Care home residents were surprised when unlikely visitors came to their home – a pair of friendly alpacas.
Alpacas Finley and Hugo visited residents at a care home to say hello – and heart-warming photos show the residents’ wholesome reactions.
The alpacas visited Woodland Grove Care Home in Loughton, Essex, in April – and even used the lift to do a tour of the building.
The residents got to pet and even feed Finley and Hugo – who are the biggest animals that have ever been brought into the home.
Resident Zena Pampel, 93, said: “I was very happy to see the alpacas and enjoyed their company.
“It was nice to be able to get close and give them a small treat to say thank you for being so good natured with us all.”
The alpacas came for a pet therapy session as part of the home’s ‘elevated activities programme’.
Alpaca are among the few larger animals that people can safely hug – and hugs they got as Finely and Hugo charmed the team and residents at Woodland Grove.
Lifestyles Manager Michela Volpe arranged the event with an alpaca farm in Reading.
She said: “The residents really enjoy having Finley and Hugo around and to be able to feed them.
“I was concerned how we would manage to take them to the upper floors but the calm and intelligent nature of the llamas meant they were happy to get in the lift.
“We couldn’t resist a selfie!”