VIDALIA, La. &045; A few turned heads and puzzled looks filled the faces of the residents and workers of Heritage Manor nursing home Tuesday when two fluffy alpacas walked in &045; one more reluctant than the other.

Eve and the more reluctant Larry, relatives of the llama and the camel, were part of Concordia Animal Welfare’s pet therapy program.

The animals, which don’t spit, stomp or bite, were first-time participants in the therapy program.

&uot;I’ve seen them on TV,&uot; resident Belle Starr said. &uot;I didn’t know they were so precious. I touched both of them.&uot;

Alpacas have a wooly coat, which is sheared each spring and sold. Owner Kally Dennig has eight of the animals and said she fell in love with them after seeing them in Canada.

Though Dennig said Larry was a little stressed by the experience, which explained the noise he made that drew some residents to the room, CAWS member Lisa Smith said the experience was overall good for the animals and humans.

&uot;They love it, we love it, you get to hear stories about their dogs,&uot; Smith said. &uot;And if they can’t see, they can touch. That’s a powerful thing.&uot;

Pet therapy also includes several small dogs that the residents get to hold.

Heritage Manor employee Liz Whitehead said the residents looked forward to the animal visits.

&uot;When they come the residents talk about it for days,&uot; Whitehead said. &uot;We take pictures and put them up.&uot;

Smith said since pet therapy had been successful in other locations, CAWS was interested in starting it in Concordia Parish.

Visits in the past have been about once a month. The residents gather in a large room to play with the animals.