hot that I have chosen not to work with the last four llamas until it cools a bit. So, I had a great day yesterday, friday. The one girl we have not had any hands on yet , Sentiya, has been doing pretty well at not running away from me like at first. I got her in an area to work with her, touch first and then hands on working on her neck and up to the head. She did great. I think this girl knows something. I made sure that Poppy, the leader of the pack was in a pen by herself so she could not disrupt our concentration. We had a great connection and she just out of the clear blue, let me gently put the halter on her beautiful face. The connection was so good. She does not lead but we made progress. Then, Miss Poppy, was in a lean to, I stepped in and she knew what was going to take place. It did. We just had a connection and I gently put the halter on her as well. Progress, finally. Sometimes we and our critters "just need a little break now and then." I am in NO HURRY.

Wish I had some photos to post. When I start the shearing on Sentiya, I will see if Steffeni can get some for you. It is a BIG job. So they have a good experience, I usually do it in several sessions. THey get brushed afterwards as well. SOOTHING>

Our newsletter for the year went out. I hope those of you who received one, enjoyed it. We still have some if anyone would like us to mail you one. Private email me at charhakes@hotmail so I can send it. As most of you know, the stamps have gone up in price by 5 cents and they are supposed to raise another 5 cents about the first of december. We have had several Safe Haven friends send us books of stamps. If any of you would like to mail us a book or books, that would be great. I am BIG on sending personally hand-written thank you cards to each that donate. The wildlife ones are pretty, too bad there are not any llama/alpaca stamps.We will need about 10 books. Thank you friends, and hope you are not getting smoked out by the wildfires like we are here in montana. Our Smokey Bitterroot Valley. char

07/21/2024

Resident highlight ✨Isaiah✨

Isaiah is just the cutest llama ever
He's an almost mini boy
A guy that's from inbreeding
But gives us such great joy.

Two ladies had him and his mom
But things in their life changed
Isaiah and his mom needed rehomed
With Safe Haven it was arranged.

Char remembered these two llamas
From a former place in time
In the late 90's in a pasture
Not real cared for, it's a crime.

So we hooked up the trailer
Made the drive up the hill nearby
Isaiah and his mom were penned
IN an area that was dry.

I greeted the lady at the gate
Then made my way into the pen
Isaiah and his mom freaked out
Their eyes looked as if
on no, not again."

The only times they have been handled
Was when a vet or shearer come
Then out to their pasture they would go
To their gulley they would run.

Char just spoke to them quietly'
With a calm and gentle voice
They didn't know her from Adam
But knew they had no choice.

Into a corner they huddled
The halter was gently put on
One was caught and tied first
Momma , Lydia, then her son.

We walked to the trailer
With the door opened wide
You could just see in their eyes
They wee afraid of the ride.

Down the hill we drove
Headed to their Safe Haven home
They'd meet many others
Out to a green pasture they'd roam.

Two happy llamas they are
For almost two years
Momma Lydia then died
Brought Isaiah to tears.

It took a few months
For most sadness to leave
But Isaiah is so happy here
With companions he no longer grieves.

As the warm days are upon us
He lays belly-up in the heat
Just so hilarious to watch
You make us laugh with your feet.

When we have guests
Along with others he's in the pen
He's a part of something special
Making a human friend.

Safe Haven is a forever home
For his special soul
We love you soo much Isaiah
More the you'll ever know.

There is no other here like you
That can make our day
You'll always make us laugh
We wouldn't have you any other way. Char Hakes 7/2024

07/17/2024

Just a sneak peak of items Char is currently working on. 👀 Chars mugs are highly sought after and known across the US as having such kindness, beauty and heart infused into each hand painted scene. No two are exactly alike. I myself have a few and they make THE BEST accompaniment to my morning coffee or afternoon tea. The perfect vessel. 🤌
📢Get excited people!
When these are finished, you could purchase one or a set too!!
Stay tuned for updates!

07/08/2024

Resident highlight ✨Mo✨-Huacaya alpaca

Mo is such a special alpaca
He arrived here three years ago
We think he was originally from Missoula
But we just don't know.

