Lifeline therapy alpaca killed by a pack of wild dogs

A therapy alpaca who brought comfort to hundreds of sick and elderly people was killed, along with four others, by a pack of wild dogs on Wednesday night.

The beloved 14-month-old alpaca died at the Traralgon West property he was staying at in an incident that has left his owner ‘devastated’ and angry.

Known for this work with Lifeline Gippsland, Harold the alpaca brought smiles to the faces of thousands of locals around the Valley. 

The beloved 14-month-old alpaca was one of five killed on Wednesday night

‘They died from horrific injuries, they were torn apart and would have bled to death…it would have been horrible,’ owner Louise Lazarus told The Latrobe Valley Express.

‘These little alpacas have touched so many people in this Valley when the Valley needed a lift the most.’

The alpacas were staying at Lill Cunningham’s five-acre property off the Princes Highway at Traralgon West Nursery to get some ‘respite’. 

Her neighbour found the slaughtered pack – one still alive, in the front paddock of her rural block. 

The group of alpacas were slaughtered by wild dogs while staying at Traralgon West

She said police had to put the fifth one down which had been found still alive because the vet was too far away. 

‘If only I put them just outside the house, they would’ve been OK but there wasn’t enough grass so we put them in the paddock instead last week.’

While the attack has left both women and the broader community ‘heartbroken’, the search is on to find a sixth alpaca, believed to have fled the property following the attack.

If any members of the public see Spot, they are urged to contact Latrobe City Council on 1300 367 700.