Earlier this week, we said a sad goodbye to Harry the alpaca. An exceptionally old boy, Harry was even in the running to be one of the oldest alpacas in the world!
Harry came to us after an awful start to life. He and his brother William had been badly mistreated, leaving them frightened and deeply distrustful of humans. When they first arrived at the sanctuary, they were understandably on edge — kicking, spitting, and doing everything they could to protect themselves, but time, patience, and kindness can work wonders. After years of living at Hopefield, free from fear and suffering, Harry slowly began to calm. Being part of a herd with our other alpacas helped him immensely, and in time, we saw the gentle soul beneath the trauma.
While old age can’t be defied, we take comfort in knowing that Harry lived a long, peaceful, and happy life — one filled with safety, companionship, and care. We’re incredibly grateful that we were able to give him that.