A gal from a place called "Conner"
Contacted Char by phone
She wanted information on alpacas
Info that was not known.

Several months went by
Then she had gotten Priya and Mo
I recommended Dr. Rolette Pruyn of Blue Mtn Vet
For vet care, he is the pro.

Life brings things upon us
Her mom was very ill, she had to go
I received the hardest phone call
In tears she asked if Safe Haven would take Priya and Mo.

Hubby and I headed to Conner
Even though she was no longer there
To catch up the two in the barn
halter and loading up to come to their new home here.

Mo is quite a large alpaca
Dark red brown with a chin woddle
On his lower left chin it hangs
He's so darn cute he's one you just want to cuddle.

When springtime comes and May arrives
It's shearing time each year
Mo just stands gently in the chute
He's so good, there is no fear.

Then there is toenails to trim
Being done without a fight
Then a bead of wormer into the mouth
The taste is made just right.

Talk about a gentle soul
He gets to do P.R.
This is his forever home
To all he is a star.

Mo has been here several years now
He just gets to do his thing
He goes where he wants and lays where he likes
We let him just be a king.

No matter what his real age is
We may never know
Mo has a favorite area in the barn
Summer, Spring, fall or out of winter snow.

By Char Hakes 7/2024

07/04/2024

Comparing before and after. Nothing is more rewarding than helping these animals heal. She walks straighter, and she is more comfortable. What a gift. Help them heal. Donate today at https://www.safehavenllamas.org/

06/30/2024

Llamas have health needs, just like people. Many of our llamas and alpacas experienced trauma before arriving at the sanctuary. Some to a greater extent, leaving them medically fragile. There are over 30 llamas and alpacas at the sanctuary currently.

Building trust and teaching the animals it’s okay to be haltered is absolutely necessary to give them the care they require. From keeping them stationary and leading them into and out of trailers, barns etc., haltering is a fundamental part of animal care. For some this is the first safe interaction with humans they have ever experienced. What an honor to care for these divine creatures!

Year round care, pain management for some, eye drops/ointment for others, occasional wound care, and the usual ongoing needs nail trimmings, deworming, and vaccinations for all residents. It’s not always easy. But every day we wake up and provide the best life these residents can have. A life to the fullest.

Two members of the feral nine, Fiona and Tito (mother and son), are pictured receiving ongoing care for their continuing health issues they arrived with. Eye ulcers, bacterial skin infections, one has an old neck injury from previous trauma.

Vet care, medication, and feed are the biggest financial needs we have. Please consider donating to the medical needs of these llamas and alpacas. https://www.safehavenllamas.org/

06/27/2024

We are working on updating our website. Trisha is so good at what she does and everyone seems to be enjoying her newsletter . She is now the secretary of Safe Haven. WELCOME TRISHA. So, she asked me for things and one is having a photo of each of our residents and a story about each. Guess what I have been having the privelege of doing? I am writing a poem for each, only a few will have a written story. Someday I would like to have a fun book of poems from this. ANother goal I have is doing story books although there are already so many out there. What really makes me sad is that I have so many memories of hundreds of my llama family and it makes me cry cause I miss each one as an individual. I am trying to make a list of all of them and it is hard. She will be posting as we go. Would love your thoughts as well. Also, for those of you who have received our newsletter, I hope you are enjoying it and please pass it on to others if you like. We also do it by email if you would rather receive it through email. Just let us know. Have a blessed evening dear friends and thank you once again for all of your support to help us continue our mission. Char Hakes, Founder and President of Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary

06/24/2024

Sisco is an ambassador for other camelids. We believe education is the greatest tool.

LLAMAS AND ALPACAS NEED TO BE RAISED AND TREATED CORRECTLY FOR THE KIND OF ANIMAL THEY ARE MEANT TO BE AND NOT WHAT A HUMAN ALWAYS WANTS THEM TO BE.

Sisco's Story by Char

Talk about a good-looking llama
He could have been a stud
Some humans imprinted on him
So now he 's a dud.

