For Michelle Schalmo, happy homecomings at the end of the day are quite similar to those many pet owners receive — so much excitement! But the welcoming committee of fur babies at Schalmo’s place is a bit more diverse than most.
In addition to two dogs, Ayla and Bandit, Schalmo is mom two cows, Millie and Gertie, and a horse named Barley.
She loves them all dearly. And it shows.
Schalmo frequently posts about her big happy family on her Instagram page, thepasturelife2. However, one video recently shared there has been especially effective in capturing people’s hearts.
The brief clip, taken from a camera on the property, shows Millie and Gertie in the foreground, grazing happily in the sunshine. But then something happens that causes them even more joy — Schalmo arriving home.
In an instant, they transform into giant puppies, eagerly rushing to greet their mom, along with their fur baby siblings:
In a happy mob, the whole gang races to welcome Schalmo home — with Barley the horse bringing up the rear.
It’s a scene that speaks to the connection they all share with their mom, and a brief glimpse into the tenderness that surrounds them each and every day.
“Man, if you’ve never hugged a solid cow, you don’t know what that feels like,” Schalmo told The Dodo, remarking on the video’s viral popularity. “I make my posts because I, frankly, love to rewatch them myself and hope others enjoy. But I was really shocked because the video quality is so poor, but people could feel the love.”