It started with a chance llama sighting in Los Banos and
ballooned into a full-time hobby and new career for retired school
teacher and Hollister resident Jeanne Dorrance.
Dorrance, who has lived in Hollister for the past six years,
began raising alpacas, an animal that resembles a llama and is part
of the camel family, about a year ago, she said.
Hollister – It started with a chance llama sighting in Los Banos and ballooned into a full-time hobby and new career for retired school teacher and Hollister resident Jeanne Dorrance.
Dorrance, who has lived in Hollister for the past six years, began raising alpacas, an animal that resembles a llama and is part of the camel family, about a year ago, she said.
“It’s a nice pastoral lifestyle because you’re raising animals,” she said. “I love to be out there with them.”
Dorrance raised horses while teaching at Saratoga High School and the Fremont Union High School District, but when she retired she wanted to do something less strenuous, she said.
Her alpacas don’t have to be cleaned and attended to as much as horses and are gentle, caring animals by nature, she said.
Dorrance shows her animals at fairs, sells their fur, called fiber, which is used for spinning and knitting clothing, and sells the animals themselves, she said.
While she had heard about alpaca sweaters in high school, which were considered unique because of their soft texture and steep price tag, she didn’t even know what they were until she saw a llama and started researching them, she said.
“I never thought I’d have one,” she said. “I never thought I’d be able to afford it.”
To get started Dorrance cashed in her 401K, solicited the help of an investor who also raises alpacas and spent another considerable chunk of cash on the animals, which can range from $3,000 to $40,000 each, she said.
While she’s only sold one animal to a friend in Prunedale, she’s confident her investment will pay off in the long run.
“It’s an enjoyable animal that’s a good investment,” she said. “And it’s a guilt-free animal to raise. You don’t have to eat it at the end.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
