Warwick Valley Humane Society rescues loose alpaca

WARWICK — She was so happy to be alive, she gave Animal Control Officer Tom Neely a kiss of thanks for rescuing her.

On the afternoon of Nov. 22 the Warwick Valley Humane Society received a frantic call about a loose alpaca on Route 94 South, a busy road.

Several concerned people were trying to keep the large frightened animal off the road.

Suzyn Barron, president of the Humane Society immediately dispatched ACO Neely and requested the assistance of the Warwick Police Department to control traffic.

Upon arrival, Neely saw approximately six people attempting to move the alpaca to a backyard but he couldn't tell who was more frightened, the animal or some of the humans.

Finally, a police officer told the crowd to let Neely do his job and to follow his instructions.

Calmly and efficiently, he and others slowly closed in on the Alpaca in a circular fashion. As Neely approached the animal with a leash, she slowly poked her head toward him and that was the end of her brief adventure.

Now Neely had to decide what to do with her.

The farm where she lived was closed up too tight to gain entrance, so it was back to the Warwick Humane Society's animal shelter in the back of the shelter's truck.

"Of course I didn't know this until they showed up," said Barron. "This was our first alpaca. But fortunately, we have the Dr. Joseph W. Adams Rescue and Recovery Center on the shelter grounds, which is away from the dogs and has adequate fencing and an insulated shed for safekeeping."

However, just as Barron and her staff were getting the shed ready, a call came into the shelter about a lost alpaca.

"If only this were the case in all lost pets," sighed Barron. "Since 'Chardonnay,' as we later learned is her name, was still in the truck, we offered to give her a ride home. And thank you ACO Neely for a job well done."