Holli the Miracle in Fleece

In the world of pet assisted therapy, Hollis Hope, or Holli as her friends call her, is truly unique.

Holli is an alpaca who was born prematurely and with a lot of health issues including a herniated navel and eye problems. In addition, she had trouble nursing from her mom, Dawn. Enter Michelle Zumwaldt, owner of Alpaca Patch.

Michele brought Holli and her mom home even though as a preemie Holli needed extra care including supplements of rich goat’s milk. Little Holli seemed to be progressing well and gaining strength when a major setback occurred. A rescue dog being fostered by Michelle startled the Alpacas and Holli was knocked down when the herd bolted. Michelle found her lying on the cold wet ground and immediately brought her inside.

Holli was bleeding from her mouth and her temperature was dangerously low so Michelle began warming her with a hairdryer. Fortunately, the bleeding only came from two chipped teeth and was not deemed serious. However, the little alpaca did not seem to be able to move her rear legs, and this was very worrisome.

Many owners in Michelle’s position with other animals to care for and having just been laid off from her long time job, would have given up on Holli and had her euthanized. Instead, Michelle decided to fight for little Holli to whom she had grown very attached. She had such a fighting spirit and I knew she was special. I just couldn’t give up on her. So, with dedicated help from her local veterinary hospital and vets at Kansas State University, Holli received acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and massage from a licensed therapist who lived nearby. Various splints were tried on Holli’s back legs including some made of PVC pipe and Holli required almost around the clock care and attention from Michelle and a dedicated band of neighbors and helpers.

Eventually, Michelle and her mother fashioned a kind of support cart from a discarded walker to allow Holli to be ambulatory. Slowly, Holli’s injured back legs began to strengthen, much to the surprise of her vets. However, they discovered that her hips were also damaged so she may need hip replacement surgery at some point. Even with the impending surgery and all she has been through, Holli’s prognosis is guardedly optimistic that she will continue to improve and perhaps walk on her own one day.

As if Holli’s progress wasn’t enough of a heart warming story, she has now embarked on a career in pet assisted therapy. Visiting the elderly residents at Hidden Lake Center and other nursing homes and facilities, Holli is able to reach the seniors, some of whom are Alzheimer patients, on their own level. Being taller than most therapy dogs that visit, Holli is at just the right height for the residents in wheel chairs and rockers, and she loves people so much that she goes right up to the elderly residents delighted to receive all the pats and attention they lavish on her. When Holli comes in with her specially adapted cart, she and the elder residents have a lot in common, and she is especially inspirational to the Alzheimer’s patients with her never-say-die attitude. Michelle said that one Alzheimer patient who has difficulty  interacting with people loved Holli’s visits and is able to remember her name, although he doesn’t remember Michelle’s name and calls her Holli, too. That’s okay, said Michelle. I just tell him: yes, I am Holli’s mom.

Holli also relates well to children from scout troops and school groups who love to visit her at the Alpaca Ranch. Visitors are common at the ranch although Michelle does no official advertising. When Holli is out she always draws a crowd, and her story has spread through word of mouth so many of Michelle's neighbors and their friends want to see her. Holli loves all the attention. It’s almost as if she understands and is giving back to all those who supported her and believed in her.

In July Holli and Michelle will participate in a wheel chair parade in their area where her joyful personality is sure to attract lots of attention.

Despite all Holli’s health problems, Michelle is able to shear her fleece and has even made some heart shapes from it that she used as thank yous at Christmas for all the neighbors and friends who helped save Holli. And, move over Martha Stewart, because a jeweler friend has begun designing some “Holli jewelry” made from her fleece.

If you would like to find out more about Holli and Michelle, you can visit their website: Holli
Go here to see a video of Holli: Holli Video

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Read all Lee’s pet therapy articles: Pet Therapy