We are going to “steer” off topic for this Fun Friday post! See what I did there?
My husband and I had a Cow Cuddling date at Cherry Valley Farm this past weekend. You read that right. I initially saw the ad on Facebook and forwarded it to my husband, knowing he has this dream of having pet cows to call his own one day. We spent our afternoon petting, brushing, and sitting with two lovely cows and their babies. The women of the hour were Applejack and Strawberry Shortcake, accompanied by the very nice women who run the farm.
What is Cow Cuddling?
Cow Cuddling is a unique form of animal assisted therapy. By spending time with these giant, gentle creatures and just appreciating and living in-the-moment, all of your life stresses can be unloaded. Animal assisted therapies promote relaxation, a connection with nature, and provide some much needed emotional support. Have you ever come home from a bad day and just wanted to snuggle up with your cat or dog? It’s the same concept. However, many people do not get the opportunity to hug a cow. These giant creatures provide a sense of calmness and wisdom.
Our Therapy Pets
Years ago Kevin and I were involved with Pets on Wheels. Both Wrinkles (pug) and Sox (mutt) were therapy dogs. They went through an assessment to ensure they would not be a danger to the people they would be working with and they passed with flying colors. We got to see, first hand, what therapy pets can provide. Wrinkles lent a judgment-free ear to many children at the local library that were learning to read. Allowing children to read to and pet a pug created a low-stress environment for those kids to learn. Sox used to frequent the local assisted-living facility. With her sweet and gentle demeanor, many of the residents loved to just sit with Sox and pet her. Some of the residents confided in Sox, telling her about their day, their families, or their problems. The dogs did all the work, Kevin and I were just their personal taxi service.
Your Cow Cuddling Basics
What should you know before scheduling your Cow Cuddling session? First, you are visiting a farm where there are animals. Animals poop, just like the rest of us. So be prepared to step out of the way if nature calls. Second, try to keep your excitement contained. You will be interacting with animals that do not know you and they have to trust that you will be respectful while you are in their space. Finally, the money you pay for your session goes directly to the family that owns the farm. You aren’t supporting “big business”. You are directly supporting the family that spends countless hours tending to crops and caring for the animals.
So what are you waiting for? Go schedule your Cow Cuddling session.
