Alpaca-Assisted Therapy

Alpaca-Assisted Therapeutic Activities and Educational Visits

Our alpaca-assisted therapy practice is now taking on- and off-farm bookings. Our teams, consisting of Amy and Sir Erik, and Matt and Summer Rain, are both registered Pet Partners Animal and Handler Teams. We regularly make visits to assisted living facilities, skilled nursing homes, schools, and libraries. Please contact us for more information or read our FAQ's.

• What are alpaca-assisted therapeutic activities?
  • Alpaca-assisted therapeutic activities include any activity that facilitates improved health and well being of the person working with the alpaca/team (see below for more specific activities).
• What is the primary goal of alpaca-assisted therapeutic activities?
  • To provide a means for clients to cope with and address their challenges (e.g. physical, social, emotional, medical) through animal interaction with the peaceful and gentle alpaca.
• Who are H.A.R.’s registered therapy alpacas?
  • Sir Erik became a registered therapy animal through the Pet Partners program in 2018. Erik came to H.A.R. from Spudland Alpaca Farm in Maine who has lived up to his reputation as a very gentle alpaca. Erik has served as our ambassador on many trips off-farm and serves as our primary therapy alpaca, specifically for clients who may be a little nervous at their first introduction to alpacas. Summer Rain gained her registration as a therapy animal in 2023. Her primary handler is Matt. Pet Partners is a not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to improve human health and well-being through the human-animal bond.
• What types of activities are offered through the therapeutic program?
  • There are a wide variety of emotional and physical therapy activities utilizing alpacas, including:
  • Animal Activities
    • Alpaca Walking/Halter Training
    • Grooming
    • Obstacle/Agility Course work
  • Emotional therapy activities (Pasture relaxation, paca-buddy reading, relaxed listening)
  • Physical therapy activities (walking, standing, reaching, etc.)
  • Fiber Activities
    • Sorting/skirting of raw fiber
    • Felting Crafts (wet and needle)
    • Dryer Ball/Nesting Station Creation
  • Farm Activities
    • Mentoring: Working on the farm (feeding, barn and pasture clean-up, odd-jobs, manure management activities)
• Where do activities take place?
  • Alpaca-assisted activities may take place at Harvard Alpaca Ranch in Harvard, Massachusetts or at your facility. On ranch activities may take place in our barn and pastures. Our alpacas are available to visit schools, hospitals, nursing care facilities, and similar locales. Facility visits can be arranged once it is determined that the off-ranch accommodations are safe and appropriate for our alpacas and staff.
• Are alpacas dangerous?
  •  No, but they are livestock and not pets. They should only be touched when under the control of farm staff. Alpacas may spit, kick, or run away if they are scared. All Alpaca-Assisted Therapeutic Activity clients will be educated on how best to approach and interact with our alpacas for the safety of all involved and to maximize the experience.
• What is the cost of Alpaca-Assisted Therapeutic Services?
  • Rates for Alpaca-Assisted Therapy vary depending on location, level of activity and number of participants. We would be happy to prepare a proposal once we know exactly what your needs and goals are.
• Are licensed therapists involved in alpaca-assisted therapeutic activities?
  • H.A.R. does not employ any licensed therapists, psychologists, or psychiatrists. Amy Varrell is a Registered Nurse with 30 years of experience. Amy has expanded her nursing skills to include therapy animal handling and animal assisted therapeutic activities. She received a certificate of completion from Harcum College in Pennsylvania in animal assisted therapy and is registered with Pet Partners through completion of their online handler course. Together, Amy and Erik (and Matt and Summer) hold certificates of completion for the animal and handler team skills and aptitude screening test through Pet Partners.
  • H.A.R. is happy to partner with licensed professionals who would like to involve alpaca-assisted therapeutic activities in the treatment of their patients. Please contact us for more information and to discuss partnerships.

For More information regarding the services offered at Harvard Alpaca Ranch, please call or email us: 1-978-391-1247 or [email protected]

If you would like to make a donation to support our Therapy Program, you can do so by clicking HERE. Thank you!