Meet the 1,000-Pound Pet Cow That Found Her Owner a Wife
Love stories can start in the strangest places, but this one began in a barn. Ryan Phillips from Williamsburg, Virginia, never imagined that adopting a cow would lead him not only to a new best friend but also to his future wife. The cow in question is Jenna, a 1,000-pound Holstein, who has proven that animals can change lives in ways no one expects.
A Calf Saved From a Grim Fate
Image via iStockphoto/Clara Bastian
Jenna’s start in life wasn’t pretty. She was born on a dairy farm in North Carolina alongside a twin brother, and was spray-painted as a sign she’d soon be discarded. Female Holsteins with male twins are often infertile, which makes them useless to many farmers. Luckily, the farmer’s daughter, also named Jenna, stepped in and begged her father to spare the calves.
Ryan, who had recently visited a sanctuary and realized cows are what he calls “grass puppies,” saw the ad for the newborn and drove three hours to bring her home. He named the calf Jenna after the girl who convinced her father to give her a chance at life.
From day one, Ryan became her stand-in parent. He bottle-fed her three times a day for six months, gave her all the hugs and scratches she wanted, and even slept in the barn to make sure she didn’t feel lonely. Because Jenna never received her mother’s milk, she was sickly during those first few months, and Ryan spent countless hours worrying and making vet visits.
All the effort paid off. Jenna grew strong and quickly turned into what Ryan proudly calls his “1,000-pound puppy.”
The Cow That Acts Like a Dog
It’s not just a nickname. Jenna behaves a lot like the family dog. She follows Ryan around the farm and presses her face against the windows of his house until he comes outside. She plays chase, runs from tree to tree with him, and even engages in headbutt games where she always lets him win.
When she was small, Ryan would let her come into the house for carrot treats, but now she gets them through the “Carrot Drive-Thru,” a kitchen window through which she pokes her head.
Before the pandemic, Ryan even took her into town with a pink harness. People did a double-take at first, but they quickly realized Jenna loved the attention. Ryan says she enjoys hugs and will rest her head against his leg for long stretches. He swears the only real difference between her and a dog is the size.
The “Wing Cow”
Jenna also played matchmaker. Ryan began sharing videos of life at his nonprofit, Life With Pigs Farm Sanctuary, which provides a safe haven for rescued animals, including pigs, chickens, and turkeys.
That’s how Mallory Sherman stumbled across his page. After seeing his posts about animal abuse cases, she reached out to help. Their online conversations turned into a friendship, and eventually, Mallory flew to Virginia to meet Ryan in person.
It didn’t take long for sparks to fly. Mallory soon moved in, and the two fell in love, all thanks to Jenna being their “wing cow.” At their wedding, Jenna proudly stood as Ryan’s “best cow,” while other animals from the sanctuary also had their moment, including pigs and chickens acting as flower animals.
A Family Built on Love and Carrots
Jenna may have brought Ryan and Mallory together, but she still makes sure she’s the center of attention. Though she was once jealous of Mallory, she’s warmed up and now enjoys a close bond with her, too. The couple continues to care for Jenna and more than 20 other animals at their sanctuary. Ryan admits that his life looks completely different now, but he wouldn’t change a thing.
“So much of my life has changed due to Jenna coming into my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ryan says. “She is truly my best friend, and we couldn’t imagine life without each other. My goal is to give her the best happily-ever-after possible.”