Llamas provide unique therapy experience at Portland International Airport

According to their website, these appearances financially support volunteer efforts at the non-profit farm. The organization aims to share "the love of God through animal-assisted therapy and camelid education among all ages." They highlight that not every llama or alpaca is suitable for this work; special dispositions are required.

Passengers at PDX have reacted positively to these animals. NPR reported on Lori Sackett's experience: “You can tell by my response how joyful I feel to see these animals out here. What a gift.” Shannon Joy noted the change in passengers' body language when they encounter the llamas: “Everyone has that resting face of ‘let me try to get through to my destination’, and then, all of a sudden, they come across a big fluffy llama that they’re encouraged to hug."

Varun Kataria shared his initial hesitation about feeding one of the llamas but found it stress-relieving after trying it.

For those interested in seeing these animals at PDX, following the farm’s social media pages is recommended as there is no set schedule for their appearances. The farm also offers services for events like corporate gatherings or weddings.

Tours on the farm itself are currently on hold until 2025 due to high demand.