The theft and beating death of a young alpaca has upset an Ohio alpaca-raising community so large some members call the state "Little Peru."
A national registry lists nearly 25,000 alpacas in Ohio, 20 percent of the U.S. total. Farmers said there are likely more that aren't registered. Farmers said the killing in southwest Ohio's Butler County has left them angry and shaken. Some legislators are renewing a push to toughen animal cruelty laws.
Two 17-year-old boys are charged in juvenile court with animal cruelty and other counts, while a 22-year-old woman faces complicity charges in the case last month involving a a 3-month-old alpaca named Masterpiece.
Alpacas, similar to llamas, are native to South America and are prized for their wool.
