A very sad loss
Myra, our little light fawn miracle cria from Dee, without warning or any other sign there was something wrong, was found dead in the pasture by the farm hand yesterday morning, the day we were scheduled to move all the alpacas from the boarding farm in SC to AL. It came as a horrible shock. She was thriving, very healthy, in fact the vet looked at her not even two weeks ago, when she came to do fecals and draw blood for the travel certificates.
I had added both her and Marius to our camelid insurance policy the day before yesterday to protect them for the journey to AL and while at the new boarding farm, never expecting of course for something like this to happen. Because we had only just added her to our policy, the insurance company required that her necropsy be done by a diagnostic lab, not the local vet. John kindly offered to drive the 3 hour round trip to take her there, so that we could commence loading the rest of our herd into the vans to take them to AL as planned.
I requested that Myra be sheared before they disposed of her, she was of course in full, beautiful fleece with shearing just around the corner, but my request by denied by Clemson University.
We are in shock, everyone was drawn to her and her big doe eyes, we could have sold her on several occasions even at this young age, but wanted to keep her for our foundation herd. Such a shame, a terrible loss.
I’ll post the cause of death once the necropsy results are in.
Myra two weeks ago
Myra two weeks ago
Myra two weeks ago
First steps
Me carrying her to the scale
Jesse welcomes the new addition
About an hour after birth
Shearing, 11 days old, comforted by Jesse (at first I told him to stop
because I thought she was being agitated, but she became
distressed when he walked away, so I asked him to come back
and he stroked and talked to her the whole time, keeping her calm)
John’s beginner’s shearing technique wasn’t perfect, but it was
perfect enough to get her nice and cool. Jason’s showing her off.
Instead of running to Dee, she came running to me!
Poor thing got confused 
Two and a half months
Comment by Jessie
I am crying! I know you probably are too. I have some thoughts I wont share here but please know I am thinking about you and wish I could give you a big hug!
RIP our beloved Myra!
Posted on February 14, 2009 at 8:00 am
Comment by Elena
What a beautiful, beautiful creature…! I am very sorry for your loss!
Posted on February 14, 2009 at 8:06 am
Comment by Georgia
I’m so, so sorry Roo. I am heartbroken for you.
Posted on February 14, 2009 at 9:21 am
Comment by Dani
Oh, Roo. I am so sorry for your loss. She was a beautiful animal and it’s terrible when they go with no warning.
My thoughts are with you, your family and the rest of your herd. All my love.
Posted on February 14, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Comment by pumpkinmama
Wow, she was a beauty. So sorry for your loss.
Posted on February 15, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Comment by Deborah
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve lost crias too and know how difficult and puzzling it can be.
Posted on February 15, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Comment by Autumn
That is terrible. The loss is always bad but with one so young? We lost a Llama recently he was old and had a stroke it was terrible waiting for the vet to come. Sorry for you loss.
Posted on February 15, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Comment by Janneke
I tried commenting several times B4,
without success.
My thoughts R with U nevertheless !
Terribly sorry 2 hear what’s happened.
All the best with Marius, may he recover fully and thrive !
Hugs
Janneke
Posted on February 15, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Comment by Rachel
Roo-I can’t give you a hug over the computer, but I have been there and know how tough it is to lose a cria. Myra, was so beautiful too.
Rachel
Posted on February 25, 2009 at 12:37 pm