Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Marshall.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
L & R Alpaca Haven Farm and Rescue began a few years after my family, and I moved to a small property with four acres and a four-stall barn. After discussing the idea of adding farm animals, my daughter came across a Facebook post from someone looking to give away a male alpaca. Although our first two attempts to get him did not work out, the owner later decided to rehome their entire herd of eight alpacas, including four pregnant females. After talking it over with my husband, we decided to take a leap of faith and welcome them to our farm in July 2016.
What started as a simple interest in farm animals quickly turned into a true passion. Over the years, we learned everything we could about alpaca care, animal rescue, and farm life. Our herd continued to grow, including several alpacas born right on our property, and we eventually moved to a larger 25-acre farm so we could expand and provide even better care for the animals.
In June 2022, I officially established our rescue, inspired by another beloved alpaca named Silverlining, who became a favorite among visitors. Since then, we have continued taking in animals that needed safe and loving homes, including alpacas, donkeys, cats, kittens, chickens, and roosters. For us, rescue does not always mean abuse or neglect — all of the animals simply came from owners who could no longer care for them.
After losing my corporate job in September 2023, I began dedicating my full time and energy to the farm and rescue. While it has certainly come with challenges, it has also been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Today, our farm is not only a sanctuary for animals, but also a place where families, children, and the elderly can connect with them, learn from them, and create meaningful memories. Giving back to our community through free visits to nursing homes and rehabilitation centers has become one of the most fulfilling parts of our journey.


We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape who we are today. One of the biggest struggles in the beginning was simply learning everything that comes with caring for alpacas, the other animals and running a farm. We went from having very little hands-on experience to suddenly caring for a herd of eight alpacas, including pregnant females, donkeys, and chickens. There was a steep learning curve when it came to animal health, nutrition, births, emergencies, and overall farm management.
Financially, it can also be very challenging. Rescue and farm life come with constant expenses — feed, fencing, shelter improvements, veterinary care, and general upkeep never really stop. After losing my corporate job in September 2023, things became even more difficult financially, and we have relied heavily on my husband’s income while continuing to care for the animals and keep the rescue going.
Emotionally, rescue work can be very hard as well. You become deeply attached to the animals, and there are times when you face loss, illness, or difficult situations that can be heartbreaking. There is also the responsibility of balancing family life, personal life, and the nonstop demands of caring for animals every single day, regardless of weather, holidays, or exhaustion.
Despite the struggles, we have never regretted this journey. The rewarding moments far outweigh the difficult ones. Seeing animals thrive, watching visitors connect with them, and being able to give back to our community — especially through visits to nursing homes and rehabilitation centers — reminds us why we started and why we continue to do what we do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Currently, I do not work outside of the farm and rescue. After losing my corporate job in September 2023, I shifted my full focus to caring for our animals and growing the rescue, while relying on my husband’s income to help support our family and mission.
At L & R Alpaca Haven Farm and Silverlining’s Animal Rescue, our focus is providing a safe, loving home for animals in need while also creating a place where people can connect with and learn about them. We specialize in alpaca care and rescue, but over the years our farm and rescue has grown to include many different animals, including donkeys, cats, kittens, chickens, and roosters. While alpacas are at the heart of what we do, our mission has always centered around compassion, education, and giving animals a second chance.
One thing that sets us apart is our belief that rescue comes in many forms. None of the animals we have taken in so far came from abusive or neglectful situations — they simply needed a new home because their owners could no longer care for them. We believe every animal deserves kindness, patience, and proper care, regardless of their circumstances.
We are especially proud of the relationships we build with both the animals and the people who visit our farm. We are also incredibly proud of the ways we give back to our community, particularly through our free visits to local nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. Many of our animals, especially alpacas like TJ and Silverlining (deceased) have become favorites among visitors because of their gentle nature and unique personalities. We love giving the elderly, families, and children the opportunity to interact with animals up close and create meaningful experiences. We do farm visits for the public, schools, churches, recreational facilities, special needs facilities, baby showers, wedding showers, birthday parties for all ages, we also do community events such as arts and crafts festivals, glass blowing classes, yoga, painting classes, music bingo fundraisers, and so much more. All proceeds go to the care and welfare of all the animals.
What we are most proud of is the growth of our rescue and the lives we have been able to impact along the way — not only the animals we have cared for, but also the people who have supported us, learned from us, and become part of our extended farm family. Everything we do is driven by genuine love and dedication, and we believe that passion shines through in the care we provide every single day.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
If I could give any advice to someone just starting out, it would be to do as much research as possible, ask questions, and never be afraid to learn as you go. When we first started, we jumped in very quickly with eight alpacas with no hands-on experience. Looking back, there was so much we didn’t know about animal care, nutrition, medical needs, farm management, and the emotional commitment that comes with rescue work. But over time, we learned through experience, support from others in the farming community, and a genuine willingness to keep improving.
I would also tell people not to underestimate the financial and time commitment involved. Caring for animals is truly a full-time responsibility with no days off. There will be unexpected veterinary expenses, difficult decisions, and moments of exhaustion. Having a strong support system is incredibly important.
One thing I would like everyone to know is that rescue is not always about “saving” animals from terrible situations. Sometimes it simply means being able to provide a safe and loving home when someone else can no longer do so. Every situation is different, and compassion goes a long way — not only for the animals, but for the people surrendering them as well.
Most importantly, I would encourage anyone starting out to follow their passion and remember why they began. There will always be challenges, setbacks, and moments of doubt, but the reward of seeing the animals happy, healthy, and loved makes every difficult moment worthwhile.
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Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silverliningsanimalrescueinc.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silverlinings_animal_rescue
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverliningsAnimalRescue
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lralpaca

Have you ever been to an alpaca farm? If not, add it to your bucket list immediately. They are so goofy and friendly, and they don't have any top teeth, so they can't truly bite you. The little goofballs love carrots, so you can feed them all day (they're quite selfish), and if you're brave enough (I wasn't), you can hold a carrot with your mouth and they'll give you a little slobbery kisses

I'm lucky enough that I live about 15 minutes from the L & R Alpaca Haven Farm and it's only $10 for an hour visit (carrots included!). It's fairly private, so there aren't a ton of visitors there at once, and the farm owners will specially walk you around, answer literally any questions you may have, and tell you all about the alpacas and each one's individual story.

We visited in May, just after the alpacas were sheared for warmer weather, so they all have some funky haircuts. I definitely want to return when it's a little cooler and they're all goofy fluffballs.
www.apaperarrow.com/2019/07/a-visit-to-atlanta-area-alpaca-farm.html
This particular farm is about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta in Douglasville, GA (which is home to many of the Stranger Things' filming locations). Our visit to the alpaca farm was the main attraction of the day, but we also grabbed breakfast, lunch, and a treat. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for a few foods recommendations for the area, too.
For complete blog along with photos:
www.apaperarrow.com/2019/07/a-visit-to-atlanta-area-alpaca-farm.html