No matter how long you’ve cared for and raised dogs, there is just no comparing it to what it’s like to raise farm animals. Not only are animals like cows and horses much larger, but they require more space, more specialized vet care, a different set of skills from the humans who are responsible for them — the list goes on and on. It’s definitely something that you can learn if you’re interested, but being a dog parent will only prepare you so much.
But despite all of that, their basic needs are the same: They need to be fed, they need be kept safe and warm, they need to be loved. And they also get a kick out of playing with and cuddling familiar objects, especially when they’re still brand new to the world, whether their world is on a farm or not.
@thegentlebarnCows need extra comfort when they’re little too. Just like dogs, cows are loving, loyal, and playful. When we rescued Lewis as a tiny baby, he started snuggling up to a hedgehog toy and now that he’s a very big, healthy boy, he has a giant teddy bear to cuddle up with. #cowtok #calmingvideos #comfortingvideos #relaxing #farmanimalsanctuary #cuteanimals #cutecowsoftiktok
On Tuesday, August 20, @thegentlebarn shared a video of a baby cow, Lewis, who lives on their farm. And while even baby cows are certainly pretty large animals, here, there’s nothing intimidating about this little one, who is adorably cuddled up to his hedgehog stuffy in the same way that a puppy would!
“Cows need extra comfort when they’re little too,” they wrote in the caption. “Just like dogs, cows are loving, loyal, and playful. When we rescued Lewis as a tiny baby, he started snuggling up to a hedgehog toy and now that he’s a very big, healthy boy, he has a giant teddy bear to cuddle up with.”
In a comment, they added, “Animals often form attachments to their favorite stuffies and toys and associate them with playfulness, relaxation, or mothering.”
He is just too sweet! You can see more about Lewis in this video that details the way he was rescued from a slaughterhouse as a baby. Now, he’s three years old and thriving.
The Gentle Barn’s work
Lewis is a resident at the Gentle Barn — a rescue organization with farms in California, Tennessee, and Missouri that has saved thousands of animals since it started in 1999.
If you live near one of their locations, the barn is open to the public one day each week, and you’ll be able to visit with, pet, and even feed the animals who live there, which includes not just cows but also horses, chickens, pigs, and more.
You can also read the biographies of each animal who lives at one of the farms, including Lewis, whose full name is John Lewis Thunderheart. His life was off to a rough start after he didn’t get enough colostrum from his mama, things are certainly looking up for him these days.
“He is now strong, healthy, and loves to play with his best friend, Sky the dog,” says his bio.
May Lewis have many years of playing with his dog (and his toys) ahead!
