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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
James Moncur

Meet the hand-reared orphan alpaca who travels in cars and makes OAPs smile in care home

This is the moment Annie the orphaned Alpaca popped in to a Scots care home to make residents smile.

The cuddly animal lapped up the love during the heartwarming visit to the Barchester Fordmill, in Montrose.

And the residents were just as delighted being in Annie’s company.

Adding to the fun were youngsters from the local Little Beehive Nursery who were also invited along for her visit.

Annie's owner Danny Burns, from the Alpaca trekking Centre in Stirling, had reared her when her mother rejected her at birth.

Danny bought two alpacas on Gumtree after giving up his 9-5 as a double-glazing salesman.

Nine years later, he has 70 and owns the centre in Stirling.

Speaking about the base last year, he said: “We’ve doubled our turnover in a year and a half, just purely by the staycation situation.

“People can’t go abroad at the moment so they’re choosing to do something locally.”

Daniel’s alpacas even offer service with a selfie.

He added: “Alpaca trekking is accessible and people can get up close with them and get a selfie.

“The alpacas are trained to do that.”

Annie has lived with him and his family ever since and is fully housetrained.

The residents looked on as Annie arrived in style in the back of Danny’s car.

The care home’s general manager, Aileen Alberts said: “It was heart-warming to see the joy that Annie brought to Fordmill, we all loved her.

“A very big thank you to Danny, who drove his gorgeous girl all the way from the Alpaca Trekking Centre in Stirling with her in his car.

“I bet people thought they were seeing things!”

Aileen Scott, a resident at Fordmill Care Home, was over the moon with excitement to meet Annie.

She said “I just can’t believe it, I’ve never seen an Alpaca before. This is so special.”

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