I have two remaining old lady alpacas. We adopted them years ago to live out their golden years away from their hoarder neglectful previous owners. They have been stalwart mascots for our small forest farm. Welp, the oldest of the two went down again, third time in two weeks. Took the opportunity to examine the swelling on her jaw my partner notified me of last night. Poor thing. No remaining teeth on the left and a giant abscess of her mandible in the right. At 16ish year and cantankerous she didn’t have a chance.

I know I could call someone to come euthanize her but like, I’m capable of doing it obviously and everyone looks to me to be the one. Farm life, anybody on this farm could shoot a down alpaca but I’m the one because….idk, it’s my job or I can handle it or whatever?

Im okay with it I guess. It’s just sort of tough that the burden of EOL for our pets falls on us so often.