Alpaca Mug – Al

This 15 oz mug is perfect for your morning coffee or tea.  The handle and the inside of the mug are pink. Looking at Al’s face first thing in the morning is sure to make anyone smile.

10% of this sale will be donated to the Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande for the care of Al’s friends. By purchasing my products you are not only supporting me to do more of this work helping animals, you are also supporting the sanctuary and all of the animals that live there!

All copyright is retained by Melisa Beveridge. No reprinting of this image is permitted.

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Jeff and Dr. Tammy Dobbs took over the Turtle and Tortoise Rescue of Arroyo Grande when the original founder retired. The Rescue is home to several reptiles and birds, and until recently was also home to a very special alpaca named Allison.

Allison had lived at the sanctuary for many years before an overdue haircut and a visit from the shearer revealed that Allison was in fact, a boy! Allison was known as “Al” from that point on.

Al was gentle, timid, and so, so sweet. He was roommates with Nelly the Emu (his best friend) Oreo the Goat, and Shurman the Tank (an African Sulcata tortoise). Al loved the ladies and enjoyed watching the visitors on tours, but was a bit shy at first when meeting someone new. When I met him I learned very quickly that food was the way to his heart, so I spent a lot of time hand-feeding him pellets.  Al loved playing in the sprinklers and in the rain.  He looked so cute with his hair all wet and droopy on his head, it looked kind of like a mop! He made me smile so much that I had to paint him. 

Al passed away in 2021, but his memory still makes me smile- and I hope it makes you smile too!