[Alpacasite] Re: Thinking out loud - Food for thought

I too have been thinking about this topic lately. You mentioned the
husband with complications from surgery...they are friends of mine
and they have been on my mind a lot. My frustration has been that I
don't live close enough to help out on a regular basis.

I think it is important for us to establish relationships with other
alpaca owners---and the scenarios you mentioned are a perfect example
of why this is important.

I know of several ranches that have established informal groups in
their geographic area for such things as support, combined buying
power, etc. This is something I would like to spearhead with other
alpaca ranches within our geographic area.

Life is uncertain and unplanned events do happen. I think you are on
track in thinking about contingency plans. Also, from the people I
have met throughout the alpaca community, I am sure many would come
to the aid of another alpaca owner in need.

Dianna Jordan
www.alpacasomersetfarm.com
dianna@alpacasomersetfarm.com

--- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "Sandy Acres Alpacas"
<janice@s...> wrote:
>
> I know, dangerous ground, Janice is thinking....
>
> Seriously, I was reading on another site how a man with health
> problems is "dumping" his llamas. None of us is getting any
> younger, some of us are already facing health problems or have
> health problems in members of our families. Not only that, but our
> animals are getting older too....
>
> I've spoken to a great many alpaca owners in the past few days.
> Everyone that I've spoken to has made the point that our alpacas
are
> such a source of comfort and stress relief. What happens to that
> comfort if we are faced with a catastrophic illness in ourselves or
> a family member??
>
> I think that most of us alpaca owners fall into 3 categories.
> Partners where one of them does most of the alpaca care, partners
> where they both share the alpaca care and those fortunate enough to
> be able to hire help. What happens if one of those partners gets
> sick or worse, dies???
>
> I know that I have many alpaca business aquaintences. I also have
a
> few dear freinds that are also alpaca owners that I could rely on
> for a little while if I needed to. I also know that facing a
> catastrophic illness, surgery or decline in health would be
> devastating, but also the thought of having to get rid of my herd
at
> firesale prices would be just as devastating at an already
> incredibly stressful time. It would be hard to ask for someone to
> care for my animals, but even harder to sell them off, and alpacas
> don't fly off the shelf under ordinary circumstances, do they?
>
> What are the options? How many of us have a plan for the care of
> our animals if we are faced with something like this?
>
> I know that if the owners of one of our local ranches were to face
> something like this, I would offer to do whatever I could to help
> out with their herd for as long as they needed me to.
>
> There is a woman whose husband just had surgery that ended up with
> major complications. She spent most of her time at the hospital
> with her husband. Who was there to help with her herd? I've heard
> of another person who is facing chemotherapy? Who will be there to
> help with their herd? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to say "I'll
> take care of your herd, you just get better?" I realize that that
> isn't possible for everyone, that we all have our own herds and our
> own lives. But, gosh, it sure would be nice to know that if I were
> sick, that I wouldn't have to sell off my beloved animals, my
source
> of comfort and stress relief, at a time when everything else is
> going to hell.
>
> What happens in other livestock industries when something like this
> happens to a rancher or farmer? Are they forced to sell of their
> dairy herd or pig ranch? Or do other ranches help them out? I
just
> don't know.
>
> Do you think that most alpaca ranches have a network of ranches in
> which to rely on in a situation such as this, or are more
> ranches "on their own" when it comes down to it? Would you rely on
> friends or be willing to ask a total stranger for help if you knew
> that they might be willing?
>
> I know that many of you have joined the emergency network, and many
> more of you have listed your ability to help others here on
> alpacasite. I think that you all have considered the financial and
> physical implications of offering this kind of help. I'm NOT
asking
> for volunteers for anything. I'm just wondering if we have
> considered this possibility and have a plan for it's eventuality...
>
> Thanks for listening to my ramblings. I'm not very articlulate,
and
> I really wish I had the words to be able to say what I'm thinking,
> but I hope that I got my ideas across. It's been on my mind for
> some time now, and I had to put it down in writing.
>
> Off to sit in the pasture and enjoy my wonderful animals.
>
> Janice Mortimer
> Sandy Acres Alpacas
> Escalon CA
> 209-505-2959
> www.sandyacresalpacas.com
> www.camelidemergencynetwork.com
> janice@s...
>

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