There is no better activity for animal lovers than to cuddle horses, goats, sheep, alpacas, and other cute animals at one of Chester County’s animal sanctuaries where they care for and keep fuzzy friends, write Sam Ruland and Gracie Dickinson for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Barn at Spring Brook Farm in West Chester is designed for children with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. Volunteers work with the kids and animals to help them mingle or do farmyard tasks such as animal grooming and barnyard cleaning. Bum-Bum the bunny and Sugar the Sicilian donkey are among the animals available to hang out with.

“We’ve learned that for the whole family unit, this program builds so much hope. When kids are told elsewhere that they can’t do this or that, we figure out how they can do it here in a safe environment, and families are able to see their kids excel,” said Emily McClure, executive director.

At Milky Way Farm in Chester Springs, children ages 3 and older can attend farm tours and educational programs that have been around since 1986. The tours teach kids about agriculture, farm life and animals, plant-growing cycles, and more.

It also offers private family tours where participants can feed cows, calves, goats, and sheep, collect eggs, and watch robotic cow milking.

Read more about visiting Chester County animal sanctuaries at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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