Welcome!

If you are looking to adopt or foster llamas and/or alpacas you've come to the right place! When you are ready, complete the adopt/foster application then contact your closest adoption coordinator to start the process! All of our coordinators are volunteers with busy lives, so please be patient as you await a response.

SELR is committed to the lifelong care of every camelid that passes through our gates. Animals that can no longer be cared for must be returned to SELR, and foster and adoptive homes must permit periodic inspection of the animals and facilities by a mentor or peer reviewer. SELR does not place solitary animals, with the exception of specific situations where llamas with a proven disposition to work as guardians for sheep, goats or other appropriate livestock are placed.

As a rescue organization, SELR has a non-breeding policy. All males are gelded and females are adopted out with a non-breeding contract. Please do not ask us to suspend this policy, as it is embedded in our charter and non-compliance could cause us to lose our nonprofit status.

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Fostering

Become a SELR Foster

When animals come into the SELR system, many times they need to stay at a Foster home until an appropriate Adoption home is found or transportation is arranged for them to another (longer term) Foster home. This may be a short as over-night to days, weeks and possibly months. Please consider being a foster home or even a foster center! (And to be honest with you, lots of foster homes become permanent adoption homes!)

STEP 1: understand the requirements

You agree to foster animals placed in your care, and return them to SELR if you can no longer care for them
You cannot breed, sell, give away, transfer or dispose of SELR animals
You agree to periodic farm and animal inspections by SELR representatives
SELR will reimburse you for necessary medical expenses/vet services, special feeds, medications
You agree to provide regular feed, hay, minerals, vaccines, de-wormers, and other routine products during the foster period for SELR animals

Step 2: submit an application to foster to your nearest coordinator

Complete the Application Form, located on our FORMS page, and submit it online. A coordinator will reach out to you once they receive it, but feel free to contact them directly to let them know you would like to foster.

step 3:COMPLETE A FARM CHECK WITH A COORDINATOR

You and your coordinator will agree upon a time and date to complete a farm check to ensure your location is suitable and safe for llamas and alpacas. Homes must adhere to our guidelines, noted below.

step 4: receive and care for the animals

When the opportunity arises, you will be contacted by your coordinator to ask if you are willing and able to take on fosters. This is a completely personal decision- some fosters can only take in one sex, some can only take in elderly animals, some can take 2, some can take 30. These details will be worked out with your coordinator to fit your preferences and abilities at the time.

important note:

The foster process is the same as for adoption, but transportation will be arranged at our cost. The foster home assumes responsibility for day-to-day care of foster animals. SELR is responsible for any major medical expenses that arise, but the Coordinator should be consulted before action is taken to incur any significant expense. The foster home has right of first refusal if they express an interest in the adoption of animals in their care.

Adopting

Adopting Llamas and Alpacas

Thank you for considering the adoption or fostering of an animal from Southeast Llama rescue. The process for doing so is relatively painless and the rewards are tremendous.

STEP 1: complete the adoption application

Complete the adoption application online or email the appropriate adoption coordinator for your state. You may also reach out via direct message the SELR Facebook page.

step 2: discuss details with your coordinator

Once your form has been received, an adoption coordinator will contact you to discuss the details of your completed application and schedule the required farm check to ensure you are properly positioned for managing camelids. If it is not possible for someone to be on premises, pictures accompanied by a phone interview will typically suffice.

step 3: mentorship

A mentor will be appointed for you unless you have one already or are an experienced owner. For new owners, your mentor will be your new best friend as you join the world of llama and alpaca owners. They will be there to answer your questions and assist with advice as needed. You are also welcome to direct message the SELR Facebook page as all the admins have a wealth of camelid experience.

step 4: Review the available animals

Your adoption coordinator will go over the list of available llamas with you and assist in making the best possible match for you. You can review the website or our facebook page to see some of the animals available. Situations change rapidly, so not all animals may be pictured or listed. SELR spans numerous states and farms, and we will attempt to minimize transport requirements as much as possible. It is wise to restrict your search to neighboring states when browsing the selection.

step 5: arrange transport

Once your animals have been selected and your facilities inspected and approved, transportation will be arranged if necessary. The adoption or foster contract will be sent for your review before delivery/pickup. Payment of designated fees is required on or before delivery. If your initial choice doesn't work out for any reason within the first 30 days, we will refund adoption fees or you may select another animal if available.

