Dogs Attack Alpacas

NEVADA -- Some 30 alpacas, males, females and youngsters, have been making their home at Tahoe Breeze Alpacas just outside Gardnerville.

In less than two weeks they are scheduled to be moved to a new home in Pennsylvania.

It's been a quiet life for these South American relatives of the camel,. raised for their fleece and as pets.

Sunday morning that quiet was broken when Mike and Kathy Hall awoke to the sounds of dogs barking.

Investigating, they found a tragedy unfolding.

"Crusader", one of the alpacas killed in the attack

She found two dogs right here 20- feet from us and all of the rest of the alpacas huddled over here.
One alpaca was already dead. Crusader, the gentlest of the herd, and with champion bloodlines, the most valuable, was the first attacked.

Fiddle, the most aggressive, had apparently placed himself between the dogs and the others and was losing the fight.

"He survived until the vet got here," says Mike Hall, "but at that point he had to be put down."

Their cousin, the llama is often kept as a guard animal with sheep and can send a coyote or dog running with a kick. The smaller, gentler alpaca is mostly defenseless.

"Alpacas are by nature very docile," says Hall. "They aren't aggressive to anything."

Their owner tells us there's a monetary loss of about $10,000 dollars here, but it's more than that. Unlike most livestock, these guys have individual personalities and names.

Hall can describe each and every one. The curious, the playful, their individual habits. Though they're owned by others, he's cared for them every day for years.

"You get attached to the animals and you take it personally because it is personal."

Hall says he's never had a problem with predators, even the packs of coyotes who are common to the area and he'd never seen these particular dogs.

He speculates that their owners may be unaware of the attack, but hopes once they learn of it they'll step forward and take responsibility.

Kathy Hall snapped a picture of the two dogs which appear to be a German Shepherd and a mastiff type.

A spokeswoman for Douglas County Animal Control says there's no reason to believe the dogs pose any kind of threat to the public as that would be a different kind of aggression and, she says, until the dogs are found it's unknown if this was a one time incident.

But armed with the photos the people at Douglas County authorities are optimistic that they will find the dogs.

What happens after that is up to the judge.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at (775) 782-5126 or Animal Care and Services at (775) 782-9061.

UPDATE - The two dogs have been located, according to Mike Hall.

(KOLO8 - May 5, 2015)