**Download Mtn Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas activity book here and then learn about each animal below: MPTLA Activity Book
The Dream Team
RIP April 26th, 2002 - November 6th, 2019
-Rojo The Llama-
Rojo was Mtn Peak's first purchased llama! Originally coming to their farm in 2003 to be a 4-H llama, Rojo was raised social and people-friendly from birth. Mtn Peak's began sharing Rojo with nursing homes and special-needs groups beginning in 2007 after winning many blue ribbons for his exceptionally social personality.
Incredibly touchable, and unusually people-friendly, Rojo has become a celebrity llama for his participation in regular visits to schools, hospitals, and adult-care facilities throughout the Portland, OR, and Vancouver, WA area.
Date of Birth: September 19th, 2009
-Napoleon The Alpaca-
Napoleon was Mtn Peak's first therapy alpaca! Generously donated in 2010 by Columbia Mist Alpacas of Woodland, WA, Napoleon was hand-selected by his breeder for our program due to his exceptional personality.
Most alpacas tend to have a stronger “herd instinct” than llamas, and few do well when they are separated from their buddies. Napoleon is very unique, as he has always had a very independent personality, and so enjoys venturing out by himself. He has done remarkably well on therapy visits from the start with his smaller size often being less intimidating for many that might tend to be more nervous about approaching our bigger llamas. We love having such a sweet alpaca to share with everyone!
Date of Birth: October 1st, 2015
-Prince the Llama-
Prince is the BIGGEST llama in Mtn Peaks herd. Prince is the newest member to Mtn Peaks farm, being purchased from Happy Dance Llama Ranch in the fall of 2019. Gentle and sweet, Prince knows how to draw a crowd. He gives the best hugs and is our rising star to continue and expand upon Rojo’s llegacy.
Date of Birth: Summer 2008
-Beni the Llama-
The Greeter of the herd. Beni is the first one to come say hello to all farm guest.
We first heard about Beni from Sherri Tallmon, owner of Hidden Oaks Llama Ranch. Sherri had noticed Beni, only one at the time, at a farm where he was suffering from neglect, and severely underweight for his age. She convinced his owners to let her take him in, and provided him with the necessary treatments to regain his health. Because Beni was so touchable and people friendly, Sherri suggested him to us for possible future therapy use. We brought him to our home on September 23rd, 2009, to help continue his recovery, and fell in love with him almost immediately!
Date of Birth: July 27th, 2012
-Panda the Llama-
Panda is hands down, the silliest llama of the herd. At his last farm, Panda was the only llama bullied by alpacas, so he doesn't understand how giant he truly is. Known for his durpy personality, Panda is a farm favorite.
Just like JP and Rojo before him, Panda is a 4-H llama, borrowed since 2018 to a young man in high school to train and show this strong animal. Thanks to Levi, Panda is learning how to not move around so much, to trust in his trainer, and to be calm. Since covid hit, Panda has been able to test the waters of socializing in small, intimate groups and beginning to visit nursing homes. We are so excited in this novice therapy llama and to see his growth over the years to come!
Date of Birth: June 14th, 2011
-Maximus the Alpaca-
Maximus is the strong and steady type. Also borrowed from White Oak Alpacas, Max is patient and super touchable. He and Jack came to Mtn Peaks in early 2019. Shannon and Lori are enjoying getting to know these two characters more.
Date of Birth: September 14th, 2016
- Captain Jack the Alpaca-
Though the youngest of the herd, Jack is the perfect alpaca for children to love on. Without a halter, Jack lets you walk right up and snuggle into his exceptionally soft fleece. Borrowed by White Oak Alpacas, the only thing holding Jack back from being the next big thing is his comfort level off the farm. We are confident with a little more training to help him feel 100% comfortable and he will be a rock star of a therapy alpaca!
Therapy Animals in Training
Date of Birth: August 10th, 2011
-Andre the Alpaca-
Known for his epic afro and his incredible ability to escape the pasture, Andre is too clever for his own good. Another wonderfully sweet and huggable alpaca, recently donated by Columbia Mist Alpacas! He is very huggable, and has done several therapy visits, but still needs a bit more training among larger group settings. Welcome to our therapy teams, Andre!
The Pasture Animals
Date of Birth: October 8th, 2002
-Smokey the Llama-
Smokey is known as our Smiling Llama. Purchased to help offset the growing popularity of animal-assisted therapy with llamas, Smokey was purchased from Hidden Oaks Llama Ranch in June of 2009. Smokey officially became certified for therapy through DoveLewis on October 31st. 2009. After Rojo’s passing in 2019, we have noticed Smokey really coming to his own and enjoys being the star rather than the sidekick he used to be with Rojo.
Date of Birth: May 19th, 2015
-Diego the Alpaca-
Half-brothers, Diego & Rodrigo came to the farm when they were a year and a half old. Donated by Columbia Mist Alpacas, these two sweet boys hold a great deal of potential for future therapy alpacas.
Diego is most known for his lack of social-boundaries and having the most attitude. There is a bit of uncertainty if some training with help give Diego a sense of purpose and gain positive attention we know he will love... if only he would behave for his lessons.
Date of Birth: June 4th, 2015
-Rodrigo the Alpaca-
Rodrigo is all business. Very stoic and poised, Rodrigo shows both signs of curiosity and social desires, while still keeping a hands distance. Though he isn't a lovey-dovey character, he does enjoy social interactions and might be great for adult-care communities when trained as he is so calm and cool in his nature.
Date of Birth: July 7th, 2011
-Mini Llama Lil Charlie Chaplin-
Purchased from Rockn’ R Llamas in Vancouver, WA, Charlie is the most recent llama added to the Mtn Peaks herd. Loving Charlie’s smaller size, there were great hopes in training this sweet llama to be another therapy animal. Although easy to handle once on a halter, after getting to know him better, it is clear Charlie’s personality isn’t quite “therapy quality” and is enjoyed by many who come to meet him on the farm.
Gone But Never Forgotten
August 8th, 2010 - August 8th, 2023
-Jean-Pierre the Alpaca-
Our heart-throb of an alpaca, Jean-Pierre was our lovey-dovey alpaca. Jean-Pierre, referred to lovingly as JP on the farm, was graciously donated to Mtn Peaks in 2012 by Mike Safley of NW Alpacas. JP’s fiber was also the softest of all of our alpacas- like petting a giant fluffy cotton ball!
Following in Rojo’s shoes, JP was shared to a local girl to train and show him through our local 4-H llama club. His trainer, Allara, worked with JP since 2016 competing annually at county and state fair as they both grow together in public relations skills. Thanks to Allara, JP was a truly llovable alpaca and has raised the bar for all future therapy alpacas to follow his legacy!
August 17th, 1997 - August 18th, 2022
-Sasha the Llama-
Sasha is the Mufasa of the herd. As the second llama purchased by Mtn Peaks from Rockin R Llamas here in Vancouver, Washington. At the age of 5, Sasha was purchased to help be Rojo’s wise, fatherly figure as he continued to grow from a baby. We are proud of Sasha’s role in Rojo's and our lives.
Fun Fact: Sasha means Alexander in Russian. Our Sasha was best known for always having one ear up, one ear sideways, with a smile painted across his face.