Family Alpaca, Llama Shot and Killed

Two family pets, an alpaca named Sandi Lynn and a llama named Patches, were reportedly shot and killed on a Barrow County family farm, Gilliland’s Heritage Alpacas.

Angie and Jim Gilliland started the company in 2005, WSB-TV reports. The two raise and sell alpacas and alpaca fiber -- used to make hats, scarves and sweaters.

Gilliland tells WSB-TV the animals were shot early Saturday around 1:30 a.m. Sandi Lynn was shot in the left lung and Patches was shot twice at point blank range in the abdomen. Gilliland also saw Patches had a slash from his ear to his jaw.

“The female [alpaca] killed was a $30,000 female,” Angie Gilliland told WSB-TV. “So we have a loss of $35,000.”

But it’s not only the value of the alpaca and llama that hits hard. The animals were loved family pets as well as being part of the Gilliland family’s livelihood.

“It’s heartbreaking to know someone (is) so cruel enough to hurt an innocent animal,” she told WSB-TV. “They don’t have hooves to kick you. They don’t have teeth to bite you.”

A reward fund has been set up for information leading to the capture of the animals’ killers. According to the Gilliland’s Heritage Alpacas Facebook page, all donations can be made to account #1627414640 at any Wells Fargo Bank. So far, $5,970 has been pledged to the fund.

Police and Angie Gilliland believe there is more than one suspect, WSB-TV reports. It would have taken at least two people to shoot Patches at close range.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Barrow County Sheriff’s Office at 770-307-3080 or by filling out a form online.