Cooper perhaps has one of the sweetest smiles you’ve ever seen.
He is seven years old, a mini zebu steer, and he lives at Sowa Goat Sanctuary, where volunteers and visitors are consistently surprised by him.
Why He Came
Cooper was born a cryptorchid, a condition in which one testicle remains in the abdomen rather than residing in the scrotum, where it should be. As he grew, the hormonal consequences of being an intact bull started to affect his behaviour, manifesting as aggression.
The family he lived with sadly couldn’t afford the abdominal surgery he needed. At that time, Sowa Goat Sanctuary took Cooper into its care and dedicated resources to seeking the surgery he needed.
The sanctuary took him to Cornell University. A laparoscopic procedure removed the testicle from his abdomen.
Who He Actually Is
What emerged after the surgery, or perhaps what had always been there, was a deeply affectionate, friendly, loving mini zebu who smiles every day.
He has not been aggressive since the surgery. He is noted as quite the opposite now. It seems like his aggression was a cry for help, which Sowa Goat Sanctuary was happy to provide.
Volunteers love him. Visitors love him. And he has so much love to give.
What He Shows People
Many people who meet Cooper have never interacted with a cow before, and maybe didn’t even know that mini zebus exist. The animals people eat or use most commonly are also the animals those same people haven’t met, or haven’t ever looked at while they were looking back.
Cooper looks back. He leans in, smiles when his neck is rubbed, and accepts affection with warmth and openness. He clearly appreciates people and wishes to welcome them like a good friend.
The sanctuary notes that people are genuinely surprised by his intelligence, his desire for affection, and his kindness. They may have reserved this impression for dogs and cats, not extending their circle any further. Cooper shows how that circle isn’t wide enough.
Cooper lives at Sowa Goat Sanctuary. To follow his story and support the sanctuary’s work, visit their page.
Watch our video on Cooper here:
