Three alpacas named Flash, Pickles and Tom visited Weston Hospicecare during a day hospice session.
Owners Steve and Sally Baker answered questions posed by patients and offered a chance for people to pet the animals.
They say interaction with alpacas can have a positive effect on people’s health and state of mind.
They said: “Alpacas, like many other animals, have a beneficial effect on the wellbeing of humans. It is believed that various vital signs are ameliorated, such as heart rate and blood pressure.
“Alpacas are gentle, odd-looking and non-judgemental and have unusual and interesting behaviours which please observers.
“We hope they brightened the day for all who saw Flash, Pickles and Tom and we certainly enjoyed our visit to Weston Hospicecare.”
The pair keep nearly 40 alpacas after originally planning to keep only three. Their hobby and life has been transformed by the presence and responsibility of keeping the animals.
They continued: “We were going to have three as a retirement project but ended up buying a small herd of 12, we now have 38 animals we look after.
“We are now far busier than ever with people visiting to walk with, and spent time with, the alpacas. We also attend shows and now need to maintain our land.”
The pair run Stoke Wood Alpacas near Taunton and were encouraged by clinical staff to offer patients of the day hospice a therapeutic activity to engage with.