Customer Support
Snowshoe Farm is an alpaca breeding business. As such when we sell alpacas, we offer service and support to our customers both before and after the sale. We see the alpacas produced from our breeding program as our responsibility long after they’ve left our farm. We do not breed unless we feel we have the room and the budget to keep any offspring resulting from the breedings. And we make every effort to sell our alpacas to what we feel will be good, long term homes. We are always available to advise and assist our customers.
Most of us who have been in the alpaca business for any length of time have seen many bad situations: irresponsible breeders, owners without the resources to properly care for their alpacas, etc. These issues are exactly why some breeders are more comfortable with the meat marker than with the “fiber” or “hobby” farm market. And we can’t blame them for feeling that way. We do not cull our alpacas for meat. It’s simply a personal decision for us and possibly not the best business decision. But we have generally been able to find good homes for most of our nonbreeding alpacas. The rest remain on our farm and their fiber is put to good use.
But I’m off on a tangent here…the reason for this post is the problem we are seeing with alpacas being sold or given away with little or no concern as to the suitability of the buyer and little or no support from the seller. As a shearer, Ron sees it all, at least as far as alpacas that are being shorn. And, no, they are not all being shorn. We place a lot of the blame for this on those who are selling alpacas and offering no advice or support to the buyers. It is the last day of June and shearing season in New England should be over, yet we are regularly receiving calls from folks who have alpacas that need to be shorn. None of these people were told how or when to arrange shearing. This is very basic and necessary information for a new owner and critical for the health and well being of the alpacas.
So the bottom line is: if you are rehoming alpacas for any reason, please give the new owner all the information necessary to properly care for the alpacas. Be available to answer questions. Provide a list of contacts and other resources.
If you are considering alpaca ownership: ask questions, find a mentor you can trust and get to know with your local vet. Of course you feel you are doing a good thing by “rescuing” alpacas that are being given away, but you will not be helping them if you do not know how to care for them. Learn how to give shots, trim toenails and schedule shearing before you commit to owning alpacas. Spend time at an alpaca farm and get a feel for the personalities of alpacas and make sure these are animals you will enjoy. Be sure your housing and fencing are adequate for alpacas during all seasons. Educate yourself and you will find alpaca ownership to be fun and rewarding. Your alpacas will thank you.