'Will You Be My Baaa-lentine?' The Love Story of a Goat and a Sheep

Every once in a while, a story of cross-species animal companionship comes along that just melts the hearts of animal-lovers everywhere. Charlotte's Web of course is the great fictionalized version of loving support between pig and spider. There are hundreds of real-life tales of dog-and-cat best friends to be had. But this one from the Farm Sanctuary's New York Shelter blog caught our eye just in time for Valentine's Day Weekend:

by Farm Sanctuary National Shelter Director Susie Coston

It's that magical moment. You're at a gathering, the same old scene. You're hanging out, maybe munching on some food, not expecting to be noticed. Then you look up, and there she is. You've seen her before, in passing, but something has changed. Your eyes lock across the room. You walk toward each other through the crowd. You converge. The chemistry is perfect. She's the one. It's love.

It's the sheep barn at Farm Sanctuary's New York Shelter. This is where a sheep named Chico and a goat named Dorothy (pictured above) fell for each other. We've seen our share of special bonds at the shelter. Steers Larry and Kevin have stood by each other for 16 years. Bing and Bessie, two geese, have been loyal companions for 24 years. Friendships thrive here. Free from fear, stress and deprivation, which can stifle an animal's personality, our residents are able to express their natures and, well, follow their hearts.

As in human relationships, sometimes those hearts lead their owners in surprising directions. Though our sheep and goats get along fine with each other, we rarely see any particular interest between members of the two species. Dorothy and Chico weren't rescued together, and they live in a herd of more than 100 sheep and goats. People who have not spent time caring for these animals have a hard time telling them apart, especially all the sheep. But Dorothy recognizes Chico from the other end of the barn. They seek each other out, and when they meet, they exchange adoring greetings by rubbing their heads against each other. They spend hours each day grooming, playing and snuggling together. We don't know how it happened, but these two are obviously smitten.

Read more amazing real-life animal tales on the Farm Sanctuary blog.

To learn more about Farm Sanctuary's work, or to make a donation, visit their website at www.farmsanctuary.org