For my girlfriend’s birthday, I wanted to take her to do something extra special. She is a huge animal lover; so when I came across Rose Bridge Farm, a farm animal rescue and sanctuary not too far outside of Philadelphia, I knew I had to take her there.

Rose Bridge offers activities with all different kinds of animals, from crafts with kittens to cuddling with piglets and baby goats to feeding camels. Brena is an especially big fan of cows; so when I saw that baby cow cuddling was an option, it was a no-brainer to sign up for that. I kept our destination a surprise until we got there; and when I revealed that we’d be cuddling baby cows, she cried with joy.

The baby cows we got to hang out with were named Willow and Ruby. It was a rainy day, so they were lying in the warm barn with their blankets on, looking very sleepy. Brena and I got to sit on a blanket on the floor right next to them, and we had a half-hour session where we were left alone with the calves. They were so gentle and sweet, more than happy to accept our pets and tolerate our photo shoot. They even licked our hands and rested their heads in our laps. Right next door to the cows, a few oinking piglets and a whole lot of young goats were running around together in their rain-necessitated indoor space. While our cows were lying quietly, we watched the goats parkour off tables and attempt to steal hay through the fence. It’s safe to say some animals were feeling the sleepy energy of a rainy afternoon much more than others.

The half hour went by much too fast, and before we knew it, we had to say goodbye to our new bovine friends. If you’re in the Philadelphia area and want some farm animal therapy, I can’t recommend Rose Bridge Farm highly enough. You get an up-close and personal experience with the animals that is hard to find anywhere else. Brena and I are both animal lovers, and getting to spend some time in their calming presences away from the bustle of the city was much needed for us both.

— Hannah Gruen, administrative coordinator