Safe Haven Llama and Alpaca Sanctuary by Morgan Cowles
Llamas and alpacas are not what someone thinks as of a typical pet. Some people think they would be fun to have and then grow away from the idea. Many abused and forgotten llamas and alpacas in western Montana end up at Safe Haven.
Charlene Hakes started Safe Haven five years ago. When the non-profit finally got up and running, the sanctuary had 120-130 animals. Within a very short amount of time, the animals outgrew Hakes’ property in Corvallis and people began letting the animals graze on their property so there was room to spread out. The animals are now living at the Star Sapphire Ranch down the road from Hakes’ house.
Hakes is the most active in the sanctuary. There are a few volunteers that help weekly with feeding and walking. There are two other people volunteering on the board with Hakes to make sure the non-profit stays going.
Most of the llamas and alpacas at the sanctuary have been put into Hakes’ care or have been brought to her. Every animal has a history and a story. Hakes knows all of them and each llama and alpaca has a personality too.
Llamas have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. They are some of the easiest animals to take care of because they require so little effort says Hakes. Bedding and shelter along with feed and de-worming are very important and really the only costs she said.
Some llamas and alpacas are bred to be packer animals since they are native to the Andes Mountains and hillsides. Some are bred for their fiber and some are guards for livestock. There was a trend of raising llamas in western Montana in the 1990s but the trend faded out which is how many animals ended up at Safe Haven.
The sanctuary currently has about 40 llamas and alpacas. Hakes also cares for other animals at the ranch that aren’t the sanctuary’s. The llamas were moved to the Star Sapphire Ranch last April and Hakes misses them being at her house she said.
The animals might be moved back to Hakes’ and other properties soon though. The Star Sapphire Ranch is currently for sale and Hakes doesn’t know if the animals will be able to stay there she said. With little funding, Safe Haven cannot afford to buy the ranch themselves and cannot afford to buy a smaller piece of property either. Hakes is worried that if Safe Haven is forced to leave the ranch, she won’t be able to care for all the animals.
Safe Haven does have an adoption program. Llamas have to be paired up with a new owner based on the animal’s temperament, the land they are going to live on, and if they are going to be working or not.