He is a throw-away llama
At several homes he has been
Now an UNWANTED LLAMA
That should have been dead.

He was with pack llamas
But just didn't fit in
They bullied him terribly
And he was disliked by men.

After being hauled for miles on the hiway
With no place to go
He ended up at Safe Haven
Char couldn't say "no".

As he stepped out of the trailer
He was a handsome sight to behold
No wonder he was imprinted on
That handsome but dangerous soul.

By accident he come to safe haven
With no place to call his forever home
But a decision had to be made
Just where he could roam.

Being and imprinted llama
With somewhat called "abhorrent behavior"
We were told to euthenize(kill) him
and not be a Savior.

Sisco was put in a pasture
with 2 alpacas, Gunner and Tog
They always bully him
And his food they hog.

When there are no visitors
He gets to hang with the herd
They just ignore him
Not humming a word.

As with some of the others
They hang out alone
Enjoying a spot in the pasture
That is specifically their own.

Sisco is not agressive
But one still must beware
He sometimes will cluck at you
With an unacceptable glare.

He has been given 4 more years of life
Using him as an educational tool
Teacfhing people that cute cuddly llamas?alpacas
Does not make them a jewel.

They can be very dangerous and hurt you
So if at a ranch or petting zoo
Be aware of this type of llama/alpaca
Cause it just "IS Not cool."

👉 Humans are the problem. These animals need to be what they are. They should not be overly hugged and cuddled by a human the first month or two of their life. It is giving them a death sentence.
They need the life that is due them with the right kind of love, care and respect.

Sisco will live out the rest of his years here at the sanctuary. We can’t do it alone! If you feel led to donate please visit us at https://www.safehavenllamas.org/

06/24/2024

It’s been hot! ☀️🫠Thankful our sheared alpacas and llamas are staying cool. Hope you all had a great weekend!

06/22/2024

Had a fun group of 3 ladies and a 3 yr old precious son, visit Safe Haven today. Yes, Autumn and Velvet did their thing again. SolaRay and Priya hung out as well, also Oprah and Trudy. It was a hot afternoon so the shade was great. I am so proud of our Llama , Trudy, she stayed calm and had a super calmness and gentlness in her eyes today and did not freak out and try to run. Oprah did a little song along with Priya. Our critters never fail to amaze me at times. Another wonderful day spent with some visitors. We thank them for coming once again. So enjoyable.

06/15/2024

We had Tanya White Bird Craniosacral Therapy come out and work on 4 of the ferals who came to us last fall. If you've never had Craniosacral done on yourself or your animals, get it done! It was amazing to see the change in the animals and how they responded to her treatments. Tanya's technique is quiet, gentle, and compassionate. It made a huge difference in their physical and mental state.

As Char had mentioned, we decided to work on haltering Dannalee (a younger member of the same feral herd). While looking at her fiber Char decided to take a little off her shoulders and...well, Danna got the full Safe Haven Spa Day treatment! Hand sheered (much quieter than clippers) and all brushed out. She's such a beautiful girl! She did amazingly well for never having any of this done before. She didn't even spit or kick!

If you are interested in supporting the cruelty-free, compassionate care we provide all of our residents, visit www.safehavenllamas.org.

06/12/2024

Wow. what a great few days we have had here at Safe Haven. A few days ago i caught up Pascal and Tito our two feral llamas. THey are doing fantastic. I put each in my chute, calmly, quietly and gently. They did well going in, they did well with getting some worming paste AND a FIRST , I gently worked hips and down the leg and was able to get the toenails trimmed on both of them. They also got brushed out well. Our llamas and alpacas are looking so good and their weight is good. Pascal does need a good bath so am trying to find a way to make the water warm. TODAY, the four received cranial sacral therapy by Tanya. A big First for them. They did good. THis afternoon after working with Danna again, we did get her haltered, she still needs some lead work and FINALLY we got a hand shear to her and give her a saddle cut, plus totally brushed and combed out the rest of the fiber she is molting. FOLKS, we have had a long road and some still to go. We love sharing with you . We are just the caretakers for Jehovahs llamas and alpacas here and we always receive the help at the right time.
You will be seeing some photos from today. ENJOY and thank you for the support you each give us. Now for a few veterinary checkups.

