MELROSE, Fla. — Forget cats and dogs — at Rooterville Animal Sanctuary in Melrose, the newest cuddle craze comes with hooves and horns.
Visitors come to the farm for a chance to hug, pet, and relax with cows as part of the sanctuary’s growing animal cuddling experience.
Some guests admit they never imagined cows could be so affectionate.
“They really are like cats. (Like) when you pet a cat, and their chin, goes back,” said guest McKenna Bintz while cuddling one of the cows.
“Wouldn’t think of a cow as like an animal that you could necessarily like get in there and cuddle,” said Bintz, who was visiting from St. Cloud.
Others describe the experience as surprisingly calming.
“It’s just relaxing and soothing,” said Lily Prado, visiting from Gainesville. It’s really no different than cuddling with a dog. It’s just not a dog. It’s a cow.”
The 20-acre sanctuary is home to a wide range of rescue animals, including Highland cows from Scotland.
“Okay. So, you’re going to meet some amazing animals today. And we have the Highland cows here from Scotland,” owner Elaine West told guests before opening the gate to the pasture.
West said the sanctuary has become a place where people can connect with animals in a hands-on way.
“It’s turned into a place where people can come and they can interact with the animals,” West said.
That interaction can mean brushing, feeding, or cuddling cows like “Jet,” a fan-favorite with a little celebrity energy.
“He’s the Brad Pitt of cows,” West joked.
Jet’s charm apparently comes with perks — including his own cooling fan.
“Yeah, he loves his fan. He parks himself in front of that fan all day long,” West said.
But the experience goes beyond just day visits.
Some guests stay overnight in covered wagons located on he farm, and designed to give visitors a small taste of pioneer life, just with air conditioning included.
“So, the great thing is you get to come and stay here, and you get to wake up to the roosters crowing, the peacocks yelling and the pigs, they know you’re here, so they’re going to be waiting for you right outside your door,” West said.
From pigs and horses to sheep and cows, many of the sanctuary’s animals are part of the interactive experience.
Even turkeys get some love.
“Okay, so this is a proper turkey hugging procedure. Get one arm in the front, and then you move him around and then one arm in the side, and then he’ll stand still and he’ll let you love on him,” West explained.
Whether it’s turkey hugging or cow cuddling, Rooterville offers visitors a unique chance to slow down, connect with animals, and experience a different side of farm life in Florida.
The Rooterville Animal Sanctuary is open to visitors on Friday and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
Admission is $14.95 per person, children under 5 are free.
Other experiences – including cow cuddling are available by appointment on those and other days.