Welcome!

If you are looking to adopt or foster llamas and/or alpacas you've come to the right place!

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.

Read below to learn the steps to become a SELR foster.

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.

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
Your farm meets

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.

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 animals
Provide hay, grain, pasture, and minerals specified for camelids (ie: stillwater minerals)
Routine care including vaccinations, de-worming, shearing, and toe-nail trimming
Veterinary care provided as needed
If new to camelids, the foster/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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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.