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This 6-Pound Alpaca Has An Amazing Survival Story
SO tiny! And SO funny!
Catherine Marucci
07.16.18

When you think of a doting pet parent, you usually think of someone with a well-fed fur baby curled up on a bed that appears to be more comfortable than what most humans sleep on. Most of the time, the animals that receive this royal treatment are canines or felines.

However, a teeny tiny six-pound alpaca, Cody, stole the heart of Amber Isaac at first sight.

baby Cody
Little But Fierce via YouTube
Source:
Little But Fierce via YouTube

Cody’s birth

On August 6tth, 2014, Amber noticed one of her pregnant alpacas showing signs of early labor. She became very alarmed because the mother to be had a due date that was still a month away.

Paying close attention, Amber noticed a small nose and little feet coming from the mother. She was confused because the pushing had stopped and the baby seemed stuck where it was.

Amber figured the baby was so small that the mother was not uncomfortable enough to keep pushing, so she sprang into action. In one swift tug, Amber was able to retrieve the miniature animal that was smaller than a human infant, which is significantly small for an alpaca.

An average alpaca is 15-20 pounds at birth. The new addition to Amber’s group was only six pounds. It saddened her to think the adorable little mammal wouldn’t survive for more than a few hours.

A member of the family

Amber was not going to stand by idly and let Cody diminish. Frail and weak, Cody began to dry up and widen her eyes. She was given a bottle, and she drank it like her life depended on it. Amber recognized Cody’s will to live.

bottle
Little But Fierce via YouTube
Source:
Little But Fierce via YouTube

Sadly, Cody’s birth mother was not helping her along. Amber decided to bring her into her home to get her stabilized. Just as a new mother does, Amber was awake all night making sure Cody ate when she was hungry and was still breathing.

With a lot of perseverance and love, Amber was able to get Cody to a healthy weight. The alpaca never did move out of Amber’s home and back to the outdoors permanently, instead she became a member of the household.

alpaca
Little But Fierce via YouTube
Source:
Little But Fierce via YouTube

Her house has more hay than Amber would like, but she feels it is a small price to pay for a healthy alpaca.

Cody even has a bedtime routine! She stands at the bottom of the staircase and waits for Amber to go up to her room. She then follows her excitedly into what has become their bedroom.

happy alpaca
Little But Fierce via YouTube
Source:
Little But Fierce via YouTube

The road to recovery was anything but smooth. The first two years of Cody’s life were a struggle. She endured many broken bones due to how small and fragile she was. She suffered from an infection, and she also gave Amber a scare when her whole system shut down temporarily.

One healthy alpaca!

Thankfully, this past year has been a dream come true. Amber describes her as “very healthy,” and is ecstatic that she now has alpaca playmates.

These days, this fur baby gets the best of both worlds. During the day she stays outside and plays with the herd, and at night she comes in to snuggle with her momma.

outdoors
Little But Fierce via YouTube
Source:
Little But Fierce via YouTube

Cody has been featured in local newspapers and has gained tons of followers on all social media platforms. Her will to live and story of overcoming the ultimate challenge makes her an inspiration to all.

Amber says the years she dedicated to nursing Cody to health were worth every moment.

You can learn more about Cody on her website.

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