A llama in a sweater is not a normal airport sight. At Portland International Airport, it is a real one.
About once a month, llamas and alpacas from the Ridgefield, Washington-based nonprofit Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas visit PDX to spend time with travelers. Since 2023, the animals have been part of the airport’s animal-assisted therapy program, joining a lineup that began with dogs in 2019.
The therapy animals have become a popular part of the airport experience, with travelers lining up to meet them.
“PDX is known for doing things differently, and the llamas and alpacas – with their gentle nature and quirky personalities – have reached icon status in the airport, beloved by all,” PDX spokesperson Molly Prescott told USA TODAY. “There’s nothing quite like the delight and surprise you’ll see on people’s faces when they encounter the llamas and alpacas for the first time.”
With handlers alongside them, the trained animals spend time at the entrance and in the main terminal. They are hard to miss. Llamas and alpacas can stand about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 450 pounds, and they usually arrive in themed outfits. Pirate and western cowboy costumes are among the looks they wear.
Their visits last about an hour and a half. During that time, passengers can pet and hug the animals. Some also get a chance to give them a carrot kiss, feeding a small piece of carrot to the animal from their mouth or hands. Each camelid has its own trading card, which some frequent fliers collect.
“The whole purpose of the therapy is to help with anxiety and de-stress, so I’m always watchful,” said Mountain Peaks owner Lori Gregory to USA Today. “We get quite a few people traveling for not fun reasons, they’re going to visit their loved one for the last time, or they’re going to a funeral or you know, things that are hard. We always try to watch for those people to give them extra time with the animal and just express our love and care.”
The airport visits grew out of Gregory’s long involvement with llamas. She said it started after her family moved to rural Washington and had enough acreage for large animals. Her daughter, Shannon Joy, first wanted a horse, but changed course after joining a school program and learning about other animals. Through that program, Joy borrowed a local llama named Shania, after Canadian pop star Shania Twain, to show at fairs.
“We decided to join that to learn about these animals and just fell in love,” Gregory said.
Later, in 2002, the family bought a young llama named Rojo, along with two others because llamas are herd animals. Gregory said Rojo stood out for his gentle disposition. He grew to about 350 to 400 pounds and, she said, stayed unusually social.
“and never grew out of that dog-like personality and people-friendly personality,” Gregory said.
Gregory took Rojo to parades and fairs, where people were drawn to him. He liked the attention and enjoyed hugs and pets.
She said not every llama is suited to that kind of work. Llamas can be smart, protective and stubborn, and they are often known for spitting. Gregory said a llama’s behavior depends heavily on how it is raised and socialized, along with its natural demeanor. Alpacas, she said, are smaller, more timid and shy, but the more independent ones can do well as therapy animals if they are comfortable away from the herd.
“We try to educate a lot when we go out because people have such misconceptions and kind of put them all in the same basket,” Gregory said to USA Today. “Oh, he doesn’t like being here. He’d rather be in the pasture. I say, well, some are different and really actually enjoy new environments and are curious.”
In 2007, Gregory said she saw a boy in a wheelchair light up after meeting Rojo at a fair. She said that moment showed her Rojo could help people as a therapy animal.
Gregory and Joy, who had just finished high school, then took Rojo through the now-discontinued animal therapy program at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in downtown Portland. He became the first llama to graduate from the program.
After his new status was announced at a gala that year, Rojo’s popularity took off. He began visiting places around Portland, including charity events, senior homes and schools.
Mountain Peaks now has six llamas and five alpacas on the farm, though not all of them are suited to therapy visits. The organization also runs a for-profit branch that brings llamas to events such as weddings, and the proceeds help fund the nonprofit.
The airport connection began in 2020, when PDX invited Mountain Peaks llamas to help celebrate the opening of a new concourse. Wearing outfits that said “I heart PDX,” two llamas walked through the airport greeting travelers. They returned during the holiday season, and videos of them in Christmas sweaters went viral.
Now the visits are a regular part of the airport’s official therapy program. The airport says the llamas add “a dose of novelty and surprise.”
“There’s nothing quite like a wagging tail and friendly face to bring a little bit of comfort and joy,” said Prescott. “Especially in a city like Portland, known for being animal-friendly.”
When the animals arrive at PDX, they get valet parking and skip the security checkpoint line to be patted down.
Gregory said the visits also help the animals by exposing them to different settings as part of their training. The animals also spend time with airport staff, who often work in stressful jobs.
“It just really made me appreciate our airport,” said Gregory. “It’s very unique and the effort to try to make travel amazing for the people that go through the airport, I’ve just been very impressed with everybody.”
