Meet Baby Doll: a sweet little alpaca who recently made some unlikely friends.
When Baby Doll was just 4 weeks old, her mother fell sick and passed away. Sadly, her human guardian at the time was also facing health issues, making it difficult for him to care for the baby animal on his own. Without comfort and guidance, Baby Doll couldn’t maintain a healthy quality of life. She needed help — and fast.
Luckily, Baby Doll’s caretaker soon connected with rescuers at Edgar’s Mission, who agreed to welcome Baby Doll into their farm sanctuary. Safe at last, the alpaca could finally relax.
Rescuers gave Baby Doll a warm place to sleep, and they stayed on top of her frequent feeding schedule. But there was one thing that the human team members couldn’t provide. Baby Doll craved animal friendship — that’s where Peanut and Butter, a pair of motherless rescue goats, came in.
“Alpacas are especially sensitive and herd-oriented animals,” Edgar’s Mission founder Pam Ahern told The Dodo. “They rely heavily on the presence of others to feel safe in the world. So seeing Baby Doll form close connections with Peanut and Butter has been both beautiful and entirely consistent with what we understand about their nature. They are each offering the other what they have lost, a sense of belonging.”
Baby Doll’s circle of friends doesn’t end there. She’s also bonded with Venus, a rescue calf.
“What is perhaps most touching is that these connections are not limited by species,” Ahern said. “Little Venus … has shown no hesitation in joining this small, blended family.”
Though these inter-species connections might seem unique to the human eye, for Baby Doll, Peanut, Butter and Venus, their friendship is normal in the best way.
“To them, it is simply what makes sense,” Ahern said.
Seeing all of these rescue animals bond, Ahern can’t help but be reminded of the power of her sanctuary and its ability to breathe new life into animals who need a second chance.
“In the absence of fear, and in the presence of care, connection follows,” Ahern said. “And that, in many ways, is what sanctuary is all about.”