When most people think of therapy animals, they picture dogs. However, there are so many animals that can help brighten people’s days, from tiny rodents to large horses.
Dolly Star may not be a typical therapy animal, but she’s making a massive impact on the people she visits. The miniature cow goes around from children’s hospitals to memory care facilities and senior living homes to bring people joy, love, and comfort through bovine therapy.
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Dolly’s owner, Karin Boyle, started a non-profit surrounding Dolly’s therapy work, the Dolly Star Foundation.
In an interview with ABC 15, she explained that she was inspired to start the foundation after her own father ended up in a memory care facility. She said that her father, who had been a longtime farmer, responded positively to his cattle and she thought other residents may benefit from cattle was well.
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Since Dolly is smaller than a regular cow, it makes transportation and meet and greets a lot simpler. Because of this, and her high demand, she’s able to travel to a new place for therapy almost every weekend.
The director of community engagement at a care facility Dolly visited also spoke with ABC 15, saying, “[The residents] need to have joy and love and friendship, especially as they face these diseases.” It’s something the little cow is more than happy to provide, and the residents at the facility can’t get enough of her.
Karin regularly shares photos and updates of her work with Dolly on social media, and people are calling her the “cutest cow ever.” According to her website, Karin hopes her services with Dolly can “promote health, healing, and comfort to memory care facilities, hospitals, and those in need” starting in their local Arizona community.
Since Dolly seems to be such a hit, hopefully we’ll see other cities and areas begin to implement bovine therapy for those in need!
Watch the sweet news clip below:
You can learn more about the Dolly Star Foundation on their website here, and keep up with Dolly and her work on Instagram and Facebook!