ERIE, Colo. — A Colorado farm is now offering the public a chance to snuggle with something rather unusual, a cow.
Luvin' Arms Animal Sanctuary launched its Cow Cuddle Experience last summer but has seen a dramatic increase in interest this summer, according to Lanette Cook.
“We’re hanging out with cows that weigh anywhere from 1100 to 2000 pounds,” said Cook. “So, it makes the whole experience a lot different, and a lot bigger, so to speak.”
Cook says the sanctuary’s eight cows are all rescues, coming from situations including abuse, neglect, and mental trauma.
Guests can hug them, pet them, and even lay alongside them on the Erie farm.
“Having these experiences where they get to feel love from each other, love from us, and now also love from the community, it’s just really a big part of their healing process as well as a great healing process for us,” said Cook.
But could cow cuddling become the next animal assisted therapy tool?
Dr. Caiti Peters works at CSU’s Temple Grandin Equine Center, where they provide equine assisted services to people in need.
“Oftentimes we get a sense of calm if the animal is calm, and so theoretically I could see that extending into interacting with cows as well, but I haven’t seen any research on it and I haven’t seen it in person, by any means,” said Dr. Peters.
She says human animal interactions can help calm people down and decrease heart rates.
“This body of science as a whole is really in the early stages of scientific development but is growing quickly, so there’s a lot of questions that are still to be answered, and hopefully research can provide guidance on which species are more appropriate than others,” said Dr. Peters.
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