Therapy animals can help mass stay serene and ground , especially when they postulate it most . While Arabian tea and dogs are the most coarse therapy fauna , llamas — including the sure-enough one in the universe — have the same essence on some citizenry .
consort to theAssociated Press , a 27 - year - old therapy creature named Whitetop officially became the world ’s oldest llama in captivity in recent February . The cuddly white animal comforts chronically ill children at triumph Junction in North Carolina . The camp was founded by the American race car driver Kyle Petty , Word of NASCAR caption Richard Petty . Kyle started the organization to record his own son , Adam Petty , who passed away in an accident during a practice race in 2000 .
His legacy is honored at Victory Junction , where Whitetop has live on since being donated to the installation nearly two decennary ago . Llamas tend to live 15 years , but Whitetop far exceeds that age . Billie Davis , Victory Junction ’s b theatre director , told AP that his lifespan is likely due to top - tier veterinary surgeon concern and exercise . Whitetop is more often than not sizable ( though he does have arthritis ) . Before Whitetop , a llama namedDalai Llamaheld the crown for the oldest of his species .
Therapy llamas are n’t as unusual as you may assume . Mountain Peaks Therapy in Ridgefield , Washington , fetch trained llamas and alpacas to various locations , including hospitals , rehab centers , and older community . In2024 , the same organization brought Beni the llama and Captain Jack thealpacato the Portland International Airport to bring joyfulness to nervous traveller . The llamas and alpacas have also allow comfort throughPet Partners , a non-profit-making therapy creature company that owned 20 of the animals in 2019 .
Although dogs are a democratic therapy brute , some patients favour llama . Niki Kuklenski , a llama breeder from Washington , toldThe New York Timesthat llama can be better suited for those who experience dogs are “ too much ” and for the great unwashed who have had less - than - pleasant experiences with canines .
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