THE ADORABLE ALPACA MASCOTS

WITH their huge eyes and comical faces, the alpaca visitors are popular with everyone at the Marie Curie Hospice.

In fact, the hospice has made them its official mascot.

‘They’re beautiful and very gentle,’ says day therapies manager Gail Holloway. ‘When people see them the change is instant — they are laughing, smiling and absorbed. There’s a real sense of fun and joy.’

When the alpacas’ owner, Bob Crosbie, offered to bring his herd to the hospice a few years ago, Gail agreed immediately.

‘Often people who are unwell find their experiences limited and it’s difficult to do things with family and friends.

‘Meeting the alpacas helps to carry them, and they talk about the visit for a long time afterwards.’

Bob, 62, set up BobCat Alpacas with his wife Cath after retiring from the civil service. His initial plan was to have a smallholding with some alpacas to guard the chickens he was going to buy.

‘But I never bought chickens. Instead I realised alpacas were gorgeous to work with and bought a small herd from other farmers.’

While the females are used to breed, the males are employed for therapy at special schools and hospices. ‘They’re trained to interact with people,’ says Bob. ‘They don’t do any tricks, they just make people feel calm and less stressed.’