Police investigate alpaca attack

Police investigate death of pregnant alpaca in alleged attack by hounds

Detectives are investigating reports that a pet alpaca was attacked by hounds and died on New Year’s Day. Ruby (photo right) was pregnant and her unborn baby also died. A young alpaca Ruby was nursing escaped.

The alleged attack, said to involve dogs from Tiverton Staghounds, happened at Rosebud Alpacas near Kings Nympton.

Owner Lucy Aylett told Molton Monthly, “We are totally devastated and shocked. We’re also trying to run a small business as are others in the community, and this has an impact on that.”

Lucy and her husband Nick Stringer (pictured above, right) are well known for breeding alpacas, and the couple run popular yoga and glamping on their smallholding in the North Devon countryside. Their ‘yoga with alpacas’ classes have previously been featured in Molton Monthly

A spokesman for Devon & Cornwall Police said, “We are investigating a report in relation to hounds that attacked an alpaca which died as a result of its injuries at a rural property in the Kings Nympton area, between 10.30am and 12.35pm on Monday, January 1st.”

Detectives are appealing for anyone to get in touch who witnessed the incident or have information that can help, they are also asking for any dashcam or CCTV footage.

Please contact police via their website or by calling 101 quoting reference number: 50240001262.

Pictures above courtesy Rosebud Alpacas