Over time, we’ve changed the natural biology of cows and other farm animals. Selective breeding for “desirable” traits has not only transformed the size of their bodies, but the amount of milk, eggs, or wool they produce. They’ve grown dependent on people for basic care and survival—and farmers primarily raise them for food.

However, the Sanctuary movement has a hand in changing the way people view and treat farm animals. Since Farm Sanctuary’s inception 35 years ago, we’ve placed thousands of animals with families who value them as companions, not commodities—including Lily, Opal, and Jyn cows.

Lily, her daughter Opal, and their friend Jyn are a bonded trio from a farm in New York. Though surrounding farmers raised their cows for meat, the trio’s guardians always cared for them as companions.

But the winters were harsh for the cows and their people—and in recent years, the family had difficulty keeping up with the routine. They planned to relocate but couldn’t take their animals with them. Concerned that a new owner might slaughter them for meat, the guardians asked us to help with placement.

At the time, we only had space to responsibly care for their chicken pals, Cookie and Dino, and goose mates Goosey and Angelica. Still, we searched for an appropriate home through our Farm Animal Adoption Network (FAAN). FAAN is a nationwide collective of carefully screened sanctuaries and private adoptive homes.

That’s how we found Tiffany and Jon.

The family began rescuing animals in 2013, and have since welcomed pigs, goats, chickens, and emus to their home and hearts. Though they didn’t have a background in caring for farm animals, they felt drawn to the idea of helping animals in need.

“I fell in love with farm animals volunteering at a wildlife rescue,” Tiffany said. “It was one of the reasons why we wanted to get a place with some land to build our own farm.”

It was a steep learning curve, but they read up on best practices and got advice from those experienced in farm animal care. And soon, their neighbors started approaching them to take in animals in need.

One baby goat couldn’t walk but now jumps higher and runs faster than the rest of the herd. Tiffany nurtured another from the brink of death into a strong and healthy girl after months of hands-on care. The animals have become treasured members of the family.

But not everyone around them feels the same way. Tiffany and Jon live among a community that primarily sees animals as “livestock”—as vessels for meat production. It can therefore seem radical to care for animals who won’t turn a profit. That’s not to say there aren’t farmers who love their animals. Some form strong bonds with the animals they raise and might seek help for certain friends who need lifesaving care.

Still, others question the “point” of keeping animals just for the sake of having them around. But for Tiffany and Jon—along with the thousands of other FAAN members (not to mention the 90.5 million homes in the U.S. with companion animals)—economic worth doesn’t determine value.

“It’s like asking, ‘What do you do with your dog?’” Tiffany explained. “You give them a place to relax and live happily. You don’t have to eat animals.”

Farm animals don’t have to “earn” their lives. And no one has the right to take them.

Tiffany wished she could do more to help the lives that touched hers. When a neighbor’s cows began to cross onto their land, she offered whatever refuge she could. “Someone recently purchased the 150 acres next door. There was no fencing between our property and his property, and so we had over 20 cows in our backyard. They found our insulated waterer—they loved that.”

And she loved having them around. “The cows in this area are all for meat production. I’ve seen a lot of cows, but I haven’t been able to be hands-on with them. I loved having the cows back there—and even though I couldn’t keep those, I decided that it would be nice to have some here.”

So, they connected with Farm Sanctuary to make it happen.

After matching them with Lily, Opal, and Jyn, we moved the trio from their previous home to a temporary space at our New York shelter. Tiffany and Jon planned to take a few months to install proper fencing and shelter space. Come springtime, Farm Sanctuary would bring the cows to their new home.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, the trio wound up staying with us until June. First, a winter freeze delayed construction. Tiffany and Jon would have to wait until the ground thawed before they could resume. Then, just as its completion seemed to be on the horizon, the rise of COVID-19 pushed our trip further back.

But that just meant we had a few extra months to enjoy the company of these kind and curious friends. And Tiffany and Jon had more time to prepare for how to care for and welcome their very first cows.

The girls took a little time to settle in, at first keeping to themselves on the outskirts of the land. In time, they’ve grown accustomed to their new home. They like watching the neighbor’s cows, lying in the shade of their favorite tree, and spending time with their new human family.

Every morning, Tiffany meets the trio at the front of the barn. She divides a flake of hay amongst them as a treat and then grooms each cow the way they like.

“They really like getting brushed,” Tiffany said. “Jyn loves to have her back end scratched—she will let me do that all day long.”

“Lily lets me clean off her face, but Opal is the best about it. She’s a doll. She lets me love all over her and give her hugs and kisses. It’s amazing to think how huge they are, and yet they’re so gentle.”

Lily, the eldest, is the most laid-back. “She’s old and tired but very sweet,” Tiffany said. She’s worried about how long Lily might have left and hopes to do right by the herd matriarch. “Even if it’s just a few months,” Jon explained, “You’ve given Lily the best last couple of months she could ask for.”

The cows (and pigs, goats, chickens, and other animals in Tiffany and Jon’s care) are just as much a part of the family as the dogs and cats who also share their home. And animals of all kinds (humans included) have more in common with each other than not. They each have unique needs—cows, for example, need different food, shelter, and veterinary care than household companions—but there’s no inherent reason to love one but eat the other.

Cows, like dogs, are playful and empathetic—they leap about when they feel excited and stand guard over their loved ones when something’s wrong. Like our feline friends, cows also bond through grooming and coat their friends and family with hearty tongue kisses!

We say this not to oversimplify cows—they each exhibit different personalities and behaviors, ranging from the gentle giant to the shy, feisty, or reserved. But in comparing them to animals that most people already know and love, it becomes easier for people to relate—to consider leaving them off their plates and perhaps welcome them into their homes and hearts.

“They’re perfect for me,” Tiffany said. “We’re a good match. I wish I could take [the neighbor’s] cows and treat them well—but I treat mine well.” And for Lily, Opal, and Jyn, this means everything.