Not sure. He was securing her in place so I could halter her. This female was originally owned by an older couple and was never halter trained. As an adult she is the most difficult to handle. A few seconds after this picture was taken she spit point blank directly in my face.
I understand difficult to handle animals, I just very much dislike seeing anyone grab handfuls of wool/fiber from any animal (like sheep, alpacas, whatever). It hurts them, and leaves bruises. It's like grabbing a handful of hair when your toddler is throwing a tantrum.
I understand your concern. If he was gripping her fleece it wasn't being pulled, the alpaca is being body blocked on both sides.
In order to shear and perform herd health this was necessary. It was also needed for our safety. If that alpaca spun and kicked me I could have been seriously injured.
She wasn't being drug by her fiber or yanked around in anger. Its not at all like grabbing a toddler's hair during a temper tantrum. This animal was not moving left or right or resisting because of the control we had over it.
This is akin to gripping my pony tail for a split second. If she had gotten unmanageable before I could get the halter on he would have put his arm around her neck to keep her from running. We don't use fleece as a handle.
Is that guy grabbing handfuls of the fiber?
ReplyDeleteNot sure. He was securing her in place so I could halter her. This female was originally owned by an older couple and was never halter trained. As an adult she is the most difficult to handle. A few seconds after this picture was taken she spit point blank directly in my face.
DeleteI understand difficult to handle animals, I just very much dislike seeing anyone grab handfuls of wool/fiber from any animal (like sheep, alpacas, whatever). It hurts them, and leaves bruises. It's like grabbing a handful of hair when your toddler is throwing a tantrum.
ReplyDeleteI understand your concern. If he was gripping her fleece it wasn't being pulled, the alpaca is being body blocked on both sides.
DeleteIn order to shear and perform herd health this was necessary. It was also needed for our safety. If that alpaca spun and kicked me I could have been seriously injured.
She wasn't being drug by her fiber or yanked around in anger. Its not at all like grabbing a toddler's hair during a temper tantrum. This animal was not moving left or right or resisting because of the control we had over it.
This is akin to gripping my pony tail for a split second. If she had gotten unmanageable before I could get the halter on he would have put his arm around her neck to keep her from running. We don't use fleece as a handle.
Also note where his left leg is, against her body behind her front leg. My is being the opposition on the other side.
DeleteNone of their animals are ever handled in a rough or inhumane way.
How do Peruvian or Bolivian or other people native to alpacas handle the animals? I would speculate it is different than their American counterparts.
DeleteAlpacas are interesting animals.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpaca
Not sure how they are handled in their native land. I expect adult alpacas that aren't halter trained are difficult anywhere.
Delete