Emergency Hay for 60 Alpaca Fire Victims

Elaine Nash - Fleet of Angels is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Fleet of Angels Inc.

Tax deductible

WE CARE ABOUT ALL ANIMALS- INCLUDING ALPACAS, DON'T WE?
A lovely elderly couple, Paul and Judy Shetler, near Granby, CO- right in the middle of the area where massive Colorado wildfires are raging at 60 MPH and burning down everything in their path. The Shetlers have alpacas. The couple was safely evacuated as the fire swept over their mountain property, but they had to leave behind their 60 alpacas- including some babies, and their dogs.

After the fire burned through their property, the dogs were evacuated by animal shelter volunteers from Granby, and some of the alpacas were evacuated (not sure if that was before or after the fire) to a safe place, but most of the alpacas still can't get out because of the current danger of trailering in the area. Thank goodness the alpacas did all make it through the fire as it swept through, but the couple's hay barn that stored 1000 bales of winter hay for the alpacas, burned to ashes. He'd paid $8,000 for that hay, now gone. Currently, because there are so many active hot spots in the area, the Schuttlers can't get back home to check on their animals. When possible, animal shelter personnel are going in to check water and feed the few bales of hay that they can get in there.

The Shetlers are very nice people. Caring people. As far as they know right now, their home is gone. Until they're allowed back on their property, they are staying in temporary lodging that is "40 miles from anywhere", as he put it.

When Mr. Shetler called me, his main concern was for his alpacas and finding emergency hay for them. Imagine! You're in your 70's, your home is (probably) gone, your whole property has been turned to ash, and your main concern is for your alpacas. Bless his heart.

I feel that although most of us focus on helping horses, surely we can help Mr. and Mrs. Shetler fund some hay for their alpacas. Will you please pitch in whatever you can? I would really appreciate your help with this, and I know that they will be most grateful for any help we can offer!

I will be adding additional photos, as soon as Mr. Shetler can figure out how to get some to me. In the meantime, here's a photo of some of the Shetlers' alpacas from a local article about them a few years ago.