At Portland International Airport, therapy llamas and alpacas help travelers relax with monthly visits.
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You’d never expect to see a sweater-clad llama striding through an airport terminal, but if you’re flying through Portland International Airport (PDX), it’s a real possibility.
Several llamas and alpacas from Mountain Peaks Therapy, a nonprofit organization based in Ridgefield, Wash., visit PDX about once a month to interact with visitors. You may be familiar with the dogs that work at airports to provide comfort to travelers, but since 2023, these camels have been part of PDX’s unique animal-assisted therapy program.
It was such a hit that people lined up to see the large mammal.
“PDX is known for doing things differently, and with their gentle natures and quirky personalities, our llamas and alpacas have achieved icon status at the airport and are beloved by all,” PDX spokeswoman Molly Prescott told USA TODAY. “There’s nothing like the joy and wonder on people’s faces when they meet a llama or alpaca for the first time.”
Trained therapy animals hang out at entrances and main terminals with their handlers by their side, welcoming attention and affection. It’s not just hard to miss them; Llamas and alpacas typically grow up to 6 feet tall and can weigh up to 450 pounds, in part because they wear playful costumes. Pirates and western cowboys are just some of the costume themes.
During the hour-and-a-half visit, passengers can pet and cuddle the llamas and alpacas. There’s also a chance to do carrot kissing, where you feed small carrots to the animals through your mouth or hand. Each camelid has its own trading card, and frequent fliers love to collect them.
“The goal of therapy is to reduce anxiety and relieve stress, so we’re always careful,” Mountain Peaks owner Lori Gregory said. “We have quite a few people who travel for reasons that aren’t fun, like going to see a loved one for the last time or going to a funeral. We always make sure to give them extra time with their animals and just express our love and care.”
fall in love with a llama
It all started with a llama named after Canadian pop star Shania Twain. Gregory and her family had just moved to rural Washington, and their new property had enough space to house several large animals. Daughter Shannon Joy initially wanted a horse, but the school’s program quickly changed her mind. Through the program, Joy learned about different animals, including borrowing a local llama, Shania, to show at the fair.
“We decided to take part in it to learn about these animals and just fell in love,” Gregory said.
In Gregory’s words, Shania’s kind nature brought a “whole new world” to the family. The idea of seeing llamas roaming outside in the United States may seem exotic and strange to some, but llamas are one of the oldest domesticated animals in history. Llama shows are now held all over the United States, from California to Georgia.
In 2002, the family purchased a young llama named Rojo. Gregory said his kind disposition made him stand out from other young llamas. Since llamas are herd animals, we also bought two more.
Rojo grew up to weigh nearly 350 to 400 pounds and “never outgrew his dog-like personality and friendly nature,” Gregory said. They took him to parades and fairs, and everyone was attracted to him. He also loved attention and enjoyed being cuddled and pet by everyone.
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Not all llamas are like Shania or Rojo. By nature, llamas are smart, protective, and sometimes stubborn creatures, earning them a reputation for being mean creatures and spitting on people. Gregory says this depends not only on the llama’s natural attitude, but also on how the llama is raised and socialized. Its smaller cousin, the alpaca, is more timid and shy, but its independent nature makes it a great therapy animal.
“We try to educate a lot when we go out because people have so many misconceptions and put them all in the same basket,” Gregory said. “Oh, he doesn’t like being here. He’d rather be in the meadow. I said, well, some things have changed and he’s actually enjoying his new surroundings and he’s curious.”
That was confirmed in 2007 when Gregory witnessed a cordial interaction. A young boy in a wheelchair regains his strength after meeting Rojo at a trade fair. At this moment, she realized that Rojo could have a positive impact on others as a therapy animal.
Gregory and Joy, fresh out of high school, took Rojo to the now-defunct animal therapy program at Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital in downtown Portland. He made history as the first Lama to graduate from the program.
Rojo’s new position was announced at a gala that year, and his popularity quickly exploded. He soon began making visits all over Portland, from charity events to nursing homes and schools.
Currently, the farm has six llamas and five alpacas, but not all of them are suitable for therapeutic visits. Mountain Peaks also owns a commercial branch that takes llamas to events such as weddings, with the proceeds helping to fund nonprofit organizations.
Bringing joy to the airport
In 2020, PDX celebrated the opening of its new concourse and invited Mountain Peaks Llamas to join in the festivities. Two llamas wearing costumes that read “I heart PDX” strutted through the airport, greeting travelers. They returned home for the holidays, and a video of Llama walking through the airport wearing a Christmas sweater went viral.
Now, they are regulars at the airport through an official partnership with PDX’s Animal Therapy Program. The program first started with dogs in 2019, and the llamas “added novelty and surprise,” according to the airport. “There’s nothing like a wagging tail and a friendly face to bring a little comfort and joy,” Prescott said. “Especially in a city like Portland, which is known for being animal-friendly.”
When llamas and their handlers arrive for special visits, they take advantage of valet parking, skip the security lines and get patted.
Time spent at the airport is valuable, even for non-travelers. Exposure to different environments at the airport helps train the animals. They also spend time with the airport staff themselves, who often have stressful jobs.
“I really appreciated the value of the airport,” Gregory said. “This is very unique and an effort to provide a great travel experience for people who use the airport, and I’m very impressed with everyone.”
