Alpaca therapy helps convicts with mental illness

Offenders with mental health conditions at a southern German hospital can pitch in with looking after a small herd of alpacas as part of their therapy. Staff at the Mainkofen psychiatric hospital in Bavaria say the aim is for the generally calm animals to help patients develop skills towards social reintegration. Those on the program have daily tasks, such as to feed the around 10 alpacas, walk them, brush their coats, dress their wounds and clean out their stables. Erwin Meier, whose name has been changed for this report, has helped care for the alpacas since October and believes it has helped him. “I like it very much,” he said. “It’s fun to work with animals. There is something to do every day.”

The animals, which can be known to spit, have helped him to control his anger, said Meier, who did not want to give details about his conviction. “I used to get angry quite quickly, I was impulsive, but it’s improved thanks to the animals, because if I get angry, they get angry too, and the calmer I am, the calmer they are too,” he added.

Hats and blankets

The program is open to all patients at the hospital but intended primarily for offenders. If they stay out for too long or outside the authorized hours, permission to spend time with the alpacas is revoked. Silke Lederbogen, the program leader and owner of the alpacas, runs a nearby farm with her husband with about 50 of the animals, using their wool to make hats and blankets. “Usually, patients in the hospital do not have contact with ‘normal’ people,” she said. But, in walking with the alpacas on the hospital grounds, they are given the chance to chat and answer questions about the animals from interested visitors, patients and staff, she added. “And they can do so competently,” she said.

Alpaca owner Silke Lederbogen, walks with some of her animals.

Patient Erwin Meier (not his real name), participant of a program for delinquents who are psychologically ill, works with an alpaca during an animal therapy session for mentally ill criminals in Mainkofen.

— AFP photos Alpaca owner Silke Lederbogen, leader of a program for delinquents who are psychologically ill, takes care of some of her animals during an animal therapy session for mentally ill criminals in Mainkofen, southern Germany.

Alpaca owner Silke Lederbogen, put a halter on an alpaca during an animal therapy session for mentally ill criminals.

Alpaca owner Silke Lederbogen, stands next to some of her animals.

A patient puts a halter on an alpaca during an animal therapy session.