Don’t have a cow— hug one instead!
People are signing up in record numbers to hug cows at sanctuaries across North America. It’s filling a void left empty by the continuing coronavirus pandemic and people desperate for affection are spending up to $75 an hour to spend time with rescued farm animals.
The news first came to us via The Washington Post in an article written Kellie Gormly who reported how Aimee’s Farm Animal Sanctuary in Arizona has been receiving approximately 20 calls a day regarding this service, and how cow cuddling slots there are fully booked until July.
While cow cuddling isn’t something new, the service is seeing a significant rise in popularity since it’s proven to help increase positivity and reduce stress. According to science, because bovines are large and warm and have a heartbeat slower than ours, putting your arms around a cow can increase oxytocin levels in humans which is the same hormone released in social bonding. It’s basically why support animals are so comforting.
The big takeaway here is that spending time with animals during quarantine can be beneficial in helping combat loneliness, and while you can’t hug your friends and family these days, you can safely hug a cow.