Tanya made a good point today that most humans do not realize. These llamas were pulled away from all of their family of other animals and they think about them and wonder where their friends went, are they alright, etc. As humans we can talk all we want to them and yes they understand some but visualizing and talking with them is what they understand. Did you know that animals get headaches? They love, they hurt, and they cry and have feelings just like we do.

06/11/2024

Update! These 2 ladies from the feral group are doing well. Fiona and Talia (mother and daughter) have been on a vacay at a board members house getting some one on one time and relationship building with Matt and other llamas outside of their herd. Today they head back to the sanctuary because it’s cranial sacral day! So thankful for our community of medical and holistic professionals that take such great care of our residents.

06/05/2024

Hey Facebook Friends, we are getting ready to mail out our NEWS letter of the year. If you would like to be on our mailing list either email or regular mail to receive it and even share it with your friends, email me at [email protected] with your email address or your postal address. Our new secretary , Trisha has worked hard on it and has done a fabulous job.

If there are things you would like us to put in our newsletter, please let me know. If you know of someone else who would love to receive our newsletter let us know who and address or email.

We are looking for someone or a business to sponsor our newsletters. If one would like to be a monthly donor your support each month is awesome. If you would like to do an IN MEMORY OF......... for a special pet or person with a special donation for them to help our special llamas or alpacas we appreciate that as well.

You all are so appreciated and we thank you so much for your support , "caring and sharing" it all goes for the care of these camelids at SAFE HAVEN LLAMA AND ALPACA SANCTUARY. We are towards the end of our 19th year and I have been doing this since 1990. Char Hakes

06/01/2024

We had such a great farm visit from the Girl Scouts! Such an amazing group of young ladies. Come back anytime!

👉Looking for something fun to do this summer with all your out-of-own company? Call the sanctuary and schedule a visit!🦙

05/23/2024

Meet the Residents. Today's highlight ✨Priya✨

Priya came into Safe Haven in 2021. She is a Suri alpaca. Suri alpacas are noted for their long, silky locks resembling flowing dreadlocks. We estimate that she is at least 12 years old. She is a permanent resident here at the sanctuary.

She has a soft and gentle soul, not making waves with the rest. She is small with those little white shiny suri locks hanging. Don't you just love her?!

She and Moe came together. Like many residents here, their previous owner wanted to keep them, but life events hindered their ability to do so. Her gentle nature makes us so thankful she is here.

If you would like to meet Priya and see a Suri alpaca up close, please email or call to schedule a visit!

05/23/2024

Volunteers mean so much to safe haven. Stacey Klein has been giving her precious time to Safe haven for two years now. It has been a busy spring so she has been on the job helping me keep the pasture poo areas cleaned and also the barn several times a week. Stacey also helps with our visitors and handling of the llamas and alpacas. Bless her heart, she got the shelter all straightened out for me and her hubby and his friend, even put up shelves in it and did some wall finishing. PROJECTS. They never end but our llamas and alpacas deserve the best. We are a great team here. She also does a lot of the photo taking of the animals and helps with photo boards and we will try and get some of our critters we are working with on as well. Thank you Stacey, you are so appreciated.

05/22/2024

Watch for photos. I finished shearing Miss Lollie today. She looks great . Put her in the chute and she did not know what to think of that. I am proud of her. Then I haltered up Miss Dollie and now she is all sheared as well. Had to put her in the chute and she did well but I understand how scarey things can be but I just did my thing, brushed gently , talked gently. The fiber was so heavy that it was mostly that weight that pulled so they would kick sometimes. Got the nasty stuff off the butts. Great and gorgeous girls you had Terri. Will be fun to see them each day now. I am skirting the fiber and we will see what we can make from some of it.

