Holiday Enrichment with Animals

Get ready for a cluck-tastic and woolly-good time! We are thrilled to announce a series of family-friendly educational events, featuring delightful chickens and adorable alpacas from Great Valley Longnecks Farm, irresistible reindeer from Rooftop Reindeer and lovely llamas from Emerald Glen Farm (Team Effort Artisans).

At the heart of our programming is a commitment to ensuring the well-being of all creatures involved. The humane treatment of the animal friends present at these programs is our top priority.

These events are designed to provide an engaging learning experience for attendees of all ages, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of these wonderful animals.

Veterinary Care and Essential Grooming

Great Valley Longnecks Farm provides regular and thorough veterinary care for all their animals, ensuring they are healthy, happy, and thriving. The alpacas undergo humane shearing procedures, which are crucial for their well-being, especially in warmer seasons. Shearing is a necessary practice to prevent overheating, and at Great Valley Longnecks, it is always performed by trained professionals who prioritize the comfort and safety of the animals.

At Rooftop Landing Reindeer the animals are cared for by their trained and specialized staff, including regular checkups and care as needed from a veterinary reindeer specialist. In Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farm's 30 years of operation, they have received federal and state inspections at their farm and at events each year without a single violation of rules. The Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and the USDA are informed each time a Reindeer is brought to an event.

Gentle Handling and Interaction

We understand the importance of gentle interaction, especially when children are involved. All animals at our events are accompanied and handled by experienced and knowledgeable handlers, taking every precaution to ensure that the animals are not stressed or harmed. They will closely monitor all interactions, guiding children and adults in how to respectfully approach and or handle the animals.

Domestication and Humane Care

Alpacas, chickens and llamas are domesticated species that have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. They are accustomed to human interaction and care. The farms working with CADL provide humane and compassionate care for their animals, ensuring they have ample space, proper nutrition, and social interaction.

While these reindeer are socialized and accustomed to human interaction, reindeer are not a domesticated species. Special care is taken by the staff at Rooftop Landing Reindeer to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our hooved and unhooved friends. The reindeer are given their own space to be fed and pet as they desire and have free roam throughout that space.

Promoting Humane Treatment through Interaction

We believe creating opportunities for the public to interact with animals in a controlled and educational setting, fosters a sense of respect and empathy. Learning about the needs and behaviors of alpacas, reindeer and chickens promotes responsible animal care and helps to dispel misconceptions.

Join us at these enriching events, where we can come together to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the incredible world of alpacas, reindeer and chickens! View dates, times and branch locations at cadl.org/events (keyword search "animals.")