Phantom - Lewis' Friend
On Januray 5, 2002, Phantom of Stormy Acres Alpacas became our newest member
of Yellow Wood Llamas. Phantom is a beautiful red huacaya alpaca with a white
face-mask. We felt so fortunate when Patti and Joe Hodge offered Phantom to
us as a "pet" for Lewis, because we have known for years the care that they
use raising and training their animals.
The reason we bought Phantom was to provide close contact with another camelid for Lewis. Lewis, during his long months at Ohio State University recovering from a broken leg, had begun to experience depression in his solitary stall confinement. The staff began keeping an alpaca with Lewis, and this contact helped him overcome his depression and loneliness. Lewis is smaller than the average llama, and the smaller, gentle alpacas (one was a gelding, the other a female) were felt to be safe for Lewis. After we brought Lewis home, we anticipated eventually returning him to his herd (our girls and their youngsters) where he was raised. However, while his leg supports him and provides ample mobility, we feel it is too dangerous to turn him in with so many other llamas that outweigh him. He favors the leg and walks with it splayed to the side, and a sudden push from one of the other llamas might cause him to re-injure the leg, undoing a year's worth of valiant effort from all his doctors, and possibly ending his chances to survive.
Once we made the decision to find an alpaca pet, I determined that while the personality and health of the alpaca would be primary, I especially wanted a red alpaca with quality fleece. I am a spinner and enjoy the fiber, as well as sell it, and this is one color that I do not presently have in my llama herd. I also happen to love the white faces, as I feel that coloration really sets them off. I began my quest researching farms over the Internet, some that I was familiar with, and some new ones to me. It seemed to be fate when Patti, whose alpacas I had admired for years, had an alpaca weanling that they would consider offering to me as a pet; and he was red with a white face-mask! What could be more perfect? When we went to see Phantom, it was immediately obvious that he had been socialized and trained and would be an enjoyable companion, not just for Lewis, but for us as well.
We still cannot believe that we have been so fortunate to have found such as wonderful alpaca as Phantom. Phantom has a gentle, unpresuming personality, yet he likes people and comes to the fence to greet us and other visitors. We find he is often nearby the action, and willing to share a hug of his wonderfully woolly neck. The curiosity, friendliness and handle-ability are traits we prize in our favorite llamas, and we are so pleased that Phantom has the same companionable personality. We hope to use him for PR work with children as well as a companion for Lewis. And of course I am looking forward to using his fine fleece! A million thank-you's to Patti and Joe Hodge of Stormy Acres Alpacas of New Whiteland, Indiana, for allowing us to purchase Phantom!
