Londonderry Rescue Group Calls on Community After Storm Flattens Alpaca Shelter — Again
A volunteer-run animal rescue organisation in Londonderry has issued an urgent appeal for a reputable builder after powerful storm winds demolished their outdoor alpaca shelter in the early hours of Tuesday morning — the second time in recent memory that the structure has been brought down by severe weather, leaving the animals exposed as winter approaches.
Background
Friends of Rescue is a foster-based organisation operating across the Londonderry and north-west areas of Northern Ireland, dedicated to the care and rehoming of stray and abused animals. Unlike traditional shelter models, the group relies on a network of volunteer foster carers who take animals into their own homes, providing a more nurturing environment than kennels or cages. The organisation handles everything from cats and dogs to more unusual rescues, and in recent years has taken on the care of alpacas — animals that require specific outdoor housing to remain healthy and safe.
The shelter in question sits on a 12-foot by 12-foot concrete base and had previously been rebuilt after an earlier weather event caused significant damage. Despite efforts to reinforce the structure, the winds that swept across the north-west in the early hours of Tuesday proved too powerful, and the shelter was once again reduced to debris. The alpacas were inside when the structure came down, and volunteers rushed to check on them as soon as conditions allowed.
The north-west of Ireland has experienced increasingly volatile autumn weather in recent years, with storm systems arriving earlier and with greater intensity than in previous decades. For small volunteer organisations operating on tight budgets, the cost of repeatedly rebuilding damaged infrastructure can be crippling — and the emotional toll on carers who worry about the animals in their charge is considerable.
Key Developments
Friends of Rescue confirmed on Tuesday that all of the alpacas were checked by the team following the collapse and were found to be safe and unharmed, a relief that the organisation was quick to share publicly. However, with the animals now without adequate shelter and the colder months of October and November approaching rapidly, the group has made clear that a permanent solution is urgently needed.
In a public appeal shared across social media, the organisation stated: "I just want to get the boys somewhere safe." The group is not seeking financial donations or free labour, but rather the professional expertise of a builder experienced in agricultural shelters or outbuildings who can construct a robust, three-sided structure with a gate on the existing concrete base. A small storage or tack room would be a welcome addition, though not essential.
The appeal has already generated significant engagement online, with members of the public sharing the post widely and offering recommendations for local contractors. The response reflects the deep affection that communities across the north-west hold for Friends of Rescue and the work they do on a shoestring budget, entirely through the goodwill of volunteers.
Why It Matters
The story of Friends of Rescue and their twice-demolished shelter is, in one sense, a small tale of weather and misfortune. But it speaks to something larger about the fabric of animal welfare provision in Northern Ireland. Statutory funding for animal rescue organisations remains limited, and the sector depends almost entirely on voluntary effort and community generosity. When infrastructure fails — as it has here — there is no government safety net to fall back on.
The fact that the organisation is not asking for money, but for skilled professional help, is telling. It reflects a pragmatic understanding that what they need is not charity but craftsmanship — a properly built structure that will withstand the north-west's increasingly unpredictable weather. This is the kind of community problem-solving that rarely makes national headlines but sustains the social fabric of towns and cities across Northern Ireland.
For the alpacas themselves, the stakes are straightforward: without adequate shelter, they face real risk as temperatures drop. For the volunteers who care for them, the appeal is a reminder of how much depends on the goodwill of neighbours and tradespeople willing to lend their skills to a cause that matters.
Local Impact
Friends of Rescue operates primarily across the Londonderry and north-west region, serving communities in and around the city as well as rural areas of County Londonderry and County Donegal. The organisation's foster network spans dozens of households, and its work reduces pressure on statutory animal welfare services in an area where resources are already stretched. The appeal for a builder has resonated particularly strongly in the Shantallow and Waterside areas of Derry, where the group has strong community ties. Local councillors have been made aware of the situation, and several have offered to help amplify the appeal through their own networks.
What's Next
Friends of Rescue is asking anyone with knowledge of a reputable builder experienced in agricultural structures to make contact through their social media channels as a matter of urgency. The organisation hopes to have a new shelter in place within weeks, before the worst of the autumn weather arrives. If a suitable contractor is identified quickly, construction on the existing concrete base could begin almost immediately. The group has indicated it will provide a full update to supporters once a solution is in place, and has thanked the public for the outpouring of support following the appeal.
