You may recall that last Monday I reported the very sad case of a cria which had been killed. Fellow alpaca farmers around the country are now donating the money to a reward fund.

Here in Tana's own words is what happened.....


"I came home from work late on Wednesday October 10, around 9:00.
I went out to the barns to check on everyone and feed grain.
My males and females are in barns that are separated by the driveway.
I immediately noticed that my newest cria was missing. (she was a
little huacaya female born Saturday October 6)..she was FIVE days
old.
Mom was cushed out side, but all of the other girls were standing in
the far corner of the barn which was unusual.
I went on " alert" and knew something was wrong.
I ran in the house and got the flashlight and started looking in the
pasture.

I saw the baby laying a ways down the slope ..and knew something was
wrong.
I walked up to her, hoping she was not dead, but perhaps I could do
something to help her.
She had been decapitated, and her head and part of her neck was
missing. It was the sickest most awful thing I have EVER seen, and I
work for a vet so I see alot...

I cannot explain the horror and shock I went thru, but wanted to
pass on this information.
I contacted the Sheriff's department and they sent out two Police
officers. They have been extremely kind and courteous and efficient.
They found were it appears someone (2 or more) pushed down the woven
fence, crawled under the strand of barbed wire, and walked thru the
taller weeds/grass thru the back of the girls pasture...caught the
baby and did this grisly task. Sometime between dusk (6:00-8:00)

Briefly...we just purchased our place and moved here in June.
The pastures were set up, and we have been remodeling them a little
at a time.
The girls pasture enclosed 5 acres, but alot of it is swampy, and we
only keep the acre near the barn and on the hill and slope mowed.
All of the pastures have 5 foot woven fencing topped with barbed
wire..it was here when we moved in.
I have ONE guardian dog...she is a year old and very protective of
her alpacas, but not extremely aggressive.
I think they either intimidated her, distracted her, or locked her
in one of the other barns ( I found the bottom of the inside of one
of the barn doors chewed and we have never locked her in there,
but...that may have been there b-4).

The deputies that came out spent two hours out here. They took
pictures and walked the pastures with me looking for
evidence...there was very little, and very little blood. They think
the baby was choked before they took her head, or they collected the
blood too.

Apparently they have gained information of some satanic cult ritual
that takes place October 10 and 11 that involves sacrificing a goats
head..and they believe this may be related, or some twisted kids
idea of a dare.
The Chief of the Sheriff's department contacted me today and want to
publicize this to get the word out."

Tana L. Ward




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We believe the alpaca community should step forward and surpass the
efforts of the Humane Society and the Animal Defense Council. We
challenge every member of the alpaca community to contribute to a
fund to offer an even greater reward to ferret out the sicko's responsible
for this crime. We have opened a dedicated account with a $25 contribution
and an additional $900 contributed this week. If a majority of alpaca ranches
contributed $10-$25 or $? we could easily bring this reward fund to $25K,
even $50K. Contributions have already been received from 36 ranches in
19 states and Switzerland!

The faster a large fund is raised, the sooner it can be offered to the
Walworth County Sheriff. Quick action on our part will provide a greater
opportunity for continuing publicity and more likelihood that this case can
be solved.

Come on folks, let's help out a fellow breeder. We'll take your committment
in any form... send checks made out to "Alpaca Reward Fund" Or, call us and
we can put your donation on your credit card. PayPal funds can be sent
to jess@acresoflove.com. With YOUR support we can do this! If this fund
should be unclaimed, all donors will be consulted as to disposition, including
possibilities such as funding ARF, replacing Tana's cria or value, etc.

Checks should be made payable to Alpaca Reward Fund and mailed to:

Jess & Cookie Bowers
Acres of Love Alpaca Ranch
11006 N 92nd East Ave
Owasso, OK 74055-6531

Credit card contributions should be phoned to:

Cookie Bowers 918-327-3519

PayPal funds should be sent to: jess@acresoflove.com