DOWAGIAC — With a warm sun hanging over them, Dowagiac couple Ruth and Chris Szakaly fed grass through a fence to a pack of eager, fluffy alpacas Wednesday morning.

The couple was all smiles at the time, sharing stories of the curious creatures who were nuzzling their noses through the chain links.

“Aren’t they adorable?” Ruth said, holding a patch of green grass in her hand. “I’m going to miss them a lot, that’s for sure. They are a lot of fun.”

Alpacas of Chambana, 32488 Peavine St., Dowagiac, has sold its Dowagiac property, and Chris and Ruth will be moving out of the area into Granger. Since 2012, the business has raised and sold alpacas, in addition to running a store on the property that sells alpaca hair products, including sweaters, hats, mittens, yarn and more.

Chris and Ruth said that with the move, they plan to enter into “semi-retirement.” Once they have sold their remaining 11 alpacas, they will no longer breed, raise or sell the animals. However, they do plan to continue to sell alpaca hair products at their online store and at festivals. Additionally, the couple is currently looking for rental booth space so that they can continue to have a physical space for customers to visit.

“We first need to get through this move, then we can reevaluate our next steps,” Ruth said. “This way, though, we won’t have the responsibilities of caring for so many animals. We are making some lifestyle changes.”

Though the Szakalys said they are sad to leave their business and Dowagiac home behind, the couple, now in their early sixties, felt it was the right time for them to move to a more manageable property and business model due to health concerns.

“This was earlier than we had planned on, but this feels like the right time,” Ruth said. “We want to be able to travel more and see our friends. … It’s going to be hard living without [the alpacas]. We will miss them, but it’s time.”

In their six years of business, Chris and Ruth said they have found a home in Dowagiac, and that they have always enjoyed interacting with their customers.

“The people were always the best part of the business,” Chris said. “We have seen a lot of faces, a lot of smiles, and a lot of those people became our friends. … We enjoy the community here.”

Because of the Szakalys’ love of Dowagiac, Alpacas of Chambana will not be leaving the city in its rearview mirror. Ruth said they are looking at Dowagiac specifically to rent booth space for the business to continue to sell alpaca products.

“We have so many great memories here and have met so many great people,” she said. “Luckily, we are staying close by. We will be back here.”

To help with the move, Alpacas of Chambana will be hosting a moving sale this weekend. The store will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. All products — including alpacas — will be 40 percent off.

To continue to follow Alpacas of Chambana after its move, visit its website at alpacasofchambana.com.