Important note:

SELR places animals in same-sex pairs and always attempts to preserve bonded relationships. We do not typically place solitary animals, with the exception of specific situations where they will join an existing herd or llamas with a proven disposition to work as guardians for sheep, goats, or other appropriate livestock and are considered suitable for the applicants' environment. All animals are adopted with a non-breeding policy.

Southeast Llama Rescue

Foster and Adoptive Home Requirements:

A minimum of ½ an acre space for 1 or 2 llamas or 3-4 alpacas, or a minimum of one acre for every 4 llamas or 8 alpacas.
A safe, well-maintained fence (minimum of 4 ft tall, preferably 5). Barbed wire is not acceptable except in very specific cases and must be approved as a unique circumstance.
Shelter from inclement weather with a minimum of 3 sides and adequate space for the number of animals it is anticipated to house
Own or have access to transportation for adopted animals
Hay and grain
Mineral salt specified for camelids (ie: stillwater minerals)
Routine care including vaccinations, de-worming, shearing, and toe-nail trimming
Veterinary care as needed
If new to camelids, the adopter must find a mentor who will teach them how to properly care for the animals, including shearing, trimming toenails, giving injections, de-worming and handling emergencies. In many cases, we can find a mentor to help you.

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Included with Adoption:

SELR's adoption fee is $300.00 per animal which includes:

A properly fitted halter and lead (growing animals may need new halters eventually unless the one provided can be adjusted to a proper fit)
Gelding & fighting teeth blunted for males. Females have a no-breeding clause in the adoption contract
Shearing if appropriate to the season
CDT vaccination
Worming as appropriate
Ongoing support, information, and help through local mentors

Transportation is the responsibility of the adopter but we are happy to assist if we can manage it using our volunteer network. Volunteers are reimbursed at .50/mile. We will plan a route and present the cost for your approval before we initiate planning. If you approve, the cost will be reflected separately in the adoption contract and added to the total fees. Please be advised that we cannot always move animals the entire way to you but we work hard to help you determine alternatives if that is the case.

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SELR Non-Breeding Policy

As a rescue organization, SELR has a non-breeding policy which is in accordance with the universally accepted practice of all sanctioned rescue organizations. If your interest is in a breeding animal, we would be happy to refer you to responsible breeders or organizations that can aid you in that arena. SELR non-breeding policy is non-negotiable. It is embedded in our charter and non-compliance could cause us to lose our nonprofit status.

NOTE: It is widely accepted and recommended amongst llamas and alpacas that males and females be kept in separate pastures. Males, even if gelded, can cause harm to females through testosterone-driven behaviors.

Males:

Gelding of all males is mandatory. If they are too young to geld at the time of adoption, SELR will pay for gelding at a later date, preferably between 18-24 months (on average). Each Adoption Coordinator is responsible for monitoring the status of these males to ensure gelding takes place at the appropriate time. If you have questions regarding this process, please direct them to your Coordinator or you can message the SELR Facebook page.

Females:

Because spaying a large animal involves inherent dangers for surgery, recuperation, as well as expense, we adopt out all females with a non-breeding contract. These policies apply universally and imply a level of trust and integrity between SELR and the adopter. Animals that are subsequently bred in violation of the foster/adoption contract are subject to removal from the home. We will place them back in foster care along with any offspring or in a foster experienced in birthing and aftercare.

Pregnant Females:

Placement of animals that are either suspected or confirmed to be pregnant upon surrender is done on a case-by-case basis. Experienced homes that currently maintain a herd comprised of both genders are the most likely candidates for pregnant animals. Typically we prefer to retain them in the foster system until we know the gender of the cria because placing a female with a male cria into an adoptive home could be a problem for those who do not have the facilities to separate them at weaning and maintain ongoing separation by gender until such time as the cria is old enough to be gelded.

Placement of these animals is at the discretion of the Adoption Coordinator.