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Alpacas put smiles on faces of care home residents

Resident at Glencairn House petting an alpaca <i>(Image: Glencairn House)</i>
Resident at Glencairn House petting an alpaca (Image: Glencairn House)

'Their visit is still making us all smile' - residents at a care home in Dorchester welcomed some unique and fluffy alpaca visitors.

Glencairn House Residential Care Home in Dorchester brought in the pair as part of their efforts to integrate activities into the residents' lives.

Harry and Katura, the alpacas are from Longthorns Farm near Wareham. Residents touched their fur, fed and interacted with the friendly alpacas.

Dorset Echo:
Dorset Echo:

Ralph Sanders, the owner of Glencairn House, said: "Meeting alpacas is not something everyone gets to do, and we're so glad to have been able to bring this unusual and memorable experience to Glencairn House. It's not every day you get to meet alpacas.

"They were a fantastic hit, the residents absolutely loved them. People were animated, something to tell their loved ones about.

"Afterwards there was intense lobbying from staff to offer a home for a trio on site.

"A huge thank you to Longthorns Farm for bringing Harry and Katura in to see us, their visit is still making us all smile."

Glencairn House is a Victorian house on Cornwall Road and accommodates 23 residents.

Alpacas are often confused with llamas and are better associated with South America than Dorset. They are known for their fluffy coat and long necks.