By Liana Jacob
THIS JOYFUL ALPACA is putting smiles on faces as his carer takes him on adventures to some of the most unlikely PUBLIC PLACES including a car dealership, a cafe, and the local PUB.
Hilarious photos show Strudel the alpaca strolling with his owner, fitness instructor and massage therapist, Shandelle Peters (32) from Cessnock, Australia, at the beach and at a bar.
Strudel can be seen putting a smile on her granās face as he visits a care home for the elderly and being a passenger in Shandelleās car.
Quirky pictures illustrate Strudelās love of books and wearing various hats, while another shows him being carried by Shandelle.
This baby alpaca, who is 10-months-old, was bought by Shandelle from a breeder, they have since been on various adventures together and she is planning to buy another alpaca soon to serve as a playmate for Strudel.
He has been to her kidsā playgroup, the beach, cafes, vineyards, the pub, the elderly care facility, a car dealership and her friendsā houses.
āIāve always been an animal lover, growing up with horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and ducks,ā Shandelle said.
āI had the opportunity to keep three alpacas at Lovedale whilst I was living there and fell in love with their curious nature and playful antics.
āWhen I needed to move back to suburbia, I couldnāt part with Strudel and decided to try him in the car and going for walks.
āHe took to it easily. Iāve been watching him for signs of loneliness and have concluded that he does need another alpaca to live his best life.
āI hope to āadoptā his brother Noodle next week, bringing them home in the afternoon. This way he will be happiest with a playmate and more space.
āHis visits started with my own childrenās playgroup and my 95-year-old grandmotherās aged care facility. Elderly people light up when they see him.
āThey are amazed and say heās beautiful. The best reaction was when one elderly lady said she had tears in her eyes because he was so beautiful.
āChildren love to pat Strudel and can be wary at first but are soon won over. I love toddlers that point and say ādogā. His funny hats make them laugh.
āStrudel has also been to the beach, the cafe, the vineyards, the pub, a car dealership, local playground (with play equipment), bushwalking, to friendsā houses, the local sports oval. Itās a regular thing that he walks or goes in the car to places.
āThe strangest place heās been to is probably when I walked him down to the car dealership to pick up my car after it was serviced. He walked straight into the office with me, to the receptionist.
āHe has just had his first trip to the beach which he seemed to enjoy, especially rolling in the sand. Along the waterfront he was met with astonishment from holiday makers and patrons of cafes.
āEveryone wants to get a photo with him and to feel his super soft fleece. Itās like being seen by the paparazzi; phones out everywhere.
āHe makes people smile wherever he goes; the most common reaction is āyou donāt see that everydayā and āthatās made my dayā.ā
Strudel has made such an impact on children that Shandelle hopes to one day write a childrenās book based on him.
With over 1,700 followers on Instagram, she enjoys sharing his antics with the public and enjoys buying him accessories such as hats.
āStrudel needs shelter, grass, alpaca pellets, water, a dusty area to roll, daily walk/s, training to keep him co-operative and non-dominant,ā she said.
āThe furthest he has gone is down the freeway one-and-a-half-hours in the car to visit my mum. I buy Strudel accessories; he needs his own wardrobe. Alpacas arenāt costly to keep; they are low maintenance.
āI hope to write and illustrate āStrudelās Adventuresā into childrenās books one day. Iāve always wanted to write a childrenās book.
āAlpacas are very cute but also need proper care and training to avoid them becoming aggressive and hostile towards humans.ā
For more information visit: https://www.instagram.com/strudel_alpaca/