Tribune


By Laura Freeman Community Editor North Perry and Peru have more in common than just the similarity of their names. Although alpacas don't run wild in Perry quite like they do in Peru, the Platt family is wild about alpacas. Seeing their 9-year old son, Scott, broken hearted after the untimely demise of several family pets was enough for Jamie and Kim Platt. "Scotty loves animals," Kim said. "He'd get attached and they'd die." A visit to the Geauga County Fair and it was all over; the Platts knew alpacas were in their future. A member of the camelid family and a cousin to the llama, alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains in Peru. "We fell head over heels in the love with them at the fair," Kim said. They soon met 5-month old Princess Leia, who eventually became their first alpaca. "We got to feed her and pet her," Scott remembered with an ear-to-ear grin. Several farm tours later, the Platts were armed with all kinds of info about alpacas, including that they have a life span of 15 to 20 years. The Platts thought the curious, gentle animals would be a perfect pet for Scott -- not to mention what it would mean for them. Soon, Heaven Sent Alpacas was a reality. Although Jamie still works full-time at Perry Nuclear Power Plant, Kim now has her hands full with the additions to the family. The couple loves the stress-free lifestyle of raising the hardy, easy-to-care-for animals. "Coming from the banking and nuclear fields, this is great," Jamie said, waving his hand to encompass the neatly-kept barn and fenced-in area surrounding it. "It's not a cut-throat business," Kim said. "Alpaca breeders are a very close-knit group of people." Her husband agrees.
	"One of the things we like best is we all work hand-in-hand," Jamie said. "If you need anything, they are always willing to help. they know how much their animals mean to them." The family spends many weekends going to alpaca shows. Much like horse shows, kids as young as 3 can enter the competitions. Classes for children include showmanship, obstacles and public relations. When it comes to PR, the animals really speak for themselves. Friendly and furry, alpacas are almost as curious about people as people are about them. Other considerations in showing the animals is the season. In the spring, alpacas are shown in full fleece. In the fall, they are shown sheared, with only their top knot left intact to indicate the quality of their fiber. Kim is becoming adept at shearing, and sells the fiber to local spinners and weavers. At the Pennsylvania Breeders Showcase Alpaca Show in Butler, Pa., Scott came away with the award to top all awards, the Grand Champion. His parents were proud, and a little surprised, that he won the highest honor at only his second showing. Scott, who will be in fourth-grade at Perry Elementary this fall, says he really has to know his stuff when it comes to showing his favorite alpacas, Obsession's Sir Calvin and Scott's Royal Gold. "They ask me their names and I have to show them their teeth and answer other about them," Scott said. His 4-year-old sister, Shannon, is getting into the action as well. She also shows Sir Calvin and will soon sow Constance, who at 1-month old, is the latest addition to the Platt's herd of eight alpacas." Shannon's an alpaca girl, through and through," Kim said. "That's someone she can boss around."	About 10 alpacas can be fed on what one horse would eat. This, combined with the money to be made in stud fees and the selling of the fiber makes alpacas not only good pets, but a great investment, Jamie said. The Platts recently held an open house to introduce their alpacas, and alpacas in general, to anyone interested in the animals. "It's education of the public," Jamie said. "A lot of people have never seen alpacas. They don't know what they are." Heaven Sent Alpacas offers many services to new and established alpaca owners. Not only do the Platts offer show training services, the farm has room for boarding for folks who go on vacation or who buy an alpaca with nowhere to keep it right away. The couple also took veterinary classes at The Ohio State University to learn the animals, literally, inside and out. Jamie and Kim have assisted in the births of three alpacas to date. Even though alpacas give birth in the wild by themselves, there is a high attrition rate, Jamie said, and without help from their human caregivers, many could die. With Ohio one of the states with the highest population of alpacas, owning a trailer than can transport several alpacas at a time is another plus the Platts have going for them. [...] Fore more information or personal tours, call Jamie and Kim Platt at (440) 259-3564.