Lifestyle

Adorable, Fluffy Highland Calf Thinks He’s Just One of the Dogs

By Robin Milling 2 min read

# Adam and Emily Hopson
# Ewok
# Featured

We’ve seen domesticated pets bonding with livestock, but rarely is it the other way around. There is a cow that lives on an 18^th century farm in Asheville, North Carolina, who thinks he’s a dog, palling around with the household pooches.

James, a Highland calf – indigenous to Scotland with its long ginger hair – has been a member of the Hopson clan since he was 2 weeks old. Adam and Emily Hopson adopted James after he was unable to drink his mother’s milk. They believe because of his size as a baby that James suffers from ‘dummy calf syndrome,’ a form of brain damage at birth.

“His mother’s nipples were huge and long and he didn’t know how to nurse them. After hours of observing and trying to help him nurse to no avail, we finally brought him inside,” Mrs. Hopson told The Daily Mail.

cow — Source: CatersNewsAgency/TheDailyMail

James thrived so happily inside with their dogs he began to behave like them. When they tried to return the calf to his fold he was rejected for his odd behavior. Now at 4 months old this adorable bull calf has become part of the pack with his canine compadres, chasing and licking them. He also loves a cuddle and family trips in the car.

cow — Source: CatersNewsAgency/TheDailyMail

cow — Source: CatersNewsAgency/TheDailyMail

Highland cows can grow to as large as 2,000 pounds so James will not always be able to roughhouse without causing harm.

“He gets a little rambunctious around feeding time and will buck you wanting food or nibble your hands, ears, or elbow trying to get milk. He tried to play with the dogs, but he is getting so large that his head-butting, which was cute as a baby, was getting too rough for them. They won’t play with him as much as they used to,” Mrs. Hopson told Daily Mail.

James lives in a fenced-in area in the backyard with the chickens and other orphaned babies to keep him company. On his down time he has become a famous model for the couple’s Instagram account, Happy Hens & Highland Farms.