Something new for 2 of the feral ladies. The energy here is something else. SSOOOO today Matt stopped by thinking he was going to work with DannaLee and Poppy. Today just was not the day soooo We caught up Fiona and Talia so Matt could take them home. Fiona has been getting bullied a bit. Matt will be working with them at his house where the energy is different and not from the 2 big girls. They also will be getting their cranial sacral therapy there and Fiona will be on meloxicam for her eyes. I am missing them but glad I can just go across the river a few miles and see them. We are such a good team. Now I can focus on Naomie and Sentiya next. A PROGRESS REPORT.

05/20/2024

HELP, we are running out of fifty pound feed bags to put our llama poo compost in. If anyone has a bunch just laying around and they are in good shape, we can sure use a bunch. Doesn't matter if it had chicken feed or horse feed in it, as long as it is just an empty bag, drop them off at 780 old Corvallis Rd, by my gate north of the house.. Recycling is a great thing. Thank you.

05/18/2024

What a great day. We had 9 young lady girl scouts and parents from Missoula come and enjoy our safe haven llamas and alpacas. They got to walk some and talk llama, Lynne planted flowers and did a poo compost demo, showed how fiber works well for plants and for bird houses and hanging planters. Rosie wrapped it up with a fun time . Girls got to make a bracelet out of llama fiber and had a fantastic time., and they each also got to take home a little ceramic llama. Team work here is awesome. THank you for coming Girl Scouts, we really enjoyed having you.

05/18/2024

Come on over to Teller Youth Expo and visit Timber and Juniper!

05/18/2024

05/16/2024

Hey, friends of Safe Haven! THIS SATURDAY! Come visit llamas Timber, Juniper, and some of our board members at the Teller Youth Expo. This is a free family event fun for all ages. See you there!

05/15/2024

What a treat! Last week homeschoolers visited the sanctuary for a field trip! There's nothing we love more than educating the community about these beautiful creatures! Char taught the kids how llamas and alpacas communicate and what is involved in animal care. The children were taught about spinning, carding, different uses for llama and alpaca fiber, and all about poo tea for gardening by volunteers Rosie and Lynne. Smiles were abundant as kids ages 7 and up had the chance to walk some llamas. Many thanks to all the mothers present. What a wonderful group of kids you have. Come back anytime!
👉 Thinking about visiting the sanctuary?
👉 Contact us and schedule a visit today!

05/11/2024

Kevin’s stiring up some 💩! Llama fertilizer is being bagged for all your garden needs! Great for plants, veggies, trees and more!
Our llama p**p sales assist in helping house, feed and care for our residents.
Call us to purchase! 406.961.4027 (leave a message if we’re out in the pasture!)

05/10/2024

UPDATE: Our 2 girls from Billings are doing great. THey have made their way into the pecking order of the herd and have chosen ones they like to hang out with. SSSOOO this afternoon Lollie was haltered up and had her first experience at being somewhat sheared. I did not put her in the chute, just talked with her and let her move around but hand sheared a saddle clip on her, so far. Of course she will need the rest of her body clipped except for her gorgeous neck. What a beauty she is with black fiber. I am going to try and skirt it as best I can and make something from it. Will TRY anyway. She will have a few days then I will finish the rest of this beautiful girl.

Now for the Livingston feral girls. We never know from day to day how they are going to react when getting caught up. We have been doing well with DannaLee but today was NOT such a good day. Too much going on here getting ready for kids to come tomorrow. She actually jumped the fence and took a bit of a roll. PATIENCE AND NOT PUSHING THEM is so IMPORTANT. Less is more. We will get there. Matt tried to work with Pascal , that did not work well today either. Wondering if Pascal has had a bad experience with men. ANYWAY, we have made great progress but have a long way to go. Sometimes the hardest animals are the smartest and BEST .

Schedule your ranch visit . We'd love to have you , talking llamas or alpacas, a great learning experience. Our little alpaca, Autumn, loves her photo taken and will usually come and greet someone. No, she is not imprinted on, she just has a good personality. Check out some of our gift items made for safe haven to raise funds to support our animals.