DIABLO MAGAZINE: February, 2024
Have you ever cuddled a cow or hugged a hen? If so, you’ve experienced the healing power of connecting with animals. Research shows that the act of petting a puppy can boost your level of beta-endorphins (natural painkillers). It works with everything from donkeys to ducks.
If your New Year’s resolution in 2024 is wellness-related, try swapping the spa treatment for an animal experience. Here are some of the best ways to interact with friendly creatures of all kinds in the Bay Area and beyond.
COW SNUGGLING
SRI SURABHI GO KSETRA COW SANCTUARY | PLEASANTON
Yes, cows chew their cud, but some enjoy cuddling as well. In the rolling hills of rural Pleasanton, there’s a sanctuary for Gyr cattle from India. Revered in the Hindu religion, these cows are coddled with daily grooming, a special diet that includes ashwagandha (a natural stress-reducing supplement), Indian flute music, and multiple hugs a day.
Guests can stay in a well-appointed house on the property or make a day visit to the farm owned by Sri Krishna Purusottama and his family. A cuddling session starts with an educational tour, after which Purusottama puts down fresh hay and invites you to kneel or even lie down and wrap your arms around a most docile and loving creature.
You’ll feel the cow’s heartbeat and see those long eyelashes droop as this 1,200-pound animal slips into a trance. You may even get a cow kiss with the animal’s exfoliating tongue. srisurabhi.us.
EQUINE EXPERIENCES
CARMEL VALLEY RANCH | CARMEL
When you first meet Tobias, you’ll see the soulfulness in this Irish steed’s eyes. He may gently sniff you, or even lick you if he feels safe.
“That’s signaling ‘I want to connect,’” says the resort’s equine therapist, Dr. Rob Magnelli. What happens next is truly remarkable. Your heart rate slows to match that of the horse. You become calmer, more aware, and more intentional.
“Horses give immediate feedback without judgment, which helps people discover their best selves,” says Magnelli. Research also shows that horses are more sensitive to body language and subtle energy changes than humans, which helps them sense our emotions and intent.
As a clinical psychologist known for his work with horses, Magnelli and his wife, Nancy, who is a psychiatric nurse, offer four unique wellness experiences at the 500-acre Carmel Valley Ranch. Each activity is designed to create joy and improve physical and mental well-being through time spent with horses. The resort is also home to a herd of affable goats, curious alpacas, chatty chickens, and hardworking honeybees. carmelvalleyranch.com/activities.
GOAT GREETINGS
MAR VISTA FARM AND COTTAGES | GUALALA
Therapy goats? It turns out these animals crave love and attention from humans. They don’t need a bonding period, either. They are affectionate and playful from the moment you meet them.
A trio of goats holds court at Mar Vista Farm and Cottages in Gualala. Guests get a meet and greet with Willy, Wally, and Wiley, who live on the property along with bunnies George and Alice, three friendly cats, and too many hens to name. Daily activities include chicken chat, where you feed the hens and gather the eggs for your morning breakfast.
Visitors stay in vintage cottages (with kitchens) in a lush coastal setting where they can interact with the animals, enjoy a starry night in the redwood soaking tub, or hike on nine acres of forested trails with private access to a secluded beach. marvistafarmandcottages.com.
DONKEY NUZZLES
OSCAR’S PLACE ADOPTION CENTER AND SANCTUARY | HOPLAND
This donkey adoption center and sanctuary is a safe haven for these highly sensitive animals who have been rescued from auctions where they risk being sold and killed for their hides (often used in traditional Chinese medicine).
Volunteers, donors, and folks interested in adoption can schedule a tour of the sanctuary, where dozens of donkeys graze in sun-kissed pastures. These animals have a great capacity to feel emotion. In fact, there is evidence that their heartbeat actually slows or increases to match that of the person to whom they’re attached. oscarsplace.org.
LLAMA LOVE
SCP MENDOCINO INN AND FARM | MENDOCINO
Can an animal known for its spit be a source of calm for humans? It turns out, llamas usually save this unsavory act for members of their own species. When it comes to humans, these quizzical creatures make great companions and can carry up to 100 pounds on a backpacking trip. And because they use a low hum to sing to their babies, llamas may find it soothing when a human makes a similar moaning sound.
At SCP Mendocino Inn and Farm (the initials stand for soul, community, and planet), Larry, Moe, and Curly are inseparable and have plenty of pastureland just feet from the Mendocino coast. Guests can go inside the gate to pet these woolly friends, who are usually guarding their neighbors, the chickens.
The destination is modern and inviting with coastal beach access, an organic garden, and a historic country manor on the pastoral property. A jar of chicken feed in the lobby encourages visitors to stop by the henhouse. The hens respond in a cacophony of cackles, huddling by your feet for a handful of grain. In the late afternoon, the staff gathers baskets of brown, white, and pink eggs for a farm-fresh breakfast brought to your room. scphotel.com/Mendocino.
KITTEN KISSES
MINI CAT TOWN | PLEASANTON
Almost too cute for words, kittens of all colors and stripes spend the day playing and snuggling with visitors to this former shop inside Stoneridge Shopping Center. Comfy sofas and plenty of toys ensure a unique bonding experience in which young cats climb on your lap, chase catnip mice, and literally bounce off the walls in fits of playfulness. All residents are adoptable if you decide you can’t leave without your new furry friend. minicattown.org.
CAT PILATES
KITTEA CAT LOUNGE AND CAFE | SAN FRANCISCO
Guests can do Downward Dog in a room with a few dozen rescue cats, who may or may not help with the exercise. Regardless, cats bring so much to wellness. You can take your pick of felines’ healthful properties: They reduce stress, offer companionship, and increase endorphins, and studies show that the vibrations from a cat’s purr lower blood pressure and promote healing. kitteasf.com.
PUPPY LOVE
HOTEL NIKKO | SAN FRANCISCO
Some hotels have ambassador dogs, which are known to reduce stress, anxiety, and that occasional bout of loneliness that solo travelers can get. One local program of note: San Francisco’s pet-friendly Hotel Nikko has adorable canine greeters Buster and Beau, who are available for playdates with the guests. hotelnikkosf.com.
Ginny Prior 